Wildlife Habitat Incentive Program

The Wildlife Habitat Incentive Program (WHIP) is a voluntary program for people who want to develop and improve wildlife habitat primarily on private land. Through WHIP USDA's Natural Resources Conservation Service provides both technical assistance and up to 75 percent cost-share assistance to establish and improve fish and wildlife habitat. WHIP agreements between NRCS and the participant generally last from 5 to 10 years from the date the agreement is signed.

WHIP has proven to be a highly effective and widely accepted program across the country. By targeting wildlife habitat projects on all lands and aquatic areas, WHIP provides assistance to conservation minded landowners that are unable to meet the specific eligibility requirements of other USDA conservation programs.

Program Information

Visit the national NRCS WHIP Web site for additional program information, including a fact sheet and sign-up information. Indiana program documents are listed below.       

• Indiana 2009 Ranking Criteria  (Documents require Microsoft Word)
  1)  WHIP General (DOC; 56 KB)
  2)  Invasive Species (DOC; 56 KB)
   
• Indiana 2010 WHIP Guidelines (DOC; 239 KB) (Document requires Microsoft Word)
• Strategic Plan for the Wildlife Habitat Incentive Program in Indiana

Program Job Sheets/Technical Notes

• Biology Job Sheets referenced in Indiana 2009 WHIP Guidelines
• Indiana Technical Notes related to Wetlands
  
  (Documents require Microsoft Word)
• Invasive Species Management Plan (DOC; 147 KB)
• Upland Wildlife Management Plan (DOC; 413 KB)

Program Contact

For program information, please contact your local district conservationist at the nearest USDA Service Center.

MaryJo Woodruff, Program Manager
NRCS, Indianapolis, IN