Wetlands Reserve Program

The Wetlands Reserve Program (WRP) is a voluntary program that offers landowners options for easements or restoration cost share agreements, to restore wetlands and associated uplands and riparian habitat on agricultural landscapes.

Fiscal Year 2010 WRP application cutoff was January 22, 2010.

The purpose of the program is to restore, protect and enhance wetlands for the benefit of migratory birds and other wetland dependent species, including state and federally listed species, and species of concern. In addition to providing benefits to wildlife, WRP helps to restore active floodplains along creeks and rivers, aids in flood control, and improves water quality by restoring environmentally sensitive, frequently-flooded cropland back to permanent vegetation. In Oregon, WRP targets marginal agricultural land that is subject to flooding, saturation and inundation, and that has a high likelihood of restoring wetland functions and values.

Oregon WRP priorities dovetail with the Oregon Department of Fish and Wildlife (ODF&W) “Conservation Strategy for Oregon.” This document was developed by federal, state, local and private wildlife agencies and partners to instill a common direction in the creation, restoration, and enhancement of wildlife habitats in Oregon.

Enrollment Options

Applicants may choose one of three WRP enrollment options, depending on their long-term plans for the land: a permanent easement, 30-year easement, or 10-year restoration agreement. With each, the landowner retains ownership of the land and agrees to restore and manage a certain portion of their land as wetlands. Program participants voluntarily restrict agricultural and other activities for compatibility with the wetland management according to WRP requirements. Landowners retain title, quiet enjoyment, recreational uses, control access, rights to subsurface resources with extraction provisions, and maintain water rights not necessary for wetland management.

*Restoration payments are limited to $50,000 per year.

Geographic Area Rate Cap (GARC)

The GARC is a set per-acre payment rate for specified regions that represent variations in land use. Rates are updated annually as a diminutive value of the fair market land value and are determined with input from the State Technical Committee.

Click here for information on the current GARCs for Oregon.

Land and Applicant Eligibility

WRP targets marginal agricultural land where planned restoration has the potential to maximize wildlife habitat, improve water quality, and aid in the recovery of special status species. Eligible land includes privately owned and Tribal cropland, rangeland, grassland, pasture land and private, non-industrial forest land that contain historic wetlands that have been degraded or converted to agricultural use and that have the potential for restoring natural hydrology functions. Also eligible are lands that have been substantially altered by human manipulation of the landscape, and where present flooding and inundation make restoration of wetland functions and values likely. Adjacent parcels of non-cropped natural areas, slough channels, and uplands are also eligible if they significantly contribute to the habitat objectives of the project.

A WRP applicant must be the owner of the land, either an individual or an entity. In addition, participants must also be in compliance with High Erodible Land and Wetland Conservation Provisions of the Farm Bill and also meet the Adjusted Gross Income (AGI) limitations.

Eligibility for the easement option requires the landowner to have owned the property for seven years prior to submitting an application, if the landowner does not meet the seven-year ownership requirement, they must submit a written request for a waiver. As part of the application package, landowners must also provide a copy of the grant deed or other evidence of ownership, including recorded access rights.

Click here for information on the current WRP Eligibility Checklist.

Application Process

Applications are accepted on a continuous basis, with selection cutoff dates set during the year.

The following documents requires Adobe Acrobat.

WRP Application Form NRCS CPA-1200 (PDF, 40 KB)
WRP Instructions for Application Form NRCS-CPA-1200 (PDF, 13 KB)
Sample WRP Warranty Easement Deed (PDF, 42 KB)
Sample Exhibit D to Warranty Easement Deed (PDF, 21 KB)

Ranking and Evaluation

On an annual basis, NRCS evaluates WRP applications and ranks them according to established criteria. Those that best meet the program’s purpose to restore, enhance and protect wetlands are ranked highest for funding. Environmental factors include assessments of future habitat diversity, benefits to special status plants and animals, restoration of hydrology, the ability of the project to reduce habitat fragmentation, size of the offering, and improved water quality. Ranking also factors in a cost-analysis. Economic considerations include the combination of the cost of the easement payment and the cost of habitat restoration. In addition, partnership contributions, either from the landowner, or from a cooperating agency or non-profit organization, can result in even higher ranking scores.

Click here to view current WRP ranking criteria for Oregon.

WRP Enrollment Process

After applications are ranked, those selected for funding go through the enrollment process. For restoration agreements, this involves developing a restoration plan and signing a WRP contract. Easements, however, require a number of additional steps and may take 12 to 18 months from time of application until the WRP easement is recorded on the title.

Click here to view current WRP enrollment process flowchart.

Additional Information

NRCS National WRP Web Site

The following documents requires Adobe Acrobat.

Oregon WRP fact sheet (PDF, ## KB) – Coming Soon

Contact

Bari Williams
Easement Program Specialist
(503) 414-3226

Last Modified:  01/28/2010

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