Missouri River Wetlands Program Extends West

Hamburg Bend of the Missouri River Photo courtesy Nebraska Game and Parks Commission

Because of landowner and Tribe interest and response from organizations with an interest in the river, the Natural Resources Conservation Service has extended the Wetlands Reserve Enhancement Program westward.

Land within roughly a mile of the Missouri River will be eligible to restore wetlands in a continuous sign-up process, according to Steve Chick, State Conservationist for the NRCS. View the revised map. (PDF)

“The entire floodplain is now within the reach of the program, including National Recreational River stretches,” says Jason Skold, Missouri River Program Manager for The Nature Conservancy. "This is an important part of the river to restore and protect.”

This voluntary program offers both financial and technical assistance for those wishing to restore wetlands and increase wildlife habitat. Landowners retain ownership and access to the land.

WREP Corridor Map Click to view PDF

The intention of the Wetlands Reserve Enhancement Program is to create wildlife habitat and floodplain corridors to link wetlands and non-wetlands together. These areas increase habitat to aid wildlife and increase recreational opportunities. The wetlands can also help reduce flooding and improve water quality.

The goal of the WREP is to restore 18,800 acres. Since the start of the project in 2004, landowners have restored about 10,000 acres.

The Conservancy provides critical private restoration dollars in the original project area and technical support to this program, working with the Natural Resources Conservation Service and other federal, state and local entities.

The Conservancy is also establishing trial plots within selected WREP restorations, planting them with a high diversity of native wetland and prairie species once common, but not often found today. The Conservancy is also helping establish the largest (295 acres) high diversity restoration on private lands along the river in Nebraska.

Missouri River wetland Photo © Jason Skold/TNC

What is learned will inform conservation efforts across the lower portion of the system, with the goal of ultimately influencing restoration on the entire system.

Working with landowners on management of their projects will help sustain their conservation value for decades to come.