The Wetlands Reserve Program (WRP) is the Nation’s premier wetlands restoration program. It is a voluntary program that offers landowners the means and the opportunity to protect, restore, and enhance wetlands on their property. The USDA Natural Resources Conservation Service (NRCS) manages the program as well as provides technical and financial support to help landowners that participate in WRP.
Program objectives are:
1) to purchase conservation easements from, or enter into cost-share agreements with willing owners of eligible land, 2) help eligible landowners, protect, restore, and enhance the original hydrology, native vegetation, and natural topography of eligible lands, 3) restore and protect the functions and values of wetlands in the agricultural landscape, 4) help achieve the national goal of no net loss of wetlands, and to improve the general environment of the country.
The emphasis of the WRP program is to protect, restore and enhance the functions and values of wetland ecosystems to attain: 1) first and foremost, habitat for migratory birds and wetland dependent wildlife, including threatened and endangered species; 2) protection and improvement of water quality; 3) lessen water flows due to flooding; 4) recharge of ground water; 5) protection and enhancement of open space and aesthetic quality; 6) protection of native flora and fauna contributing to the Nation’s natural heritage; and 7) contribute to educational and scholarship.
Additional information:
These documents require Acrobat Reader
Indiana WRP Questions & Answers
Step-by-step application information
Indiana WRP Ranking Worksheet and Ranking Guidance
This document requires Microsoft Excel
2010 GARC
The 2010 Geographic Area Rate Caps (GARC) have been set for the Wetlands Reserve Program and Floodplain Easement Program. These caps are used to determine offers to landowners on both programs. Caps are set for individual counties with an ag land value used on those lands that are cropland, hayland or pasture. Non-ag land is used for woodland, wildlife land, and those lands that have not been farmed, hayed, or pastured in the past ten years. GARC values are reviewed on an annual basis and approved by the State Conservationist in conjunction with the State Technical Committee.
These Documents require Acrobat Reader
Indiana WRP- FPE Acres Map
Using Micro and Macrotopography in Wetland Restoration-Indiana Biology Technical Note No. 1
WRP Photo Collage
*information received from Indiana NRCS WRP Page
