FY 2026 RI WRE Ranking Criteria Questions 

An asterisk (*) will be displayed to show that it is a conditional section or conditional question.

Section: Applicability Questions

1. Did the participant apply for ACEP WRE?
   1. Yes — Points: 0
   2. No — Points: 0

Section: Category Questions

1. Is the application in the State of Rhode Island?
   1. Yes — Points: 0
   2. No — Points: 0

Section: Program Questions

1. What is the estimated easement value per acre?
   1. Less than $2500 per acre — Points: 25
   2. Between $2500-5000 per acre — Points: 15
   3. Greater than $5000 per acre — Points: 10
2. Extent to which program purposes would be achieved on the offered land. Select all that apply:
   1. Habitat protection for wetland dependent endangered species, federally at-risk species, state species of concern, or species of greatest conservation need — Points: 25
   2. Protection and improvement of water quality and groundwater recharge — Points: 20
   3. Attenuation of floodwater — Points: 15
   4. None of the above — Points: 0
3. Landowner or Partner Contributions:
   1. 50% or greater — Points: 30
   2. Greater than 25% and less than 50% — Points: 20
   3. Greater than 10% and less than 25% — Points: 10
   4. Less than 10% — Points: 5
   5. No Contributions — Points: 0
4. Review the estimated restoration cost per acres based on the Preliminary Wetland Restoration Plan or Operation (PWRPO) and the engineering estimate:
   1. Restoration cost is less than 50 percent of estimated easement value — Points: 20
   2. Restoration cost is between 50-100 percent of estimated easement value — Points: 15
   3. Restoration Cost is greater than 100 percent of estimated easement cost — Points: 10
5. Is there an existing easement of any type currently in place or proposed on any of the land being proposed for enrollment?
   1. YES — Points: 25
   2. NO — Points: 0
6. Restoration of site hydrology and degraded habitat - Select all that apply:
   1. Natural site hydrology and aquatic habitat will be restored — Points: 30
   2. Changes to land use and management will be applied to improve water quality and wildlife habitat by taking agricultural land out of active production — Points: 20
   3. Changes to land use and management will be applied to improve water quality and wildlife habitat by aligning forest management with wildlife habitat goals as the primary objective — Points: 10
   4. No restoration will be needed — Points: 0
7. What is the percentage of the parcel with Prime or Statewide Important Soils?
   1. Parcel is 25 percent or less Prime or Statewide Important Soils — Points: 5
   2. Parcel is greater that 25 percent Prime or Statewide Important Soils — Points: 0

Resource Questions 

1. Planners to identify the natural heritage and species criteria below: (Select all that apply)
   1. Eastern Diamondback Terrapin (Malaclemys terrapin) presence been has documented on the site — Points: 10
   2. Saltmarsh sparrow (Ammospiza caudacutus) habitat has been documented on the site — Points: 10
   3. Does this parcel fall within the Priority Watersheds for the Northeast Turtle Project (see Priority map) or have any of the two RI priority turtle species, Spotted turtle (Clemmys guttata) or Wood turtle (Glyptemys insculpta) been documented as present on this site? — Points: 10
2. The parcel does not fall within any natural heritage area and does not meet any species criteria
   Resource priority areas - Are the PLU(s) located in the SLAMM Area?
   1. YES — Points: 20
   2. Otherwise — Points: 0
3. Select the wetland priority type that applies for the proposed easement:
   1. Coastal Salt Marsh, Fens , Bogs, Vernal Pools, Atlantic white cedar, Wet meadows — Points: 20
   2. Otherwise — Points: 0
4. Complexity and Diversity of Wetland Types in proposed easement:
   1. The proposed easement has 2 or more Rhode Island wetland types — Points: 5
   2. The proposed easement has only 1 wetland type — Points: 0
5. Will the sites include identified TE species or State Species of Concern?
   1. Site includes or intersects areas identified by the Natural Heritage GIS layer — Points: 5
   2. Otherwise — Points: 0
6. Will the restoration of the proposed easement include alternative communities?
   1. Wetland restoration will include NO alternative communities — Points: 5
   2. Wetland restoration will include alternative communities — Points: 0
7. Proximity to other protected lands:
   1. Abutting — Points: 15
   2. Less than 1/2 mile — Points: 10
   3. Within 1/2 mile to 1 mile — Points: 5
   4. Greater than 1 mile — Points: 0
8. What is the parcels connectivity to beneficial adjacent land?
   1. Adjacent lands have the ability to provide SIGNIFICANT wildlife habitat that provide a high degree of benefit to the proposed easements (Site provides a migratory path between other suitable areas for key species) — Points: 5
   2. Adjacent lands have MODERATE ability to provide wildlife habitat (Site provides a migratory path between other suitable areas for key species) — Points: 2
   3. There are NO beneficial lands adjacent to the parcel — Points: 0
9. What is the degree of hydrologic restoration to be completed based on the preliminary or final PWRPO?
   1. Greater than 50% of degraded areas of the eligible wetland will be restored — Points: 75
   2. Greater than 25% and less than 50% percent of the degraded areas of the wetlands will be restored — Points: 50
   3. Less than 25% of the degraded areas will be restored — Points: 15
10. Select the number that is closest to the proposed WRE eligible easement size:
    1. Greater than 50 acres — Points: 10
    2. Greater than 25 and up to 50 acres — Points: 5
    3. Greater than 10 and up to 25 acres — Points: 2
    4. Less than 10 acres — Points: 0
11. What is the proximity of proposed easement to state designated impaired waters?
    1. The impaired water is within or adjacent to the easement boundary — Points: 10
    2. The proposed easement flows to impaired waters and is within 100 feet of the impaired water — Points: 5
    3. Otherwise — Points: 0