Oklahoma Habitat Restoration 

for Northern Bobwhite and 

Monarch Butterfly SAFE

State Acres for Wildlife Enhancement (SAFE)

Overview

The U.S. Department of Agriculture (USDA) and Oklahoma 

Department of Wildlife Conservation (ODWC) are partners 

in implementing a State Acres for Wildlife Enhancement 

(SAFE) project to enroll agricultural land in 44 central and 

western Oklahoma counties. The purpose of the Oklahoma 

Habitat Restoration for Northern Bobwhite and Monarch 

Butterfly SAFE is to restore mixed-and tall-grass prairie 

type associations in western and central Oklahoma to 

benefit northern bobwhite, monarch butterfly, and other 

grassland obligate wildlife populations.

Background

SAFE is part of the USDA Conservation Reserve Program 

(CRP). CRP is a federally funded voluntary program that 

contracts with landowners and agricultural producers to 

establish and manage vegetative covers that control soil 

erosion, improve water quality, and provide wildlife habitat. 

SAFE is a unique type of CRP that offers organizations 

the opportunity to partner with the USDA to establish 

habitat for high-priority wildlife species on agricultural 

land. SAFE sponsors work with the USDA to identify the 

wildlife species, the vegetative cover that provides habitat 

for the target species, and the location in the state where 

the habitat is needed. A partnership is formed between the 

SAFE sponsor and the USDA, and federal funds are made 

available to allow for CRP enrollment on eligible land within 

the SAFE project location.

Target Wildlife Species

The goal of the Oklahoma Habitat Restoration for 

Northern Bobwhite and Monarch Butterfly SAFE 

project is to provide habitat for grassland dependent 

wildlife, including northern bobwhite quail and monarch 

butterflies. These species are important to Oklahoma 

because each has suffered significant population declines 

and both play important economic and ecological roles.

Habitat

Landowners and agricultural producers participating in 

Oklahoma Habitat Restoration for Northern Bobwhite 

and Monarch Butterfly SAFE are required to develop a 

conservation plan with assistance from the USDA Natural 

Resources Conservation Service (NRCS) or a technical 

service provider. The conservation plan will provide details 

on how to plant, establish, and manage habitat for northern 

bobwhite and monarch butterflies. The habitats being 

established are diverse, native grass-forb habitats including 

mixed- and tallgrass prairie, sand sage/bluestem shrubland, 

and sand plum shrubland that provide important cover and 

critical foods for bobwhites and monarchs. After the habitat 

is established, it will need to be maintained and managed 

by controlling noxious weeds and either grazing, prescribed 

burning, strip disking, strip spraying, interseeding, or mowing 

to maintain plant diversity. Proper habitat establishment, 

maintenance, and management will maximize benefits for 

northern bobwhite, monarch butterflies, and other grassland 

dependent species.

JULY 2023 OKLAHOMA
STATE ACRES FOR WILDLIFE ENHANCEMENT (SAFE) 2

Project Location

The Oklahoma Habitat Restoration for Northern Bobwhite 

and Monarch Butterfly SAFE project is located in part or all 

of Alfalfa, Beaver, Beckham, Blaine, Caddo, Canadian, Carter, 

Cleveland, Comanche, Cotton, Creek, Custer, Dewey, Ellis, 

Garfield, Garvin, Grant, Greer, Harmon, Harper, Jackson, 

Jefferson, Kay, Kingfisher, Kiowa, Logan, Love, Major, 

McClain, Murray, Noble, Okfuskee, Oklahoma, Osage, 

Pawnee, Payne, Roger Mills, Stephens, Texas, Tillman, 

Washita, Woods, Woodward counties.

Eligible CRP Practices

This SAFE project uses the following CRP practices:

 CP38E-2 Native Grasses and Legumes

 CP38E-4D Permanent Wildlife Habitat

 CP38E-25 Rare and Declining Habitat

 CP38E-42 Pollinator Habitat

Haying and Grazing

Non-emergency grazing is eligible for mid-contract 

management. Furthermore, grazing may be used every 

other year under the guidance of the NRCS Conservation 

Plan and 2-CRP (Rev.6) to increase stand diversity and 

bare ground while abiding by NRCS’ minimum grass height 

recommendation, except that an average minimum residual 

USDA is an equal opportunity provider, employer, and lender. fsa.usda.gov/ok

Photo by Steven Hunter, Regional Plant Central

grazing height of 6 inches will be maintained. Emergency 

grazing is allowable but must comply with the managed 

grazing standards outlined within the contract. Emergency 

grazing will count in the frequency at which grazing can 

occur. Haying will not be allowed.

Eligibility Requirements

Because SAFE is part of CRP, certain land and participant 

eligibility rules apply. To begin with, land must be in the 

project area and meet cropping history. CRP participant 

eligibility rules also apply to SAFE.

Payments and Incentives

In exchange for participation in CRP SAFE, the Farm 

Service Agency (FSA) provides participants with annual 

per acre rental payments, cost-share to assist with habitat 

establishment expenses, and in some cases additional 

monetary incentives.

For More Information

This fact sheet is provided for informational purposes only; 

other restrictions or requirements may apply. Consult your 

local FSA office for details. For more information, contact 

your local service center and USDA Farm Service Agency 

office: farmers.gov/service-locator.
STATE ACRES FOR WILDLIFE ENHANCEMENT (SAFE)

USDA is an equal opportunity provider, employer, and lender. fsa.usda.gov/ok

Oklahoma Habitat Restoration for Northern Bobwhite and 

Monarch Butterfly SAFE Project Map

JULY 2023