NRCS Now Accepting Applications into the ACEP Wetlands Reserve Easement Program
DENVER, CO. March 29, 2019 – Clint Evans, State Conservationist for USDA’s Natural Resources Conservation Service (NRCS) in Colorado, announces the opportunity for enrollment into the Agricultural Conservation Easement Program – Wetlands Reserve Easement Program (ACEP-WRE). Applications must be submitted by 4:00 p.m. on Tuesday, April 30, 2019 to your local NRCS field office located within the USDA Service Center that services your county.
ACEP-WRE provides financial and technical assistance to help conserve agricultural lands, wetlands, and their related benefits. ACEP-WRE easements provide habitat for fish and wildlife, including threatened and endangered species. They also have a wide range of additional benefits, including filtering sediments and chemicals to improve water quality, reducing impacts of flooding, recharging groundwater, protecting biological diversity, and providing opportunities for educational, scientific and limited recreational activities.
ACEP-WRE enrollment options include permanent easements, 30-year easements, term easements and 30-year contracts. NRCS pays a specific percentage of the fair market value of the easement as well as restoration costs for each easement option.
Land eligible for ACEP-WRE includes farmed or converted wetlands, riparian areas, and other wetland types that can be successfully and cost-effectively restored. NRCS will prioritize applications based the easement’s potential for protecting and enhancing habitat for migratory birds and other wildlife.
For more information, application documents and forms, please visit ACEP-WRE in Colorado or you may contact Heather Foley, NRCS Easement Coordinator in Colorado, at heather.foley@co.usda.gov or 720-544-2805. Applications must be submitted by 4:00 p.m. on Tuesday, April 30, 2019 to your local NRCS field office located within a USDA Service Center. Postmarked applications sent via mail WILL NOT be accepted.