USDA Provides Assistance for Wetland Restoration and Enhancement in Four States

The U.S. Department of Agriculture (USDA) has selected five partner proposals that will help restore, enhance and protect high-priority wetlands and improve wildlife habitat, Agriculture Under Secretary for Natural Resources and Environment Harris Sherman announced last week. Through USDA's Wetlands Reserve Enhancement Program (WREP), partners will work with eligible landowners to plan and implement needed conservation practices.

Sherman made the announcement during the 76th North American Wildlife and Natural Resources Conference on behalf of Agriculture Secretary Tom Vilsack.

USDA will provide nearly $6 million in financial assistance through WREP in fiscal year 2011. Through WREP, a component of the Wetlands Reserve Program, Natural Resources Conservation Service (NRCS) enters into multi-year agreements with state and local governments, non-government organizations and American Indian tribes to leverage resources and provide financial and technical assistance to eligible landowners to protect, restore and enhance wetlands and improve wildlife habitat.

NRCS, which administers WREP, used a competitive process to select proposals submitted by state and local governments, nongovernmental organizations and American Indian tribes. The following proposals were selected, which will allow partners to work with eligible landowners to protect and restore nearly 4,000 acres of wetlands and associated habitats in fiscal year 2011:

• The Georgia Department of Natural Resources will conduct hydrologic restoration of Oakbin Pond, home to Canby's Dropwort, an endangered plant, by enrolling 400 acres in new WRP easements ($500,000);
• The Idaho Department of Fish and Game will restore and enhance 1,000 acres in existing WRP easements to enhance wildlife habitat and improve water quality along Smith and Boundary Creek ($40,000);
• The Iowa Department of Natural Resources will enroll about 1,000 acres in new WRP easements in the prairie pothole region to improve wetland and wildlife habitat ($3,780,000);
• The Black Hawk County (Iowa) Conservation Board will enroll about 300 acres in new WRP easements to enhance wildlife habitat, improve water quality and reduce flooding potential ($1,122,640); and
• The Missouri Department of Conservation will restore and enhance more than 1,200 acres in existing WRP easements to improve wildlife habitat along the Lower Grand River ($141,000).

Source: USDA