Country Life: USDA Wetland Reserve Easements Funding Now Available in Ohio
Country Life: USDA Wetland Reserve Easements in Ohio
The U.S. Department of Agriculture's Ohio Natural Resources Conservation Service (NRCS) has announced funding for landowners interested in restoring, enhancing, and protecting wetlands through the Wetlands Reserve Easement Program (WRE). The first application cutoff date to receive fiscal year 2025 funding for the WRE program is October 4, 2024.
Advantages of Wetland Reserve Easements
Wetland Reserve Easements can help landowners protect land from climate impacts by reducing, capturing, and sequestering carbon dioxide, methane, and nitrous oxide emissions. Additional benefits include:
- Land development protection
- Critical wildlife habitat creation
- Water quality improvement
“Wetlands are one of nature's most productive ecosystems providing water quality benefits and critical wildlife habitat,” said John Wilson, NRCS State Conservationist in Ohio. “We hope to reap these benefits and more by assisting landowners with creating and restoring these critical habitats.”
Eligibility and Enrollment Options
Many of the state’s landowners can take advantage of this program, as eligible lands include:
- Farmed or converted wetlands that can be restored
- Croplands or grasslands subject to flooding
- Previously restored wetlands and riparian areas connecting protected wetland areas
WRE enrollment options include permanent easements, 30-year easements, and 30-year contracts. NRCS staff are available to help landowners plan and implement individual projects. The agency will pay a percentage of the land’s value as well as restoration costs for each easement option.
Get Involved
Landowners interested in the WRE program should visit the Ohio NRCS website for ranking dates and other program information or contact Joe Lehman or Katie Tack for assistance. To learn more about other technical and financial assistance available through NRCS conservation programs, contact your local USDA Service Center.
This article was prepared using information from open sources in accordance with the principles of Ethical Policy. The editorial team is not responsible for absolute accuracy, as it relies on data from the sources referenced.