wetland habitat

Below is information on state and federal wetland habitat programs. For questions on any of the below programs, habitat advisors are here to help. They possess the knowledge of federal, state and local programs to assist landowners in finding the right program(s) to meet their personal habitat and land use goals.

South Dakota Game, Fish and Parks Wetland Programs

The South Dakota Department of Game, Fish and Parks works with landowners and other conservation partners to implement wetland conservation practices on private lands across the state. Projects are designed to benefit a variety of wildlife species that depend upon these habitats while meeting the needs and management goals of landowners.

GFP cost share options available to private landowners through the below practices:

• Wetland Creation and Enhancement
• Wetland Restoration Practices
• Habitat Fencing Program

USDA Conservation Reserve Program

• CRP Duck Nesting Habitat Initiative
• CRP Wetland Restoration Initiative
• CRP Farmable Wetlands Program

United States Fish and Wildlife Service Partners for Wildlife Program

The “Partners for Fish and Wildlife” program is administered by the United States Fish and Wildlife Service (USFWS) and provides a variety of technical and financial assistance options for grassland conservation on private and tribal land.

Typical conservation practices include wetland restoration and riparian enhancements.

• Contact a USFWS private lands biologist for more information.

USDA Agricultural Conservation Easement Program (ACEP) Wetland Reserve Easements

The ACEP is a new program that consolidates three former programs: Wetlands Reserve Program, Grassland Reserve Program and the Farm and Ranch Lands Protection Program.

NRCS 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 30-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 100 percent of the easement value for the purchase of the easement. Additionally, NRCS pays between 75 to 100 percent of the restoration costs.
  
  
• 30-year Easements
  Thirty year easements expire after 30 years. Under 30-year easements, NRCS pays 50 to 75 percent of the easement value for the purchase of the easement. Additionally, NRCS pays between 50 to 75 percent of the restoration costs.  
  
  
• Term Easements
  Term easements are easements that are for the maximum duration allowed under applicable State laws. NRCS pays 50 to 75 percent of the easement value for the purchase of the term easement. Additionally, NRCS pays between 50 to 75 percent of the restoration costs.
  
  
• 30-year Contracts
  Thirty year contracts are only available to enroll acreage owned by Indian tribes, and program payment rates are commensurate with 30-year easements.

For wetland reserve easements, NRCS pays all costs associated with recording the easement in the local land records office, including recording fees, charges for abstracts, survey and appraisal fees, and title insurance.