Restoring America’sWetlands

The Wetlands Reserve Program

Biological diversity that depends upon wetlandsdeclined with the loss of wetlands during the lastcentury. By restoring wetlands and associateduplands, WRP provides habitat for a large array ofplants and animals that depend upon wetlands,wetland forests, and grasslands. One-third of all birdspecies in North America depends upon wetlandsduring some part of the year. Habitat loss andfragmentation are the most important factors causingthe decline of many species. Only through habitatrestoration and protection can many of these speciesbe restored to viable populations.

WRP provides benefits on a continental scale tomigratory birds; many birds nesting in Canada or onrestored WRP sites in North Dakota, New York, andWashington are also wintering on restored WRP sitesin Louisiana, Florida, and California. Many species,especially songbirds, spend their winters in Mexicoand Central and South America.

Program AccomplishmentsWRP restoration planners are designing new

and innovative techniques to restore wetlands tomaximize wildlife benefits and ensure theaesthetic quality of the landscape. Historically,wetland restoration consisted primarily ofstraight dikes and levees and flat wetland basinscreated by years of agricultural use. NRCS nowemphasizes micro and macro-topographicfeatures that create a diversity of water depthsand habitats, which enhance biological diversity.In addition, levees and dikes are beingconstructed in serpentine patterns and lowerheights so that they blend into the landscape andcreate small pockets of sheltered wetlands. Forthe past several years, NRCS has conducted manyworkshops on restoring hydrological diversity onwetlands that have been leveled due to pastagricultural practices. Now NRCS is incorporatinginnovative topographic features into restorationsthat provide a diversity of habitat for amphibians,reptiles, and birds.

The conversion of native habitats tocropland led to the drainage and alteration ofalmost 54 percent of the wetlands in this countrywith some states losing as much as 90 percent,from the 1780s to the 1980s. In recent years,increasing knowledge about the importance ofwetland functions has led to policy changes,including the creation of the Wetlands ReserveProgram (WRP), that have significantly decreasedthe loss of wetland acreage and moved thenational focus toward restoring wetlands. TheWRP is a major contributor for achieving thenation’s goal of “no net loss” of wetlands.

The Department of Agriculture’s NaturalResources Conservation Service (NRCS), withvoluntary participation by landowners and thecooperation of many partners, has restored andprotected more than one million acres ofwetlands and associated uplands through theWRP. Lands enrolled in the WRP provide habitatfor wildlife, decrease flood damages, improvewater quality, enhance cultural opportunities forAmerican Indians, create opportunities togenerate alternative income, help the recovery ofthreatened and endangered species, and allowfarmers and others to maintain ownership oflands suited for wetland restoration.

Wildlife and Fish

Kootenai River, IDRed Slough, OK

Elk.

Roseatespoonbill.

In southeast Oklahomaa group of landownersrestored a 7,500-acrewetland site in RedSlough. Today, the areaprovides habitat for 256species of birds. Some ofthese species includefirst-time or unusualnesters for Oklahoma,such as wood storks,white ibis, willowflycatchers, roseatespoonbills, and blackneck stilts.

A 1,200-acrerestoration project alongthe Kootenai River innorthern Idaho isproviding wetlands anduplands habitat for notonly wetland dependentspecies such as shorebirdsand waterfowl, but isalso providing habitat forelk, deer, grizzly bears,and nesting bald eagles.

White ibis atRed Slough, Oklahoma.

The Wetlands ReserveProgram

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Wildlife and Fish

Sandhill cranes.

Salmon.

California riparian arearestoration.

Bottomlandhardwood forest.

Arkansas WRP is using microtopography restorationtechniques to provide habitat for a variety of species.

Lesseryellowlegs.

Prothonotary warbler.

Moose.

Baldeagles.

The Glacial Ridgeproject in Minnesota hasplaced 10,700 acresunder easement toprovide nesting habitatfor shorebirds andwaterfowl and evenhabitat for moose. Thislarge prairie potholerestoration projectsupports the largestpopulation of theWestern prairie fringeorchid in North America.It also supports habitatalong the migratory pathof sandhill cranes.

Wetlands areimportant spawningareas for many species offish. Wetlands restored inthe Pacific Northwest areimproving water qualityfor steelhead andsalmon. Levees werebreached along theConsumnes River incentral California toprovide rearing areas forsalmon.

Over a half millionwaterfowl visited a7,000-acre restorationsite in Raft CreekBottoms along the WhiteRiver in Arkansasimmediately followingrestoration. Thefollowing spring, 20,000shorebirds foraged in themudflats and bald eaglesnested in the trees.

