Maryland Farmers Have Until April 21st to Apply for USDA Conservation Funds to Restore Wetland Habitat

Maryland Media Liaison:

Carol Hollingsworth, 443-482-2902

Annapolis, MD (April 6, 2006) --- “Farmers and landowners interested in restoring or enhancing wetland habitat have until April 21, 2006 to apply for conservation funds through the U.S. Department of Agriculture's (USDA) Wetlands Reserve Program (WRP)," said Mark Rose, Assistant State Conservationist for Programs at the Natural Resources Conservation Service (NRCS) in Maryland and the WRP Program Manager.

NRCS Maryland received $ 648,260 in financial assistance funds to help farmers and landowners restore wetland habitat that was lost due to intensive farming and urbanization. Individuals interested in submitting an application for funding consideration or learning more about WRP should immediately contact their county’s NRCS office or Soil Conservation District office located at the USDA Service Center. WRP applications will be ranked according to criteria that will determine which proposals offer the most environmental benefits at the lowest cost.

Last year NRCS Maryland provided almost $700,000 in WRP cost-share funds to farmers that allowed USDA to secure conservation easements on more than 300 wetland acres on Maryland’s Eastern Shore. Since 1999, NRCS Maryland has enrolled over 3,000 acres into WRP.

Participants in WRP voluntarily limit future use of the land, but retain private ownership. Landowners benefit by receiving financial and technical assistance in return for restoring and protecting wetlands, reducing problems associated with farming potentially wet and difficult areas, and developing wildlife and recreational opportunities on their land. Wetlands benefit the Nation by providing fish and wildlife habitat; improving water quality by filtering sediments and chemicals; reducing flooding; recharging groundwater; protecting biological diversity; as well as providing opportunities for educational, scientific, and recreational activities.

“NRCS and its partners continue to provide assistance to landowners after completion of restoration activities,” said Rose. “This assistance may be in the form of reviewing restoration measures, clarifying technical and administrative aspects of the easement and project management needs, and providing basic biological and engineering advice on how to achieve optimum results for wetland dependent species.”

NRCS is USDA’s lead conservation agency and has worked hand-in-hand with farmers and landowners for 71 years to conserve natural resources on private lands. Maryland’s landowners can learn more about conserving natural resources by contacting NRCS Maryland through USDA Service Centers or by visiting the NRCS Maryland homepage at www.md.nrcs.usda.gov.