USDA Celebrates American Wetlands Month by Helping Landowners Restore Wetlands

WASHINGTON, May 3, 1999--US Department of Agriculture Natural Resources Conservation Service (NRCS) officials joined landowners and community leaders to support a national celebration in Louisiana on May 1. The event marked that State’s achievement as the first in the Nation to enroll 100,000 acres in the Wetlands Reserve Program (WRP), which is administered by NRCS.

NRCS Chief Pearlie Reed said, "These lands are being restored to their natural wetland condition with an emphasis on priority wildlife habitat and environmental benefits. During American Wetlands Month, we applaud those private landowners and local groups who work together through conservation programs such as WRP so that communities can enjoy the benefits that wetlands offer."

At the end of 1998, more than 3,500 private landowners across the country had either finished or started restoring wetlands on 675,000 acres through WRP. Louisiana is leading the national effort because of the vast number of wetlands in the State.

WRP is currently capped by law at 975,000 acres. NRCS estimates that by the end of 1999, a total of 4,500 landowners will have enrolled at least 785,000 acres in the program.

Reed said, "Wetlands are among the most productive ecosystems in the world. They provide countless economic and environmental benefits to local communities. WRP has been a popular program with landowners because it helps them reach their personal land use goals."

In addition to Louisiana, other top States with land under WRP restoration include: Mississippi - 75,000 acres, Arkansas - 65,000 acres, California - 40,000 acres, Missouri - 37,000 acres, Iowa - 35,000 acres, Texas - 30,000 acres, Florida - 26,000 acres, Oklahoma - 25,000 acres, New York - 20,000 acres, Illinois - 20,000 acres, North Carolina - 20,000 acres, Wisconsin - 18,000 acres, and Oregon - 15,000 acres. These figures do not include acres enrolled in 1999.

WRP is a voluntary program offering landowners the opportunity to restore, protect, and enhance wetlands on their property. NRCS provides both technical and financial support to the landowner. Payments for easements may be as much as the agricultural value of the property and reimbursement for restoration costs may be up to 100 percent. Eligible landowners have three options: permanent easements, 30-year easements, and 10-year restoration cost-share agreements.

Information on WRP is available on the Internet at http://www.nrcs.usda.gov/programs/wrp/.

#

< Back to News Releases