Texas Lower Rio Grande 

Valley Thornscrub SAFE

State Acres for Wildlife Enhancement (SAFE)

Overview

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

Parks & Wildlife Department, U.S. Fish & Wildlife Service, 

Natural Resources Conservation Service, American Forests, 

Rio Grande Joint Venture, Quail Forever are partners in 

implementing a State Acres for Wildlife Enhancement 

(SAFE) project to enroll agricultural land in 5 counties of the 

Lower Rio Grande Valley of Texas. The purpose of the Texas 

Lower Rio Grande Valley Thornscrub SAFE is to restore and 

maintain Tamaulipan thornscrub and associated shrubland 

and grassland habitats.

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 Texas Lower Rio Grande Valley Thornscrub 

SAFE project is to provide habitat for Ocelots and 

other Texas thornscrub dependent species. Ocelots 

are important to Texans because they are a charismatic 

imperiled species that is an iconic representative of a 

unique and important disappearing ecosystem.

Habitat

Landowners and agricultural producers participating in Texas 

Lower Rio Grande Valley Thornscrub 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 Texas Ocelots. The habitat being established is 

highly diverse native thornscrub and associated grasslands. 

After the habitat is established, it will need to be maintained 

and managed by grassland habitats will need to be 

maintained and managed preferably with prescribed fire or 

other non-soil disturbing early successional habitat practices. 

Established diverse native brush should not be disturbed 

with mechanical treatments. Proper habitat establishment, 

maintenance, and management will maximize benefits for 

Ocelots and other native wildlife species.

AUGUST 2023 TEXAS
STATE ACRES FOR WILDLIFE ENHANCEMENT (SAFE) 2

Project Location

The Texas Lower Rio Grande Valley Thornscrub SAFE 

project is located in Cameron, Hidalgo, Kenedy, Starr, and 

Willacy counties.

Eligible CRP Practices

This SAFE project uses the following CRP practices:

 CP38E-4D SAFE Permanent Wildlife Habitat

 CP38E-25 SAFE Grass Rare and Declining Habitat

 CP38C-25 SAFE Tree Rare and Declining Habitat

 CP38A-33 SAFE Habitat Buffers for Upland Bird

Haying and Grazing

Non-Emergency Haying or Grazing is not permitted on 

enrolled Woody Plants: CP38E-4D, CP38E-25, CP38C-25 

at any time, and is not permitted on Herbaceous Cover: 

CP38E-4D, CP38E-33 acres except when conducted 

as a maintenance or mid-contract management activity 

prescribed and under guidance by NRCS or a qualified TSP.

Emergency Haying or Grazing is not permitted on enrolled 

Woody Plants: CP38E-4D, CP38E-25, CP38C-25.

Emergency Haying or Grazing is permitted on enrolled 

Herbaceous Cover: CP38E-4D, CP38E-33 according to 

2-CRP Manual, Paragraph 681.

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

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/tx

Texas Lower Rio Grande Valley Thornscrub SAFE Project Map

AUGUST 2023