Conservation
Wetlands Reserve Easement (WRE)
Benefits
- Receive financial and technical assistance for protecting and restoring wetland functions and values
- Reduce problems associated with farming potentially difficult areas
- 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
Enrollment Options
Through the wetland reserve easement component, landowners may enroll eligible land to grant the United States a conservation easement to restore, protect, manage, maintain, enhance, and monitor the wetland and other natural values of the easement area. Applicants may enroll their entire land area or a portion of their land. There is no minimum size area required for enrollment.
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.
- Permanent Easements – Through permanent easements, NRCS will pays 100 percent of the easement value to the landowner to convey the easement. Additionally, NRCS pays between 75 to 100 percent of the restoration costs.
- 30-year Easements – 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.
The easement value is determined by the fair market value of the land supported by an individual appraisal meeting the Uniform Standards of Professional Appraisal Practice (USPAP) specifications. NRCS will offer a percentage of the fair market value of the land for the easement acquisition based on the approved Geographic Area Rates Caps (GARC) approved by the State Technical Committee. The landowner may also voluntarily offer an amount less than the fair market value of the land.
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