The program offers landowners three options: permanent easements, year easements, and restoration cost-share agreements of a minimum year duration. A landowner continues to hold record title and control access to the land and conduct limited hunting, fishing, and other undeveloped recreational activities. A landowner may request that additional activities be evaluated to determine if they are compatible uses for the site.
This request may include such items as permission to operate water control structures, plant and manage food plots, and manage native grass stands for wildlife. Compatible uses are allowed if they are fully consistent with the protection and enhancement of the wetland function and values.
Eligibility for the easement option requires seven years of ownership some exceptions apply prior to submitting an application, and the landowner must be able to provide evidence of control of the land, including recorded access rights.
For consideration under the easement option, applicants should also submit a copy of the grant deed indicating that they meet the ownership requirement. Eligible land includes areas of historic wetlands that have been degraded or converted to agricultural use, and that have the potential for restoring natural hydrology functions. Wetland Reserve Easements provide habitat for fish and wildlife, including threatened and endangered species, improve water quality by filtering sediments and chemicals, reduce flooding, recharge groundwater, protect biological diversity and provide opportunities for educational, scientific and limited recreational activities.
NRCS also provides technical and financial assistance directly to private landowners and Indian tribes to restore, protect, and enhance wetlands through the purchase of a wetland reserve easement.
For acreage owned by an Indian tribe, there is an additional enrollment option of a year contract. Through the wetland reserve enrollment options, NRCS may enroll eligible land through:. Permanent Easements — Permanent Easements are conservation easements in perpetuity. NRCS pays percent of the easement value for the purchase of the easement.
Additionally, NRCS pays between 75 to percent of the restoration costs. State Wetland Conservation Plan. Kentucky Rev. Kentucky Wild Rivers Act title , Chapter Change of use permits are required for activities in designated wild rivers. Wetlands are lands that have a predominance of soils that are inundated or saturated by surface or groundwater at a frequency and duration to support and under normal circumstances do support hydrophytic vegetation.
Evaluation Methodology. Low gradient bottomland riverine wetlands are evaluated using an approved Hydrogeomorphic HGM Guidebook. Regulated and Exempted Activities. These are applied in accordance with Clean Water Act Section program.
Special Provisions for Agriculture and Forestry. A computerized system has been implemented to track permitted wetland loss and mitigation acres.
Assumption of Section Powers. Assumption was explored in and rejected primarily due to lack of funding and staffing. Joint Permitting. Role of Local Governments. Staffing Regulatory Staff. It has a staff of 4. Wetlands and Water Quality Standards. Wetland Definition. Designated Uses. Wetlands are designated to be warm water aquatic habitat. NRCS purchased the easement in and completed the tree establishment in and hydrology development in The historic flooding of covered the entire acreage with 6 feet of water but thanks to the WRP restoration on his land, the Anthony farm weathered the flood and will be enjoyed for years to come.
The restoration included 10 water control structures for impoundment of shallow water for moist soil units and green tree reservoirs. The NRCS WRP Team visited the Anthony farm after the flooding and found that all the levees are in good shape and the high water did not impact the function of the structures. Although the flooding impacted the growth of the trees for last year, their survival percentage is high. Vegetation was sparse after the water receded but the spring has brought new growth and along with it a good turkey population.
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