Wetland Reserve Easement Incentive

The Wetland Reserve Easement Incentive provides financial assistance to private landowners establishing or maintaining wildlife habitat on USDA Wetland Reserve Easement acres in exchange for public access.

General Program Guidelines

The Wetland Reserve Easement is a federal conservation program delivered by the USDA Natural Resource Conservation Service.

Land with an active USDA WRE contract may be enrolled into a PLOTS agreement.

PLOTS agreement lengths generally run the length of the USDA WRE contract; however, shorter term agreements are available.

Landowner must allow the Department to sign and publicize the enrolled acres as open to walk-in hunting.

Payment Rates

The Department will provide an access payment of $10 per acre, per year for WRE acres. Additional payments for adjacent, non-WRE acres may be available. Payments may be upfront or annual.

How to Apply

Landowners can contact a private land biologist in their area at any time, however the deadline to enroll land into the PLOTS program is June 30th.

A biologist will be able to discuss specific details and program information, including agreement terms and provisions and payment rates.

Department private lands biologists are also knowledgeable about other conservation programs and opportunities available through other state, federal and private conservation organizations.