The Wetlands Reserve Program (WRP) is a voluntary program offering landowners the opportunity to protect, restore, and enhance wetlands on their property. The USDA Natural Resources Conservation Service (NRCS) administers the program with funding from the Commodity Credit Corporation.[1]
Establishment
The WRP was established by the 1990 Farm Bill.[2] The 1990 Farm Bill was Senate Bill S.2830 and became Public Law No: 101-624. Amendment S.AMDT.2406 (sponsored by Senator Robert Kasten) added provisions to the program.
Provisions
Producers enrolling in the program must agree to implement approved wetland restoration and protection plans. In return, participating producers receive payments based on the difference in the value of their land caused by placing an easement on a portion of it. The program reached its authorized enrollment ceiling of 1,075,000 acres (4,350 km2) before the 2002 farm bill (P.L. 107-171) was acted upon. The 2002 legislation reauthorized the program with mandatory funding from the Commodity Credit Corporation (CCC) through FY2007, and set a maximum enrollment ceiling of 2.275 million acres (and with an annual enrollment ceiling of 250,000 acres).[3]
See also
- Conservation Reserve Program
- Farmable Wetlands Program