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The United States Department of Agriculture Natural Resources Conservation Service (“NRCS”) announced on May 11th that it was investing $17 million in five Wetland Reserve Enhancement Partnership (“WREP”) projects.
The NRCS states that it is funding five proposals that:
. . . prioritize high-impact projects and assistance to underserved farmers and ranchers . . .
The stated objective of WREP projects is to bring together partners and landowners to return wetland functions to agricultural landscapes. This is accomplished by facilitating coordination between conservation partners and agricultural producers to support broader efforts to mitigate climate change by:
- Restoring wetlands
- Prioritizing assistance to underserved communities
One of the five projects involves the State of Arkansas. The project includes the nonprofit Nature Conservancy which will take place in the Arkansas/Mississippi Alluvial Valley. The enrollment goal is stated to be 1,650 acres.
NRCS describes this project as restoring:
. . . forested wetlands and improve wildlife habitat in the Arkansas/Mississippi Alluvial Valley with a focus on underserved landowners. A primary goal is to increase wetland habitat and connectivity, reduce siltation and nutrient runoff into adjacent waterways, and increase natural recharge to the Mississippi Alluvial Aquifer. A minimum of 668 acres will be specifically for the enrollment of underserved landowners.
The other four projects include:
- Ducks Unlimited - Texas Playa Lakes
- Ducks Unlimited - Missouri Bootheel
- The Nature Conservancy - Tri-State Conservation Partnership
- Mississippi River Trust - Lower Batture
A copy of the news release can be downloaded here.
