USDA ANNOUNCES FIRST WETLANDS RESERVE ENHANCEMENT PROGRAM PARTNERSHIP
Nebraska Sets Goal of 18,800 Acres Enrollment in Nation’s First WREP Project

   “This partnership brings federal, state and local resources together to restore wetlands, provide habitat for wildlife and improve water quality,” said Veneman. “This project supports the Administration’s goal to restore, improve and protect an additional 3 million acres of environmentally sensitive wetlands over the next five years."

   Partners in this WREP project set a goal to enroll 18,800 acres for a total cost of $26 million through 2007—$20.4 million for easement purchase and $5.6 million for wetland restoration. So far, partners have committed $1.9 million to reduce wetland restoration costs to USDA. The Natural Resources Conservation Service (NRCS) approved fiscal year 2004 funding for up to $4 million financial assistance and $212,000 technical assistance.

   The Missouri River, as it flows along eastern Nebraska, is a vitally important wildlife habitat and migration flyway between the Mississippi and Central flyways. More than 250 species of birds and a diverse array of fish use this riverine, wetland and floodplain ecosystem. The river is of historical importance, especially to the Lewis and Clark expedition.

   The Nebraska Lower Missouri River WREP project will create a continuous wildlife corridor; provide habitat for numerous species of birds, reptiles, amphibians and plants; allow for a buffer strip zone between the river and cropland to improve water quality; restore additional habitat for the endangered pallid sturgeon; and increase the natural flood storage capacity of the river system.

   Partners in the WREP project are NRCS; local landowners; The Nature Conservancy; Ducks Unlimited; Nebraska Game and Parks Commission; Lewis and Clark, Lower Platte South, Nemaha and Papio-Missouri River natural resources districts; U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service; U.S. Army Corps of Engineers and the National Park Service.

   Through WREP, NRCS works with partners to further their common wetland goals and objectives within the requirements of the Wetlands Reserve Program (WRP). WREP project partners can leverage resources and provide additional incentives to landowners to restore, protect and enhance wetland ecosystems. WRP is a voluntary program that offers landowners the options of permanent easements, 30-year easements and restoration cost-share agreements to protect, restore or enhance wetlands on their property.

   State and local governments, tribes and organizations interested in WREP should contact the appropriate NRCS state conservationist for information about submitting a proposal. A list of contacts is online at http://www.nrcs.usda.gov/about/directory/specialists.html under state offices. Additional information on these programs is at http://www.nrcs.usda.gov/programs/wrp.

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