USDA SELECTS PROPOSALS FOR WETLANDS RESERVE ENHANCEMENT PROGRAM

$10 million Available for the Program in Fiscal Year 2006

WASHINGTON, May 1, 2006 – U.S. Department of Agriculture’s Natural Resources Conservation Service Chief Bruce Knight today announced that five partnership proposals will receive $10 million through the Wetlands Reserve Enhancement Program (WREP) to restore, enhance, protect and manage habitat for migratory birds and other wetland-dependent wildlife.

"These creative, innovative partnerships extend beyond individual farms and will successfully contribute to the President's goal to improve, restore and protect three million acres of wetlands by 2009," said Knight. “Agricultural wetlands provide some of the best water quality controls in the nation, contributing to clean water, healthy habitats and a better environment.”

The Wetlands projects in Colorado, Missouri, and Ohio will enhance, restore and protect over 9,000 acres through the WREP. This is a significant accomplishment in cooperative conservation and is part of President Bush's goal to restore and protect over three million acres of wetlands.

The Colorado project involves the purchase of 1,300 acres adjacent to the U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service (USFWS) Alamosa National Wildlife Refuge. This project will protect and restore habitat for the endangered Southwest Willow Flycatcher. The USFWS has agreed to provide all annual monitoring and management of the easement for the next 30 years, saving NRCS over $86,000 in technical assistance costs. Existing projects in Minnesota and Nebraska will also receive FY2006 funds.

The request for proposals and available funding were announced by USDA on January 27, 2006. Individuals, nongovernmental organizations and state, tribal and local government agencies were eligible to apply.

The following WREP proposals have been approved.

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