Over 80 percent, 6.8million acres, of thebottomland hardwoodforests of the lowerMississippi Valley havebeen cleared. Thesewetland forests providecritical habitat to manyspecies of wildlifeincluding songbirds thathave declined due tohabitat loss andfragmentation. WRP isrestoring approximately500,000 acres ofbottomland hardwoodsthat will eventuallyprovide importantnesting habitat to speciesdependent upon matureforests. However, duringthe interim, speciesdepending upon openareas and shrub landswill benefit.

Glacial Ridge, MN Consumnes River, CA Raft Creek Bottoms, AR Lower Mississippi Valley

Green-backedheron.

Glacial Ridgepothole restoration.

Marbled godwit.

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Threatened and Endangered Species

By restoring andprotecting wetlands andassociated uplands, WRPis an important tool forthe recovery ofthreatened andendangered species.

North Carolina Arkansas Hawaii

Brown pelican.

Koloa duck.

Bog turtle.

Louisiana black bear habitat.

Nene geese.

Pacific MegalagrionDamselfly.

Photo courtesy of The Nature Conservancy.

Pacific pond turtle.

Louisiana enrolledmore than 232 contractson 81,674 acres withinthe Louisiana black bearhabitat. Approximately57,800 acres have beenplanted to bottomlandhardwood tree species.

The bog turtle, thesecond smallest turtle inthe world, was listed as athreatened species in1997 because of habitatloss and fragmentation.A landowner in NorthCarolina is using WRP torestore and protecthabitat for this species.

In Phillips County,Arkansas, landownershave enrolled 3,500 acresinto WRP that provide orwill provide habitat forthe Louisiana Black Bear.These acres are filling infragmented areas next tothe White River NationalWildlife Refuge in the eastcentral part of the state.Louisiana, Mississippi, andTexas are also restoringand protecting habitat forthis threatened species.

In Hawaii, wetlandrestoration projects havetargeted endangeredspecies such as the NeneGoose and Koloa Duck,as well as the Hawaiiandamselfly.

Puerto Rico’s CaboRojo salt flats that arebeing protected throughWRP are critical to manyspecies of wildlife in theCaribbean. This areaprovides habitat forpiping plovers, peregrinefalcons, brown pelicans,manatees, and severalspecies of sea turtles. Vernal pools in

California, which haverapidly disappeared due tourban growth, are beingrestored and protected toprovide habitat forendangered tadpoleshrimp and fairy shrimp.

Upland areas adjacentto wetland projects insouthern California arebeing restored to providehabitat for theendangered San Joaquinkit fox, Tipton kangaroorat, and blunt-nosedleopard lizard.

In Oregon, deep poolswere included on arestoration site to ensurethe survival of theendangered Oregonchub. On the same site,logs were placed toprovide basking sites forthe Pacific pond turtle,which has experienced asignificant decline inpopulation.

When large wetland-upland complexes arerestored, many speciesbenefit, includingnonwetland species. Forexample, uplands thatprovide importantbuffers for wetlands insouth Texas areprotecting scrub thornforests important toocelots.

Louisiana

Puerto Rico California OregonTexasOcelot.

California vernal pool.

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Wetlands are critical components of thelandscape’s hydrology since they serve asdetention areas for flood waters. As wetlandswere drained, downstream flooding increased.Restoring wetlands allows these areas once againto store water and decrease or slow flood flows.

Flood Protection Recreation and Education

Project SizeWRP projects range in size fromtwo acres to several thousandacres. NRCS recognizes theimportant ecological benefitsof both large and smallprojects. Therefore, NRCSenrolls a mixture of largerestoration projects, projectsthat adjoin other protectedareas, individual projects ofvarying sizes, and clusters ofsmaller projects.

A WRP project in LyonCounty, Kansas, containsa large single tract ofprairie cordgrass. It is aprime example of nativegrass lowlands. EmporiaState University has usedthis for student andfaculty studies.

Wetlands provide more than ecologicalfunctions and benefits to fish and wildlife. A growinghuman population has a greater need for recreationand opportunities to enjoy natural settings. Wetlandsalso serve as outdoor classrooms where ecologicalprinciples can be taught and knowledge gained.Restored wetlands provide recreational huntingopportunities for landowners and many offer feeaccess hunting on their land. Bird watching andnature viewing are two of the most rapidly growingoutdoor activities. Many state agencies have realizedthe potential for developing non-consumptiverecreational values of WRP restorations and areworking with NRCS to develop observation towersand parking lots near restored areas.

