Restore Your Wetlands with ACEP-WRE

Get funding to restore and protect wetlands on your land with NRCS and Ducks Unlimited

Ducks Unlimited helps private landowners navigate the Agricultural Conservation Easement Program – Wetland Reserve Easement (ACEP-WRE), a United States Department of Agriculture (USDA) program that funds wetland restoration and protection on private lands. Could this program be right for you and your land?

What is ACEP-WRE?

The Agricultural Conservation Easement Program – Wetland Reserve Easement is a voluntary federal conservation program administered by the USDA Natural Resources Conservation Service (NRCS). This nationwide program pays landowners to restore and protect wetlands. ACEP-WRE enables you to retire marginal agricultural lands and restore native vegetation and wildlife habitat. These activities may improve passive recreation opportunities, such as hunting and fishing.

Benefits for Landowners:

Financial compensation for enrolling eligible land into conservation easements or contracts.
Restoration of degraded wetlands to enhance wildlife habitat and water quality.
Protection of eligible adjacent land such as forest land, grassland, riparian areas and wetlands that do not meet eligible criteria.
Long-term protection and stewardship of natural wetland functions.
You can use ACEP-WRE payments to acquire land that is more suitable for active agriculture use.

How the Program Works

ACEP-WRE provides landowners with financial incentives and expert guidance to restore wetlands on their property. Participants apply for this program at their local USDA Service Center. NRCS enters into purchase agreements with eligible private landowners or Indian Tribes. NRCS and the landowner work together to identify how much land will be enrolled, which easement option is the best fit for the property, and develop a wetland restoration plan.

Easement Options

Permanent Easements

Permanent easements are conservation easements in perpetuity. NRCS pays 100 percent of the easement value for the purchase of the easement, and 75% to 100% of the restoration costs.

30-Year Easements & Contracts

30-Year easements and contracts expire after 30 years. Under 30-year easements or contracts, NRCS pays 50% to 75% of the value for the purchase of the easement or contract, and 50% to 75% of the restoration costs.

Is this program right for you?

If you answer YES to any of the following questions than ACEP-WRE may be a good fit for you:

Do you have wet areas on your farm or ranch that are consistently failing due to flooding?
Do you want to expand your existing conservation efforts to achieve a higher level of environmental stewardship?
Do you want to receive compensation for enrolling your land in voluntary conservation programs?

How to Enroll?

Eligibility Requirements

To qualify, your land must meet NRCS criteria, including previously degraded wetlands, restoration potential, and a minimum ownership period of 24 months (with some exceptions).

Landowners must also meet income and conservation compliance requirements before applying. If the land is owned by more than one person or entity, each owner must individually meet these requirements.

Application Process

Submit an application: Applications are processed through the USDA Service Center to determine land and landowner eligibility. NRCS accepts ACEP-WRE applications year-round and funding is provided through a competitive process.
Site visit & ranking: NRCS evaluates the land and ranks applications based on conservation benefits and feasibility. Applications selected for funding will undergo additional due diligence, like preliminary title search and environmental assessment.
Agreement & restoration: If selected, NRCS collaborates with the landowner to finalize the easement and develop a wetland restoration plan.
Long-term stewardship: NRCS provides continued guidance on managing and maintaining the restored wetland.

Contact the NRCS office at your local USDA Service Center to discuss options for your land. You can also connect with DU Conservation Staff.

DU can provide assistance in navigating ACEP-WRE and other conservation programs. For more information, reach out to Abby Rokosch (arokosch@ducks.org) to learn how we can assist you in protecting and restoring wetlands on your land.

How Ducks Unlimited Supports Landowners

Program Guidance

DU assists landowners in understanding program eligibility and application steps.

Wetland Restoration Support

DU conservation staff help implement wetland restoration plans and habitat improvements.

Navigating USDA Programs

DU offers expertise in USDA programs, including addressing property concerns and landowner-specific challenges. Learn More

Next Steps for Landowners

For a deeper dive, visit the ACEP-WRE Toolkit for Landowners developed by the American Farmland Trust in cooperation with NRCS.

Explore NRCS Resources