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

The Bottomland Hardwood Tree initiative improves the environment by restoring hardwood forests within 

floodplains. The Conservation Reserve Program (CRP) provides farmers and landowners with initiatives 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.

Farm Service Agency USDA is an equal opportunity provider and employer

Conservation Reserve Program

Affiliated Practice:

CP-31 Bottomland Timber Establishment

For more information about this individual 

practice, visit: http://www.fsa.usda.gov

Bottomland hardwoods are streamside forest trees – such as oak, 

maple, ash, cypress, and tupelo – that typically grow on lands prone to 

flooding. Placing cropland into ecologically diverse bottomland forests 

helps restore wetlands. By enrolling in the Bottomland Hardwood 

Tree practice, landowners and farmers provide public benefits 

from improved recreational and environmental value. In addition, 

the bottomland forests will produce valuable timber, providing an 

investment for future years.

BOTTOMLAND HARDWOOD TREES INITIATIVE

Wildlife Habitat Enhancement | Carbon Sequestration | Flood Control

What are Bottomland Hardwood Trees? 

And why are they important?

Photos courtesy of USFWS, Steve Hilebrand respectively
Farm Service Agency USDA is an equal opportunity provider and employer

Bottomland Hardwood Trees 

Initiative Benefits 

Bottomland hardwood forests are a streamside ecosystem that 

provides many critical services. Bottomland forests reduce the 

risk and severity of downstream flooding by providing areas to 

store floodwater. These wetlands also improve water quality by 

filtering and flushing nutrients, processing nitrates and organic 

wastes, and reducing sediment before it reaches open water. 

Bottomland forests store large amounts of carbon in trees and 

the soil, and provide critical habitat for waterfowl, migratory 

birds, wild turkey, and other wildlife.

Impact

• Restores and enhances the natural and beneficial functions of bottomland wetlands 

• Creates, restores, and enhances wildlife habitat 

• Provides a corridor to connect habitat for wildlife and migratory species

• Improves water quality by removing nitrogen and phosphorus

• Stores flood waters and reduces downstream flooding

• Intercepts and traps sediment

• Promotes carbon sequestration

Financial Benefits

• 10-15 years of annual rental payments with an 

 additional 20% Rental Rate Incentive 

• Payments covering 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

• Additional incentives may be available in your

 state under the Conservation Reserve

 Enhancement Program (CREP) 

CRP

For more information, contact your local USDA Farm Service Agency: http://offices.usda.gov

Photos courtesy of USFWS, Eugene Hester and Mark Musselman respectively