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

Wetland restoration on floodplains improves water quality and creates critical habitat for wetland species. 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?

Restoring former or creating new wetlands that 

had been converted for agricultural use is critical 

to long-term environmental health and ecosystem 

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-23:

• 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-23 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 | Wildlife Habitat

Conservation Reserve Program

CP-23

WETLAND RESTORATION ON FLOODPLAINS

Photo provided by MO FSA
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

• Located within the 100-year floodplain of a 

permanent river or stream

Practice Requirements

• An upland buffer of native trees or grasses 

must be installed protecting the wetland; the 

buffer cannot be more than 3 times the size 

of the wetland 

• Noxious weeds and other undesirable plants, 

insects, and pests should be controlled

• Practice will be maintained without 

additional cost-share payments

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-23

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 by Gary Kramer/USFWS, FSA, NRCS respectively