Under the Agricultural Conservation Easement Program's Wetlands Reserve Easements (ACEP-WRE) component, NRCS provides technical and financial assistance directly to private landowners and Indian tribes to restore, protect, and enhance wetlands through the purchase of a wetland reserve easement. For acreage owned by an Indian tribe, there is an additional enrollment option of a 30-year contract.
Through the wetland reserve enrollment options, NRCS may enroll eligible land through:
Permanent Easements – Permanent easements are conservation easements in perpetuity. NRCS pays 100 percent of the easement value for the purchase of the easement. Additionally, NRCS pays between 75 to 100 percent of the restoration costs.
30-year Easements – 30-year easements expire after 30 years. Under 30-year easements, NRCS pays 50 to 75 percent of the easement value for the purchase of the easement. Additionally, NRCS pays between 50 to 75 percent of the restoration costs.
Term Easements - Term easements are easements that are for the maximum duration allowed under applicable State laws. NRCS pays 50 to 75 percent of the easement value for the purchase of the term easement. Additionally, NRCS pays between 50 to 75 percent of the restoration costs.
30-year Contracts – 30-year contracts are only available to enroll acreage owned by Indian tribes, and program payment rates are commensurate with 30-year easements.
For wetland reserve easements, NRCS pays all costs associated with recording the easement in the local land records office, including recording fees, charges for abstracts, survey and appraisal fees, and title insurance.
Wetland Reserve Enhancement Partnership (WREP) –WREP continues to be a voluntary program through which NRCS signs agreements with eligible partners to leverage resources to carry out high priority wetland protection, restoration and enhancement and to improve wildlife habitat. Partner benefits through WREP agreements include:
- Wetland restoration and protection in critical areas
- Ability to cost-share restoration or enhancement beyond NRCS requirements through leveraging
- Able to participate in the management or monitoring of selected project locations
- Ability to use innovative restoration methods and practices
To enroll land through wetland reserve easements, NRCS enters into purchase agreements with eligible private landowners or Indian tribes that include the right for NRCS to develop and implement a wetland reserve restoration easement plan. This plan restores, protects, and enhances the wetland’s functions and values.
Benefits
Wetland Reserve Easements provide habitat for fish and wildlife, including threatened and endangered species, improve water quality by filtering sediments and chemicals, reduce flooding, recharge groundwater, protect biological diversity and provide opportunities for educational, scientific and limited recreational activities.
Read about Easement Success Stories in Montana.
Who Is Eligible
Eligible landowners include owners of privately held land including land that is held by American Indian tribes.
All landowners, including required members of landowner-legal entities, must meet adjusted gross income (AGI) limitations and must be compliant with the HEL/WC provisions of the Food Security Act of 1985.
What Land Is Eligible
Land eligible for wetland reserve easements includes privately held farmed or converted wetland that can be successfully and cost-effectively restored. NRCS will prioritize applications based the easement’s potential for protecting and enhancing habitat for migratory birds and other wildlife.
How to Apply
Landowners interested in using Wetland Reserve Easements to address natural resource concerns can submit applications at any time. Though signup is continuous, NRCS establishes application ranking dates for evaluation, ranking and approval of eligible applications. NRCS in Montana is accepting ACEP-WRE applications through December 3, 2021, for the current funding cycle. Applications received after the ranking date will be automatically deferred to the next funding period. If you are interested in a Wetland Reserve Easement contact your local USDA Service Center.
Partners interested in applying for the WREP opportunity should contact Allen Persinger, NRCS Montana Program Manager, at allen.persinger@usda.gov or 406-587-6873 for more information.
Application Ranking
NRCS uses the Conservation Assessment Ranking Tool (CART) for all program ranking. Learn more about CART.
Fiscal Year (FY) 2022 ACEP-WRE Montana Ranking Questions
FY 2022 ACEP-WRE Geographic Area Rate Caps (GARCs) Map (PDF; 467 KB)
Compensation
Though the majority of the state will utilize an individual appraisal to determine compensation, a Geographic Area Rate Cap (GARC)/Area Wide Market Analysis will be used for the following counties: Glacier, Pondera, Toole, Teton, Liberty, Hill, Chouteau, Blaine, Phillips, Valley, Daniels, Sheridan and Roosevelt.
Prior-Year ACEP-WRE Montana Archives
More Information
For more information and updates about ACEP-WRE, please refer to the national NRCS ACEP Web site. Further information on ACEP-WRE in Montana is also available from your local USDA Service Center or one of the following NRCS employees:
Contacts
Maureen Meagher, Program Specialist (ACEP-WRE)
Phone: 406-587-6748
Email: Maureen.Meagher
Justin Meissner, Acting Program Manager for Easements
Phone: 406-521-3015
Email: Justin.Meissner
