United States Department of Agriculture
Natural Resources Conservation Service
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Indiana Wetlands Reserve Program

Great Blue Heron

The Wetlands Reserve Program (WRP) is the Nation’s premier wetlands restoration program.  It is a voluntary program that offers landowners the means and the opportunity to protect, restore, and enhance wetlands on their property.  The USDA Natural Resources Conservation Service (NRCS) manages the program as well as provides technical and financial support to help landowners that participate in WRP.
 
(Right: Photo by Bob Steiner, NRCS Indiana)

Program objectives are:

1) to purchase conservation easements from, or enter into cost-share agreements with willing owners of eligible land, 2) help eligible landowners, protect, restore, and enhance the original hydrology, native vegetation, and natural topography of eligible lands, 3) restore and protect the functions and values of wetlands in the agricultural landscape, 4) help achieve the national goal of no net loss of wetlands, and to improve the general environment of the country. 

The emphasis of the WRP program is to protect, restore and enhance the functions and values of wetland ecosystems to  attain: 1) first and foremost, habitat for migratory birds and wetland dependent wildlife, including threatened and endangered species,  2) protection and improvement of water quality, 3) lessen water flows due to flooding, 4) recharge of ground water, 5) protection and  enhancement of open space and aesthetic quality, 6) protection of native flora and fauna contributing to the Nation’s natural heritage and 7) contribute to educational and scholarship.

 Additional information:

These Documents require Microsoft Word  word icon or Adobe Acrobat acrobat icon

acrobat icon Indiana WRP Questions & Answers 

Step-by-step application information

microsoft word document Indiana WRP Ranking Worksheet and Ranking Guidance

These Documents require Adobe Acrobat acrobat icon

adobe acrobat document Indiana WRP- FEP Acres Map
Using Micro and Macrotopography in Wetland Restoration-Indiana Biology Technical Note No. 1

adobe acrobat document WRP Photo Collage
 

Forms (New)

Indiana WRP Photo Gallery

Additional Indiana WRP maps, photography, and success stories

Floodplain Easement Program (FEP)