Texas Wetlands Reserve Program

Texas Wetlands Information

• Photos of Victoria County Project

Overview

Texas currently has 27,799 acres enrolled in the WRP program with an additional 4,571 acres in unfunded applications. Landowner interest in the program has grown greatly in the last two years as word of the program and potential benefits to both landowners and the environment has spread.

Given the size and location of Texas, it is not surprising that it has diverse wetland ecological systems. WRP easements in the Southeastern portion of the state are primarily for bottomland hardwood site restoration and conversion of rice fields to open water and herbaceous vegetation. Projects in the Northern part of the state involve playa restorations where wetland sites are usually smaller and more dispersed. WRP easements in Central Texas are typically adjacent to river systems where restoration is aimed at restoring frequently flooded sites and non permanent impoundments along with restoration of native vegetation. Southern coastal areas involve the restoration of coastal saline wetlands under tidal influence.

Restoration activities in Texas include construction of low level earthen dikes, water control structures, ditch plugs, tree and herbaceous vegetative plantings, livestock exclusion fencing, and access roads. In almost all the WRP projects in Texas, landowners are actively involved in the restoration activities and most contract for the necessary work and materials themselves.

Texas site before and after restoration - Photographs courtesy of USFWS

The WRP program started slowly in Texas when first introduced in 1994. The vast majority of land in Texas is privately owned where private land ownership and control is a cherished tradition. Selling permanent land easements to the government was not immediately popular. After a few years, and the introduction of non permanent easements and restoration cost share agreements, the popularity of the program began to grow. Landowners have begun to realize that their non productive restorable wetlands have value both financially and environmentally. With information programs by NRCS and assistance from other agencies and organizations in the state, the demand for this program has grown rapidly in the past two years. The Texas State Technical Committee has established an easement payment cap of $550 per acre. This rate allows most landowners to receive payment for the full appraised agricultural value of their land while maintaining ownership and valued privileges such as hunting and fishing rights.

Many acres of Texas wetlands were drained years ago for agricultural purposes with a resulting loss in habitat for wetland dependent wildlife species, primarily migratory waterfowl. Local communities welcome a return of these wetlands that will benefit the local economies by enhancing wildlife, providing flood protection, and improving water quality. Bird watching in Texas is also becoming a major tourist attraction in many parts of the state. The wetland restoration provided by WRP enhances habitat for many species of birds that are attractive to bird watchers thus providing a boost for the local and state economy.

One of the reasons for the increase in WRP program popularity in Texas is the involvement of our partners. The U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service has been instrumental in the acquisition of several WRP easements in various regions of Texas. The NRCS currently has ongoing WRP projects with the Texas Parks Wildlife Department in Nacogdoches County, the Nature Conservancy of Texas in Matagorda County, and the Conservation Fund in Cameron County. The NRCS is also participating in an effort to acquire a large tract of coastal saline wetlands for WRP in partnership with the U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service, the National Fish and Wildlife Foundation, The Brownsville Navigation District, and the Texas Department of Transportation.

Contact

Doug Sharer, 254-742-9800

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