Another site wasdonated to ArkansasState University forteaching a wetlandrestoration class. Not faraway along the WhiteRiver, the University ofArkansas at Pine Bluff isdeveloping graduateschool projects toconduct fish, reptile, andamphibian studies.

Wisconsin WRP project.

Catastrophic floodingalong the Missouri Riverduring the mid 1990sincreased interest inexpanding floodwaterstorage. WRP inMissouri has been usedto breach levees on16,000 acres, which hasreduced flood heightsand decreaseddownstream flooding.These areas also providespawning habitat forfish and foraging areasfor migratory birds.

A 1,200 acre WRPeasement in NeoshoCounty, Kansas,provides shallow waterwetland habitat andaids in flood protectionfor the Neosho RiverBasin. Sixteen wetlandcells were constructedthat provide 325 acrefeet of flood storagecapacity and create 370surface acres of shallowwater wetland habitat.

In northern California,fifth and sixth gradersare monitoring woodduck nesting success on aWRP site.

Restoration projectsthroughout the countryare being used as outdoorclassrooms to teachbiology and conservation.For example, 700 acres inLee County, SouthCarolina were enrolled inWRP for environmentaleducation.

The Sacramento,California, chapter ofthe Audubon Societyuses the ConsumnesRiver restoration projectevery other Saturdayfor bird watching tours.

In east-central Iowaa number of groupsand agenciesorganized after thefloods of 1993 tomake better use offlood-prone landalong the Iowa River.The Iowa RiverCorridor containsabout 50,000 acres,stretching 45 miles.Nearly 100conservationeasements, includingWRP and otherprogram easements,are in place on over12,000 acres.Estimated flooddamage savings overthe past 10 years is$7.6 million.

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Bulrushes are culturallyimportant to severalAmerican Indian tribesin Washington.

Economics

Wetlands Reserve Program HistoryIn 1985, the Food Security Act provided

significant protection for wetlands by coupling USDAeconomic benefits to wetland stewardship. Althoughsuccessful, this protection was achieved by providinga disincentive for draining wetlands without anyincentive to restore wetlands. The Food, Agriculture,Conservation, and Trade Act of 1990 created anincentive by establishing the WRP to restore andprotect degraded wetlands through the acquisition ofpermanent and 30-year easements.

WRP began as a pilot program in nine states in1992. The pilot was expanded to 20 states in 1994,and then made available as a nationwide program in1995. The program was quickly accepted bylandowners and there are now restoration projects in49 states and Puerto Rico. The Federal AgricultureImprovement and Reform Act of 1996 expanded the

WRP focuses on enrolling marginal landshaving a history of crop failure or low yields.These areas are then targeted for the restorationand protection of wetland functions and values,especially for migratory birds and other wildlife.

• In Oregon, theConfederated Tribes ofthe Umatilla areworking with NRCS andothers to restorewetland plants thathave traditional culturalvalue. In addition, theUnited Indian HealthService in northernCalifornia is using arestored site to growwetland plants for theirmedicinal value toAmerican Indians.

Restored wetlands,particularly those alongriver flood plains, filterout sediments,chemicals, andnutrients. In addition,the restoration ofwetlands on formeragricultural fieldsdecreases erosion andthe use of pesticidesand fertilizers. Researchhas shown thatwetlands trap 50percent of dissolvedphosphate, 70 percentof dissolved nitrates,and 30-40 percent ofdissolved organicnitrogen, phosphorusand carbon from farmfield runoff each year.The economic value ofwetlands along streamsand rivers for pollutioncontrol is estimated tobe $95 per acreper year.

Recreational huntingis being expandedthrough WRP andlandowners aregenerating income byselling hunting rights.

WRP provides anopportunity forlandowners withfinancial difficulties toremain on the land byusing the easementpayment to acquireland better suited foragricultural productionor to reduce debt anddevelop alternativesources of income.

Water and Air Quality

Cultural Values

program by adding restoration cost-share agreementsand placing a statutory priority on maximizingbenefits to migratory birds and other wildlife.

During the first years of the program, aminimalist approach was taken on restoration efforts.Many of these early projects were referred to as“walkaways” since it was hoped that simple ditchplugs and natural vegetative regeneration wouldreturn the lost wetland functions and values.However, this approach did not achieve the fullpotential of wildlife benefits targeted by theprogram. After 1996, greater emphasis was placed onrestoring wetland hydrology and topographicfeatures, as well as ensuring that the sites maximizedwildlife benefits, particularly for migratory birds.Many of the sites enrolled in the program during thefirst few years are now being revisited so wetlandhydrology restoration can be accomplished.

