Colorado Lesser 

Prairie-Chicken 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 6 counties in southeast Colorado. The purpose of the Colorado Lesser PrairieChicken SAFE is to improve nesting and brood rearing cover 

for the state endangered and federally threatened lesser 

prairie-chicken (LPC) in southeastern (SE) Colorado.

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 Lesser Prairie-Chicken SAFE 

project is to provide habitat for lesser prairie-chickens. 

Lesser prairie-chickens 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 

Lesser Prairie-Chicken SAFE are required to develop a 

conservation plan with assistance from 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 lesser prairie-chickens. 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, interseeding as 

needed and authorized. Proper habitat establishment, 

maintenance, and management will maximize benefits for 

lesser prairie-chickens.

MARCH 2023 COLORADO

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

Project Location

The Lesser Prairie-Chicken SAFE project location is portions 

or entirety of Baca, Prowers, Kiowa, Cheyenne, Lincoln, and 

Kit Carson counties in the areas of the Arkansas River and 

Two Butte and Big Sandy Creeks.

Eligible CRP Practices

This SAFE project uses the following CRP practices:

 CP38E-4D, SAFE Permanent Wildlife Habitat

Haying and Grazing

Haying is not permitted. Grazing can only be used when 

the existing cover is exemplary, well established, meets 

seed matrix specifications, and during specific timeframes. 

Emergency haying and/or grazing is not permitted.

USDA is an equal opportunity provider, employer, and lender.

Photo Courtesy: Trent Verquer, Colorado Parks and Wildlife.

fsa.usda.gov/co

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, USDA 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 Lesser Prairie-Chicken SAFE Project Map

MARCH 2023