Wetlands Reserve Program 

The Wetlands Reserve Program (WRP) offers an opportunity for landowners to voluntarily protect, restore and enhance wetlands on their property.  The USDA NRCS provides technical and financial support to help landowners with their restoration efforts.  To be eligible for WRP, land must be restorable; suitable for wildlife benefits; and must have had an agricultural history.  WRP offers three options to landowners to protect, restore and enhance wetland and associated uplands: permanent easements, 30-year easements or 10-year restoration cost share agreements.  The program will pay all legal costs to establish an easement; up to100 percent of the cost of the restoration; and the landowner will receive a payment for the easement.  Landowners may sign up any time at the local NRCS office. Applications are ranked and funding is done periodically throughout the year. 

WRP program documents

The following documents require Adobe Acrobat

General program information

• WRP Key Points

2007 WRP information

• WRP application form AD-1153
• Massachusetts WRP ranking form

More WRP information and fact sheets (national NRCS website)

WRP news and features

• Earth Day dedication celebrates protection of Plymouth cranberry land and restoration of Eel River (Apr. 19, 2006)
  

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