The USDA Natural Resources Conservation Service-PA is providing up to $30 million in technical and financial assistance through the Wetland Reserve Enhancement Partnership (WREP) to help conservation partners protect and restore critical wetlands on agricultural lands in Pennsylvania.

Proposals are due November 30.

Wetlands help improve water quality downstream, enhance wildlife habitat, reduce impacts from flooding, and provide recreational benefits.

“This partnership enhances the locally driven process to better address critical wetland functions that progress beyond localities,” said Denise Coleman, State Conservationist for USDA’s Natural Resources Conservation Service. “WREP works with other NRCS landscape-level conservation efforts to coordinate the delivery of conservation assistance to producers in targeted areas that yield the most impacts for accelerated benefits nationally and regionally. Continuing to leverage these partnerships helps us continue the important work with producers to help recover the health of wetland ecosystems on working lands.”

Eligible conservation partners in Pennsylvania will work through WREP to voluntarily execute high priority wetland protection, restoration, and enhancement activities on eligible agriculture lands.

WREP enables effective integration of wetland restoration on working agricultural landscapes, providing meaningful benefits to farmers who enroll in the program and to the communities where the wetlands exist.

Proposals should be either mailed to USDA-NRCS, 359 East Park Drive, Suite 2, Harrisburg, PA,17111, or emailed to Susan Marquart at Susan.Marquart@usda.gov  and Hathaway Jones at Hathaway.Jones@usda.gov.

For more information on farmer and landowner financial and technical assistance, visit the NRCS-PA webpage.

Related Article - NRCS:

NSAC: Final USDA Farm Conservation Stewardship Rule Will Harm Farmers, Set Back Conservation Efforts

Related Articles - Watershed Restoration:

-- New Poll Shows 90% Of PA Voters Want Senate, House Members To Address Environmental, Conservation Priorities, Provide More Funding For Critical Programs

-- DEP Citizens Advisory Council Meets Oct. 20 To Hear Update On PA Chesapeake Bay Watershed Cleanup Efforts

-- DEP Awards $4.9 Million In EPA Section 319 Grants To 23 Watershed Restoration Projects; $3 Million Still Available

-- New Trees Are Healing North Harford Maple Farm From Abandoned Constitution Natural Gas Pipeline Clearcut In Susquehanna County

-- Stroud Center: Volunteers Help Plant Trees For Healthy Streams In Chester County

-- Lancaster Clean Water Partners: Stormwater Lunch & Learn Virtual Mini Series

-- U.S. Dept. Of Energy Awards $1.95 Million For Conceptual Designs For Rare Earth Mineral Extraction From Coal Sources, Including 4 PA Projects

-- Help Wanted: PA Assn. Of Conservation Districts Agricultural Conservation Technician

[Posted: October 7, 2020]

10/12/2020