USDA Natural Resources Conservation Service
Protect and Restore Wetlands

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[April 13, 2019]    Nationally USDA’s Natural Resources Conservation Service (NRCS) plans to invest $450 million this year through the Agricultural Conservation Easement Program (ACEP) to help private landowners, restore and protect critical wetlands.

NRCS is announcing the opportunity for landowners to enroll in the program and releasing information on the Illinois Geographic Area Rate Caps for 2019 Wetland Reserve Easements (WRE).

“For more than 25 years, NRCS has worked with landowners in Illinois to protect their wetlands,” said Ivan Dozier NRCS state conservationist in Illinois. “Conservation easements are important tools for people trying to improve soil health, water and air quality and wildlife habitat on their land.”

ACEP provides assistance to landowners helping conserve, restore and protect wetlands. NRCS accepts ACEP applications year-round, but applications are ranked and funded by enrollment period. The first 2019 application cut-off for Illinois ACEP Wetland Reserve Easements applications is April 26th, 2019.

Through ACEP Wetland Reserve Easements, NRCS helps landowners restore, enhance, and protect wetland ecosystems. NRCS and the landowner work together to develop a plan for restoration work and maintenance of the easement. Assistant State Conservationist for Easements, Paula Hingson, explains, “Seventy-five percent of the nation's wetlands are situated on private and tribal lands. Wetlands provide many benefits, including critical habitat for a wide array of wildlife species. They also store floodwaters, clean and recharge groundwater, sequester carbon, trap sediment and filter pollutants for clean water.”

Wetland conservation easements are permanent, or they can be established for 30 years or the maximum extent allowed by state law. Eligible lands include:

  • Farmed or converted wetlands that can successfully be restored;

  • Croplands or grasslands subject to flooding; and

  • Riparian areas that link protected wetland areas.

John Maginel owns land in Alexander County, IL and has been restoring acres to wetlands using conservation easements since 1999. 

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“NRCS easements are a wonderful tool. They help us put acres back the way they need to be, the way they were,” says Maginel.  He has restored acres with oak and cypress trees that are 20 years old and has 40-foot tall red oaks on his land. “These acres are wonderful spots for waterfowl, shorebirds, eagles and even swans and sandhill cranes,” Maginel adds. He is currently waiting to close on a new WRE agreement.

2019 Geographic Area Rate Caps (GARCs) for WRE
Dozier announces that the Geographic Area Rate Caps (GARCs) have been updated for use in the WRE program. These GARC values inform landowners of the dollars they will receive per acre for a Wetland Reserve Easement. Some of the GARC rates declined slightly from fiscal year 2018, due to decreases in land values. The GARC Values distinguish cropland from non-cropland and range from $3,250 to $5,500 per acre. See attached map to determine rates by Illinois county or visit Illinois NRCS website at: https://www.nrcs.usda.gov/ wps/cmis_proxy/https/ecm.nrcs. usda.gov%3a443/fncmis/resources/ WEBP/ ContentStream/idd_8079B569-0000-CB12-AB1A2C7D1D998 205/0/FY19_ GARC_map.pdf.

More Information
ACEP remains a major part of the recently passed 2018 Farm Bill. Program implementation will continue during fiscal year 2019 with some minor changes from 2018. Landowners and others interested in wetland reserve easements should contact their local USDA service center to learn more.

[Jamie Thompson l Soil Conservationist
USDA Natural Resources Conservation Service]

 

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