Placing land inpermanent cover alsoreduces air pollution bydecreasing wind erosion.

In addition,approximately 600,000acres of WRP landssupport growing trees,which sequesteratmospheric carbon.Each acre of growingbottomland hardwoodforests will sequester2,566 pounds of carboneach year, according toR. A. Birdsey in 1996 forAmerican Forests.

Local water qualityis also improved bythe restoration ofriparian cover that canshade streams and,thus, reduce thermalpollution. Thisimproves habitat formany species of fish,such as salmon.

In 1996,approximately $15billion was spent onactivities related towildlife viewing.Restoring wetlandhabitat continues tobolster this segment ofthe economy.

WRP is putting moneyback into localeconomies by providingjobs to restore wetlands.In addition, manynurseries have focusedon growing trees for usein wetland restoration.

New York WRP project.

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Enrolling Land into WRPLandowners wanting to participate in the WRP

should contact the local NRCS office. The land is likelyeligible if it is agricultural land that containsdegraded or converted wetlands that have a highprobability for successful restoration. If the site isselected for enrollment, then NRCS develops arestoration plan and makes an offer to thelandowner. Existing natural wetlands or adjacentuplands can also be enrolled if they are ecologicallyimportant to the restoration of the site. Landownerscan choose between a permanent easement, a 30-year easement, or a restoration cost-share agreementto protect the area. If an easement is selected, NRCSpays the landowner an amount based on theagricultural value of the land and the length of theeasement. NRCS will pay up to 100 percent of therestoration costs for permanent easements and up to75 percent for 30-year easements. If a landownerdoes not wish to sell an easement and chooses arestoration cost-share agreement, NRCS will pay up to75 percent of the restoration costs. Landowners havepredominantly opted to enroll their land through thepermanent easement option.

CostsAs of 2001, there were more than 6,500

restoration projects nationwide that encompassnearly 1,075,000 acres. Project costs vary throughoutthe country. In 2001, the average cost of purchasingand restoring a permanent easement wasapproximately $1,200 per acre. The average cost ofpurchasing and restoring a 30-year easement wasaround $770 per acre. Restoration cost-shareagreements, which do not include easementacquisition costs, averaged around $450 per acre.

Where Are the Restored Wetlands?

PartnershipsWRP is a voluntary partnership between

landowners and the NRCS that provides assistancewith the long-term management of restoredwetlands. Many state wildlife agencies, the U.S. Fishand Wildlife Service, local conservation districts, andnon-governmental organizations have assisted withprogram implementation by providing additionalfinancial and technical assistance in restoration andwetland protection efforts.

“Last spring I came out and saw over 5,000 ducks in thewetland. I’ve never seen such a sight in my life, and itwas right here in my backyard.”

— Paul Becker, Wisconsin landowner

1992 43,4281993 01994 75,0171995 115,0711996 92,4051997 127,2671998 211,9171999 119,9192000 149,9152001* 139,306Total 1,074,245

Acreage EnrolledYear

How Many Acres Are Enrolled?

Hawaii710 61,041

190 11,456

1,659 175

7,057

5,175

22,510 12,580

26,140

21,632

9,877

34,402

43,175

101,011

59,065

43,943

27,273

30,711

29,494

22,515

14,166

26,708

8,484

103,534142,449

1,575 8,189

51,337

16,106

15,28319,567

1,0985952,216

3,613

31,030

122

4768164

30

609599

3,738

23,760

19,006

6,769

Total WRP Acres Enrolled0-2,0002,001-10,00010,001-20,00020,001-50,00050,001+

Puerto Rico/U.S. Virgin Islands

1,250

*At the end of 2001, there were more than 600,000 acresof unfunded applications.

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The U.S. Department of Agriculture (USDA) prohibits discrimination in all its programs and activities on the basis of race, color, national origin, sex, religion, age, disability, politicalbeliefs, sexual orientation, or marital or family status. (Not all prohibited bases apply to all programs.) Persons with disabilities who require alternative means for communication ofprogram information (Braille, large print, audiotape, etc.) should contact USDA's TARGET Center at (202) 720-2600 (voice and TDD).

To file a complaint of discrimination, write USDA, Director, Office of Civil Rights, Room 326-W, Whitten Building, 1400 Independence Avenue, SW, Washington, DC, 20250-9410 or call(202) 720-5964 (voice or TDD). USDA is an equal opportunity provider and employer.

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