For immediate release

NRCS Offers Opportunity to Restore and Protect Wetlands 

SPOKANE, WA, Aug. 24, 2012—USDA's Natural Resources Conservation Service (NRCS) announced today that it anticipates a mid-autumn application deadline for the Wetlands Reserve Program (WRP) in 2012.

WRP is a voluntary conservation program offering private landowners the opportunity to restore, enhance, and protect wetlands on their property. NRCS provides technical and financial assistance to help landowners with their wetland restoration efforts. This program offers landowners an opportunity to establish long-term conservation and wildlife practices and protection.

WRP can also be used for wetland and upland wildlife habitat management, installation of water control structures, tree plantings, and other environmentally beneficial conservation practices. Enrollment options include permanent easements and 30-year easements, which are used to provide long-term protection on critical wetland areas.
NRCS encourages interested landowners to contact their local NRCS field office to schedule an onsite field visit and determine program eligibility and restoration potential well before the application deadline.

“By beginning the eligibility process sooner rather than later, landowners will get a head-start on restoring and enhancing wetland habitat on their property,” said Dave Kreft, State WRP Coordinator. “With a new Farm Bill on the horizon, there may be a few minor changes to the program – so establishing eligibility early is important.”

NRCS will work closely with landowners to determine if a landowner is an eligible candidate for the program, develop conservation objectives, determine restorable acres, develop easement boundaries, and all other aspects of the easement process.

For more information or to apply for WRP, please contact your local NRCS field office: http://offices.sc.egov.usda.gov/locator/app

More information can also be found at www.wa.nrcs.usda.gov/programs/wrp/wrp.html

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