COLCHESTER, Vt. — The U.S. Department of Agriculture’s Vermont Natural Resources Conservation Service (NRCS) is accepting applications from landowners interested in restoring, enhancing, and protecting wetlands with financial and technical assistance through the Wetlands Reserve Easement component of the Agricultural Conservation Easement Program (ACEP-WRE). While applications for ACEP-WRE are taken on a continuous basis, the deadline to be considered for Fiscal Year 2023 funding is February 10, 2023.
Wetland Reserve Easements can help landowners protect land from development, preserve critical wildlife habitat for outdoor recreation, and improve water quality by filtering sediments and nutrients and reduce flooding.
Many of Vermont’s private landowners can take advantage of this program, as eligible lands include farmed or converted wetlands that can successfully be restored; croplands or grasslands subject to flooding; and previously restored wetlands and riparian areas that connect 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 percent of the purchase value as well as restoration costs for each easement option.
Find Vermont’s easement ranking dates as on the Vermont’s WRE Website .To learn more about other technical and financial assistance available through NRCS conservation programs, visit Get Started with NRCS or contact your local USDA Service Center.
–USDA NRCS Vermont