Why Choose CRP? You Benefit. Land, Water and Wildlife Benefit. 

Wetland restoration on non-floodplains provides critical habitat for waterfowl, grassland birds, and other wildlife. 

The Conservation Reserve Program (CRP) provides farmers and landowners with practices like this to achieve 

many farming and conservation goals. Whatever the conservation challenge – soil conservation, water quality 

protection, or wildlife habitat enhancement – CRP is a proven land performance and management solution.

Why Wetland Restoration?

Preserving existing or creating new wetlands that 

have been converted for agricultural use is critical 

to long-term environmental health and land 

performance. Restoring wetland functions and 

values can yield tremendous benefits, including 

temporarily holding runoff to reduce downstream 

flooding, filtering sediment, nutrients and chemicals 

to protect water quality, and supporting hundreds 

of species of birds, plants, amphibians and other 

wildlife. Offered in continuous sign-up, CP-23A:

• Provides vital habitat for waterfowl, grassland 

birds, and other wetland species 

• Filters sediment and nutrient runoff

• Reduces downstream flooding damages

Farm Service Agency USDA is an equal opportunity provider and employer

Financial Benefits

CP-23A participants are guaranteed:

• 10-15 years of annual rental payments with an 

additional 20% Rental Rate Incentive

• Payments covering up to 90% of the eligible costs of 

establishing the wetland restoration practice

 - 50% from a Cost-Share Payment and

 - 40% from a Practice Incentive Payment (PIP) 

• Sign-up Incentive Payment (SIP) up to $150/acre

• Mid-Contract Management Cost Share

• Additional incentives may be available in your state 

under the Conservation Reserve Enhancement 

Program (CREP) 

Filter Runoff | Water Quality Enhancement | Habitat

Conservation Reserve Program

CP-23A

WETLAND RESTORATION, NON-FLOODPLAIN

Photo provided by USFWS/Steve Hilebrand
Farm Service Agency USDA is an equal opportunity provider and employer

FSA will ultimately determine participant and land eligibility.

Eligible Land

• Planted or considered planted 4 out of 6 years 

between 2008 and 2013 

• Capable of being planted to an agricultural 

commodity

• Compliant with USDA’s highly erodible land 

and wetland provisions

Practice Requirements

Land must: 

• Be outside the 100-year floodplain of a 

permanent river or stream

• Be available to install a protective upland buffer 

of native trees or grasses surrounding the 

wetland which shall not exceed a 4 to 1 ratio

• Be maintained without additional cost-share 

payments

• Noxious weeds and other undesirable plants, 

insects, and pests should be controlled

Owner/Operator Eligibility

Participants must: 

• Have owned or operated the land for more 

than 12 months prior to program sign-up

• Be in control of the land for the length of the 

contract 

• Meet USDA payment eligibility provisions

Obligations

Participants will:

• Work with USDA-approved conservationist to 

develop a conservation plan

• Perform periodic management activities on the 

wetland and buffer according to the provided 

conservation plan

• Not harvest or graze the practice area

• Complete seeding and installation of the practice 

within 12 months of the effective date of the contract

CP-23A

For More Information:

Contact your local USDA, Farm Service Agency:

http://offices.usda.gov

Proven Conservation Benefits

• Between 2005 and 2011, CRP contributed to an 

estimated net increase of 1.5 million additional ducks 

per year

• Restored wetlands can remove 40-90% of the nitrates 

and more than 90% of herbicides in runoff

• In 2014, CRP lowered greenhouse gasses by the 

equivalent of 43 million metric tons of CO2 – the 

same benefit as taking nearly 8 million cars off the 

road for a year

Photos provided NRCS, Don Poggensee, NRCS, Alice Welch and USFWS, Gary Kramer respectively