South Dakota 2008 Wetland Reserve Program
Sign-Up and Application Information

WRP Objectives

Program objectives are:

• Purchase permanent or 30-year conservation easements from or enter in to a 10-year cost-share agreements with willing owners of eligible land.
• Help eligible landowners protect, restore, and enhance the original hydrology, native vegetation, and natural topography of eligible lands.
• Restore and protect the functions and values of wetlands in the agricultural landscape.
• Help achieve the National goal of no net loss of wetlands.
• Improve the general environment of the country.

How WRP Works

Landowners and Tribes may file an application for a conservation easement or a cost-share restoration agreement with the United States Department of Agriculture (USDA) to restore and protect wetlands.  Participants voluntarily limit future use of the land, but retain private ownership.

For permanent easements, the owner is paid the lesser of the following:  Before and After Appraisal; Geographic Rate Cap; or landowner offer.  The USDA pays 100 percent of any restoration costs.  Under the 30-year easement option, an easement payment of 75 percent of what would be paid for a permanent easement is made.  USDA also pays 75 percent of restoration costs.  NRCS pays all costs associated with recording of the easement, including recording fees, charges for abstracts, land surveys, and title insurance.

In the Restoration Cost-share Agreement, USDA pays 75 percent of the cost of the restoration activity for wetlands and buffers.  This enrollment option does not place an easement on the property.  Other agencies, soil conservation districts, and private conservation organizations may provide assistance as a way to reduce the landowner's share of the costs for the wetland restoration.

Land Eligibility

Participant Eligibility

To offer a conservation easement, the landowner must have owned the land for at least 12 months prior to enrolling it in the program.  Landowners must also have proof of land ownership and be eligible to participate in Farm Bill programs.  To participate in a restoration cost-share agreement, the landowner must show evidence of ownership.

Enrollment Options

Applicants have the option of choosing either a 30-year or permanent easement option or a 10-year Restoration Cost-share Agreement.

    Easements

    Participants may choose either a permanent or a 30-year easement.  USDA will provide all administrative costs associated with
    recording the easement, including appraisal fees, survey costs, title insurance, and recording fees.

• Permanent easement - a perpetual easement value is based on the lesser of the following: Before and After Appraisal; Geographic Rate Cap; or landowner offer.
• 30-year easement - USDA will provide an easement payment equal to 75 percent of the lesser of the following: Before and After Appraisal; Geographic Rate Cap; or landowner offer.

    WRP Warranty Easement Deed (25.2 KB)

    Restoration Cost-share Agreements

    Participants may choose a 10-year contract.  USDA will provide 75 percent cost-share for wetland and upland restoration
    practices necessary to restore a site.

Application/Sign-Up Period

Applications for WRP are accepted at USDA Service Centers on a continuous basis with one or more ranking and selection periods per fiscal year.

Application for Long-Term Contracted Assistance (AD-1153)

Ranking

Applications will be evaluated and selected based on a ranking score determined from the state ranking criteria.

This document requires Adobe Acrobat.

SD-LTP-26 - FY06 Ranking Evaluation Sheet  (178 KB)

For More Information

Michael Kuck, Assistant State Conservationist for Programs, (605) 352-1206
Sara Thompson, Interdisciplinary Biologist, (605) 352-1281

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