The U.S. Department of Agriculture's Natural
Resources Conservation is
soliciting applications from
landowners interested in
restoring or enhancing wetlands
on private agricultural
land in Louisiana through
the Wetlands Reserve
Program.
The Wetlands Reserve
Program provides financial
incentives to landowners to
restore natural wetlands
with an emphasis on enhancing
wildlife habitats and
environmental benefits.
“Landowners have several
options for enrollment in
WRP,” said NRCS State
Conservationist Kevin
Norton. “Options include
restoration cost-share agreements,
30-year conservation
easements and permanent
conservation easements all
designed to help landowners
achieve personal land use
goals.”
The Wetlands Reserve
Program is a national program
authorized by the
Farm Bill to assist eligible
landowners restore, create,
protect and enhance wetlands
on their property.
Participation in this program
is voluntary, and
restoration is accomplished
in an environmentally safe,
cost effective manner.
Easement payments are
based on the lowest of either
the fair market value of the
land using an appraisal or
area-wide analysis, the
Geographic Area Rate Cap,
or an offer made by the
landowner.
The current Geographic
Area Rate Cap for Calcasieu
and Cameron parishes is
$1,300 per acre.
Interested landowners are
encouraged to contact the
local USDA Service Center
/Natural Resources
Conservation Service field
office to apply for Fiscal Year
2010 funding. Contact the
NRCS Calcasieu-Cameron
Field Office at 436-5020 Ext.
3 or stop by the office at 1400
Gerstner Memorial Drive,
Suite B.
Program information is
also available online at
www.la.nrcs.usda.gov