MADISON - The Wetland Reserve Program is in trouble! So say advocates for this highly successful program designed to restore and protect wetlands on private property. WRP is one of the many conservation-related programs attached to the new Farm Bill which is in its final days of negotiations in Washington.
Wisconsin Sen. Herb Kohl authored corrective language to the bill, claims Executive Director Becky Abel of the Wisconsin Wetlands Association that would have restored the program to its previous status.
In recent days, however, various amendments have stripped the needed changes from the bill. According to Abel, a grass roots lobbying effort is needed now or the program's total acreage would be reduced by 65,000 acres, language fixing a flawed land appraisal system would disappear and the conservation easement payment schedule will go from a one-time payment to a 5-30 year payout.
Since 1990, Wisconsin landowners had enrolled more than 47,000 acres of wetlands in WRP with approximately 3,000 acres added each year until the recent changes were implemented, Abel says.
Because of those changes, private landowners enrolled less than 500 acres in the program in 2006. This turn of events was caused not from lack of interest or money, Abel asserts, but because financial incentive offers made to landowners were too low.
Prior to 2006, landowners could receive up to $2,000 per acre for their land. Since then they have been offered $200-$300 dollars per acre. The problem lies with the so-called "Yellow Book Appraisal" system now in use for WRP lands.
Yellow Book Appraisal was designed to take into account the post-restoration value of recreational and similar uses of properties in determining the appraised value of WRP easements, as opposed to using agricultural value.
"The results have been disastrous for Wisconsin and all but a few states," Abel reported in a recent article.
The Midwest in general and the Mississippi flyway in particular are the hardest hit by these actions, she explains. "Some states, such as California and Florida, will do better."
In addition, the backlog of landowners interested in the program was eliminated. According to Abel, NRCS staff was directed to contact everyone on the list asking them to either enroll in the program or have their name removed from the list. Most declined.
Ricky Lien, wildlife biologist for the Wisconsin Department of Natural Resources, adds that the WRP has been a great option for landowners who want to protect their wetlands, but who wish to retain ownership of the property.
"Farmers can sell a conservation easement or, in some cases, sell the land to one of several conservation organizations," he said.
Landowners can choose to enter into a cost-share agreement with the U.S. Department of Agriculture to restore and protect wetlands, Lien said. The landowner voluntarily limits future use of the land, yet retains private ownership. The property owner and the Natural Resource Conservation Service develop a plan for the restoration and maintenance of the wetland, he added.
Without immediate action, Wisconsin will continue to lose federal money and will bring the program close to a halt for the duration of the new Farm Bill, Abel said.
"Wisconsin sent $5 million dollars in WRP money back to the federal government last year because landowners would not enroll the acres in the program under the new system."
Abel suggests Wisconsin farmers, hunters, anglers and other conservation-minded citizens and organizations contact Senator Kohl to tell him that our farms, lakes and rivers need improved wetlands established through the Wetland Reserve Program.
Specifically, the number of acres must be restored to 250,000, yellow book appraisal must be rescinded and the conservation easement payment schedule should revert to the 2002 Farm Bill protocol.
Wisconsin Wetlands Association officials suggest that anyone sending an e-mail or other correspondence to members of Congress provide a copy to their office at alert@wisconsinwetlands.org. This will help the organization monitor lobbying efforts. More information about the need to preserve our wetlands is available at www.wisconsinwetlands.org.
Wisconsin Sen. Herb Kohl authored corrective language to the bill, claims Executive Director Becky Abel of the Wisconsin Wetlands Association that would have restored the program to its previous status.
In recent days, however, various amendments have stripped the needed changes from the bill. According to Abel, a grass roots lobbying effort is needed now or the program's total acreage would be reduced by 65,000 acres, language fixing a flawed land appraisal system would disappear and the conservation easement payment schedule will go from a one-time payment to a 5-30 year payout.
Since 1990, Wisconsin landowners had enrolled more than 47,000 acres of wetlands in WRP with approximately 3,000 acres added each year until the recent changes were implemented, Abel says.
Because of those changes, private landowners enrolled less than 500 acres in the program in 2006. This turn of events was caused not from lack of interest or money, Abel asserts, but because financial incentive offers made to landowners were too low.
Prior to 2006, landowners could receive up to $2,000 per acre for their land. Since then they have been offered $200-$300 dollars per acre. The problem lies with the so-called "Yellow Book Appraisal" system now in use for WRP lands.
Yellow Book Appraisal was designed to take into account the post-restoration value of recreational and similar uses of properties in determining the appraised value of WRP easements, as opposed to using agricultural value.
"The results have been disastrous for Wisconsin and all but a few states," Abel reported in a recent article.
The Midwest in general and the Mississippi flyway in particular are the hardest hit by these actions, she explains. "Some states, such as California and Florida, will do better."
In addition, the backlog of landowners interested in the program was eliminated. According to Abel, NRCS staff was directed to contact everyone on the list asking them to either enroll in the program or have their name removed from the list. Most declined.
Ricky Lien, wildlife biologist for the Wisconsin Department of Natural Resources, adds that the WRP has been a great option for landowners who want to protect their wetlands, but who wish to retain ownership of the property.
"Farmers can sell a conservation easement or, in some cases, sell the land to one of several conservation organizations," he said.
Landowners can choose to enter into a cost-share agreement with the U.S. Department of Agriculture to restore and protect wetlands, Lien said. The landowner voluntarily limits future use of the land, yet retains private ownership. The property owner and the Natural Resource Conservation Service develop a plan for the restoration and maintenance of the wetland, he added.
Without immediate action, Wisconsin will continue to lose federal money and will bring the program close to a halt for the duration of the new Farm Bill, Abel said.
"Wisconsin sent $5 million dollars in WRP money back to the federal government last year because landowners would not enroll the acres in the program under the new system."
Abel suggests Wisconsin farmers, hunters, anglers and other conservation-minded citizens and organizations contact Senator Kohl to tell him that our farms, lakes and rivers need improved wetlands established through the Wetland Reserve Program.
Specifically, the number of acres must be restored to 250,000, yellow book appraisal must be rescinded and the conservation easement payment schedule should revert to the 2002 Farm Bill protocol.
Wisconsin Wetlands Association officials suggest that anyone sending an e-mail or other correspondence to members of Congress provide a copy to their office at alert@wisconsinwetlands.org. This will help the organization monitor lobbying efforts. More information about the need to preserve our wetlands is available at www.wisconsinwetlands.org.
