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

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.

Who Is Eligible

Land eligible for wetland reserve easements includes 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.

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.

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, funding selections are made at specific times during the fiscal year. The current application cutoff is April 17, 2020. News Release: USDA Sets Agricultural Conservation Easement Application Cutoff Date for April 17

Fiscal Year 2020 application information:

• FY 2020 WRE Montana General Ranking Form (PDF; 145 K)
• FY 2020 WRE Montana Sage Grouse Ranking Form (PDF; 199 KB)
• FY 2019 WRE Geographic Area Rate Caps (GARCs) Map  (PDF; 472 KB)

If you are interested in a Wetland Reserve Easement contact your local USDA Service Center.

Montana Success Stories

• NRCS and Dix Family Conserve and Restore Wetlands in Milk River Ecosystem (April 2019)
• Wetlands near Belgrade Protected by Conservation Easement (November 2018)
• Wetlands Easement Restores and Protects Land in the Bridger Canyon near Bozeman (October 2018)
• Easements and Stream Restoration are a Living Legacy (February 2018)

Prior-Year ACEP-WRE Montana Archives

• 2019 Wetland Reserve Easement information Archival Purposes Only
• 2018 Wetland Reserve Easement Information Archival Purposes Only

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

Allen Persinger, Program Manager for Easements
Phone: 406-587-6873