Colorado Upland

Bird SAFE

State Acres for Wildlife Enhancement (SAFE)

Overview

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

Parks and Wildlife (CPW) are partners in implementing a 

State Acres for Wildlife Enhancement (SAFE) project to 

enroll agricultural land in portions of 8 counties in northeast Colorado. The purpose of the Colorado Upland Bird 

SAFE is to maintain and improve core populations of 

grassland dependent birds including grasshopper sparrow, 

plains sharp-tailed grouse, ring-necked pheasant, greater 

prairie-chickens, and northern bobwhite quail through 

establishment and maintenance of vegetation required to 

meet these species needs.

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 Colorado Upland Bird SAFE project is to 

provide habitat for grasshopper sparrow, plains sharp-tailed 

grouse, ring-necked pheasant, greater prairie-chickens, and 

northern bobwhite quail. These bird species are important 

to Colorado because of the social and economic benefits 

to local communities in the area as well as their historic 

presence and role in the ecology of the region.

Habitat

Landowners and agricultural producers participating 

in Colorado Upland Bird SAFE are required to develop 

a conservation plan with assistance from the Natural 

Resources Conservation Service or a technical service 

provider. The conservation plan will provide details on how 

to plant, establish, and manage habitat for grasshopper 

sparrow, plains sharp-tailed grouse, ring-necked pheasant, 

greater prairie-chickens, and northern bobwhite quail. The 

habitat being established is diverse grasslands including 

grasses, forbs and legumes. After the habitat is established, 

it will need to be maintained and managed by discing and 

interseeding as needed and authorized. Proper habitat 

establishment, maintenance, and management will maximize 

benefits for the targeted bird species in this project.

MARCH 2023 COLORADO

Photo Courtesy: Jerry Neal, Colorado Parks and Wildlife.
STATE ACRES FOR WILDLIFE ENHANCEMENT (SAFE) 2

Project Location

The Colorado Upland Bird SAFE project location is portions 

or entirety of Weld, Logan, Morgan, Washington, Philips, 

Sedgwick, Yuma, and Kit Carson Counties in the area of the 

South Platte, Republican, and Arikaree Rivers.

Eligible CRP Practices

This SAFE project uses the following CRP practices:

 CP38E-CP4D, SAFE Permanent Wildlife Habitat

Haying and Grazing

Haying is not permitted. Grazing can only be used when the 

existing cover is exemplary, well established, and meets seed 

matrix specifications and during established timeframes. 

Emergency haying and/or grazing is not permitted.

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

Photo Courtesy: Noe, Marymore; USDA NRCS.

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/co

Colorado Upland Bird SAFE Project Map

MARCH 2023