Missouri Sand Ecosystem 

Restoration SAFE

State Acres for Wildlife Enhancement (SAFE)

Overview

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

Missouri Department of Conservation in consultation 

with Missouri’s State Technical Committee are partners 

in implementing a State Acres for Wildlife Enhancement 

(SAFE) project to enroll agricultural land in ten counties 

in Southeast Missouri. The purpose of the Missouri Sand 

Ecosystem Restoration SAFE is to restore sand prairie, sand 

woodland, sand savannas, and associated sand upland/

wetland complexes in specific land type associations in 

Southeast Missouri with unique sandy soils.

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 Missouri Sand Ecosystem Restoration SAFE 

project is to provide habitat for Illinois Chorus Frogs and 

the Dusty Hog-nosed Snake. The Illinois Chorus Frogs and 

the Dusty Hog-nosed Snake are important to Missouri 

because the sandy areas of the Delta remain a high priority 

for habitat restoration for amphibians and reptiles.

Habitat

Landowners and agricultural producers participating in 

Missouri Sand Ecosystem Restoration 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 Illinois Chorus Frogs and the Dusty 

Hog-nosed Snake. The habitat being established is 

focused on maintaining, creating, managing the native 

habitat communities of Missouri and thereby providing 

essential habitat components for species of greatest 

conservation need. After the habitat is established, it will 

need to be maintained and managed by inter-seeding, 

prescribed burning, or herbicide application. Proper 

habitat establishment, maintenance, and management will 

maximize the restoration of sand prairie, sand woodland, 

sand savannas, and sand upland/wetland complexes.

MAY 2023 MISSOURI
STATE ACRES FOR WILDLIFE ENHANCEMENT (SAFE) 2

Project Location

The Missouri Sand Ecosystem Restoration SAFE project 

location is Bollinger, Butler, Cape Girardeau, Dunklin, 

Mississippi, New Madrid, Pemiscot, Ripley, Scott, and 

Stoddard counties.

Eligible CRP Practices

This SAFE project uses the following CRP practices:

 CP38E-2, SAFE Establishment of Warm Season 

Grasses

 CP38E-4D, SAFE Wildlife Habitat Planting

 CP38E-12, SAFE Food Plots

 CP38B-23, SAFE Wetland Restoration on Floodplains

 CP38B-23A, SAFE Non-Floodplain Wetlands Initiative

 CP38E-25, SAFE Rare and Declining Habitat

 CP38A-33, SAFE Upland Bird Habitat Buffer Initiative

 CP38E-42, SAFE Pollinator Habitat Initiative

Haying and Grazing

Managed or emergency haying or grazing is not allowed.

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

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.
Legend

FSA County Boundary 

Missouri Sand Ecosystem Restoration SAFE Project Area 

Atchison

Holt

Nodaway

Worth

Harrison

Mercer

Putnam

Sullivan

Grundy

Daviess

DeKalb

Gentry

Andrew

Buchanan Clinton Caldwell Livingston

Linn Macon

Randolph Monroe Ralls

Pike

Lincoln

St. Charles

St. Louis

St. Louis

City

Jeerson

Franklin

Gasconade

Warren

Montogmery

Callaway

Audrain

Boone

Howard Saline

Pettis

Cooper

Moniteau

Cole

Osage

Miller Maries

Camden

Dallas Laclede

Pulaski Phelps

Dent

Iron

Reynolds

Shannon

Carter

Wayne

Madison

Sainte

Genevieve

St.

Francois Perry

Bollinger

Scott

Mississippi

New

Madrid

Cape

Girardeau

Stoddard

Butler

Dunklin

Pemiscot

Oregon Ripley

Howell

Taney Ozark

Texas

Webster Wright

Douglas

Greene

Polk

Cedar

Vernon

Barton

Jasper

Newton

McDonald

Barry Stone

Christian

Lawrence

Dade

Hickory

St. Clair

Benton

Henry

Johnson

Cass

Bates

Jackson Lafayette

Morgan

Crawford Washington

Shelby Marion

Knox Lewis

Clark Schuyler Scotland

Adair

Chariton

Carroll

Ray Clay Platte

STATE ACRES FOR WILDLIFE ENHANCEMENT (SAFE)

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

Missouri Sand Ecosystem Restoration SAFE Project Map

MAY 2023