Washington Ferruginous 

Hawk SAFE

State Acres for Wildlife Enhancement (SAFE)

Overview

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

Department of Fish and Wildlife are partnering on a State 

Acres for Wildlife Enhancement (SAFE) project to enroll 

agricultural land in portions of Adams, Benton, Franklin, 

and Walla Walla counties in Washington, focusing on 

recently active ferruginous hawk nesting territories. The 

project’s purpose is to conserve shrubsteppe habitat at a 

landscape scale and increase connectivity between patches 

of native shrubsteppe habitat to benefit ferruginous hawk, 

burrowing owl, white-tailed and black-tailed jackrabbits, and 

Washington ground squirrel.

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 Washington Ferruginous Hawk SAFE 

project is to establish shrubsteppe habitat and increase 

jackrabbit and ground squirrel populations to provide prey 

for ferruginous hawks and burrowing owls. This work is vital 

to conserving, connecting, and enhancing the remaining 

shrubsteppe habitat in the region to benefit the Ferruginous 

hawk, a state endangered species.

AUGUST 2023 WASHINGTON

Photos by Larry Umthun

Habitat

Landowners and agricultural producers participating in 

Washington Ferruginous Hawk 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 ferruginous hawk and other shrubsteppe dependent 

species. After the habitat is established, it will need to be 

maintained and managed by activities such as herbicide and 

mechanical weed treatments, light disking, rotary clipping, 

prescribed burning, harrowing, and inter-seeding to create 

plant diversity for the benefit of wildlife and enhancement 

of the permanent cover. Proper habitat establishment, 

maintenance, and management will maximize benefits for 

ferruginous hawk and other shrubsteppe dependent species.
STATE ACRES FOR WILDLIFE ENHANCEMENT (SAFE) 2

Project Location

Project locations include portions of Adams, Benton, 

Franklin, and Walla Walla counties, and focuses on recently 

active ferruginous hawk nesting territories. These counties 

were designated as the general project region because 

they encompass most of Washington’s critical existing 

ferruginous hawk habitat.

Eligible CRP Practices

This SAFE project uses the following CRP practices:

 CP38A-22, SAFE Riparian Forest Buffer (MPL not 

eligible for this SAFE project)

 CP38E-4D, SAFE Permanent Wildlife Habitat, noneasement

Haying and Grazing

Although the 2018 Farm Bill allows haying and grazing on 

all CRP practices, haying, and grazing are not allowed on any 

Washington State SAFE practices.

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

Photo by Larry Umthun

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/wa

Washington Ferruginous Hawk SAFE Project Map

AUGUST 2023