Wetlands Reserve Program
Active
- Assistance listing
- 10.072
- Agency
-
National Resources Conservation Service
Department of Agriculture
- Grant awards
- 609 $44,288,521 in federal obligations
Program facts
- Also known as
- (WRP)
- Assistance types
-
- Cooperative Agreement
- Project Grant
- Block Grant
- Treasury accounts
-
- 12-4336-0-1-302
- 12-1080-0-1-302
- 12-1004-0-1-302
- More information
Program details come from SAM.gov Assistance Listings. Updated . Grant award figures come from USAspending.gov.
About this program
The Department of Agriculture National Resources Conservation Service is no longer accepting new enrollments under the Wetlands Reserve Program (CFDA 10.072), which was repealed effective February 7, 2014, but continues to disburse grants for restoration and stewardship of existing easements, with the most recent award on May 28, 2024.
This program is functionally closed to new landowner enrollments but remains active for management of previously established easements. The portfolio shows 609 total awards since 2007, with a declining award cadence over the past five years (6 awards in 2019, 5 in 2020, 4 in 2021, 7 in 2022, and only 1 in 2024). The National Resources Conservation Service funds 99.8 percent of awards by count (608 of 609 awards, $44.2 million federal dollars), with a single $100 thousand award from the Army Corps of Engineers Fort Worth District. Combined federal obligated dollars total $44.3 million across the portfolio; non-federal match adds minimal value (total combined obligation $44.4 million).
Funding is structured almost entirely through Cooperative Agreements—98 percent of the portfolio (597 awards)—with a small share of Project Grants (2 percent, 11 awards) and one Block Grant. Recent awarded activities focus on restoration design, implementation, monitoring, and stewardship of wetland and floodplain easements already protected under WRP, Agricultural Conservation Easement Program Wetland Reserve Easements (ACEP-WRE), and Emergency Watershed Protection Floodplain Easement (EWPP-FPE) components. Representative recent awards include $3 million to develop a nationally scalable monitoring and assessment program for ACEP-WRE (March 2021), $1.9 million for easement restoration in an umbrella agreement (July 2020), and $777,923 to restore and protect farmed wetlands and riparian areas (July 2020). Smaller awards fund technical surveys, hydrological inventories, habitat assessments, ecological monitoring, crop residue management evaluation, prescribed fire implementation on easement properties, and pollinator habitat enhancement planning.
An opportunity is currently open: USDA-NHQ-ACEP-26-NOFO0001456, "Easement Restoration and Stewardship," due November 19, 2026, solicits Cooperative Agreements from higher education institutions, tribal governments, state and local governments, nonprofits, and for-profit organizations to conduct restoration design, implementation, stewardship, and assessment work on WRE and EWPP-FPE easements.
Objective and description
- Objective
To assist landowners in restoring and protecting wetlands on eligible lands on which they agree to enter into a permanent or 30-year long-term easement (30-year contract for Indian Tribes), or a restoration cost-share agreement with the Secretary. Th
Eligibility
- Beneficiary eligibility
An individual landowner, partnership, association, corporation, estate, trust, other business enterprises or other legal entities and Indian Tribe. This program was repealed by the Agricultural Act of 2014 (2014 Farm Bill), effective February 7, 2014. Therefore, no new enrollments are authorized for this program after that date. Implementation of contracts entered into prior to that date will continue.
- Uses of assistance
The goal of the WRP is to achieve the greatest wetland functions and values, along with optimum wildlife habitat on every acre enrolled in the program. At least 70 percent of the wetland and upland areas will be restored to the natural condition to the extent practicable; the remaining 30 percent of the project area may be restored to other than natural conditions.
- Length and time phasing of assistance
Cash easement payments will be made in a lump sum amount or in annual installments beginning at closing. Cost share payments for implementation of easement practices will be made when a specific practice has been implemented by either the landowner or contractor.
How to apply
- Application procedure
Not applicable. This program was repealed by the Agricultural Act of 2014 (2014 Farm Bill), effective February 7, 2014. Therefore, no new enrollments are authorized for this program after that date.
- Appeals
Landowner may appeal certain determinations to the National Appeals Division.
Grant opportunities
Show all 18
Grant awards
Latest 10 of 609 listed here. See the rest on GovTribe.
Top recipients by federal obligations
| Rank | Recipient | Federal obligations | Share |
|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | The Trust For Tomorrow | $8,181,962 | 18% |
| 2 | Ducks Unlimited, Inc. | $7,968,330 | 18% |
| 3 | University Of Arkansas System | $3,000,000 | 7% |
| 4 | Pheasants Forever, Inc. | $2,078,819 | 5% |
| 5 | Ducks Unlimited Inc. | $1,994,835 | 5% |
| 6 | Delta Wildlife Inc. | $1,656,606 | 4% |
| 7 | Ducks Unlimited, Inc. | $1,531,108 | 3% |
| 8 | Mississippi River Trust | $1,355,429 | 3% |
| 9 | Suwannee River Water Management District | $796,268 | 2% |
9 of 215 recipients listed here. See the rest on GovTribe.
Federal obligations by fiscal year
| Fiscal year | Federal obligations |
|---|---|
| FY2026 | -$39,628 |
| FY2025 | -$60,664 |
| FY2024 | -$1,207,331 |
| FY2023 | $6,047,068 |
| FY2022 | $3,259,695 |
| FY2021 | $4,017,407 |
| FY2020 | $7,770,015 |
| FY2019 | -$9,057 |
| FY2012 | $400,095 |
| FY2011 | $7,283,039 |
| FY2010 | $4,536,107 |
| FY2009 | $2,708,717 |
| FY2008 | $3,132,812 |
| FY2007 | $5,626,424 |
Show all 14
Quick answers
What is Assistance Listing 10.072?
Assistance Listing 10.072 is Wetlands Reserve Program, a federal grant program run by National Resources Conservation Service (Department of Agriculture).
What is the CFDA number for Wetlands Reserve Program?
Its CFDA number is 10.072: Assistance Listing numbers were called CFDA numbers before 2018.
How much funding has Assistance Listing 10.072 awarded?
609 grant awards under 10.072 have obligated $44,288,521 in federal funds to 215 recipients.
Who receives the most funding from 10.072?
The recipients obligated the most under Wetlands Reserve Program are The Trust For Tomorrow ($8,181,962), Ducks Unlimited, Inc. ($7,968,330) and University Of Arkansas System ($3,000,000).
How much did 10.072 obligate in fiscal year 2025?
Grants under 10.072 obligated -$60,664 in federal funds in fiscal year 2025.
Are there open grant opportunities under 10.072?
1 listed opportunity under 10.072 is open or forecasted. The latest, Easement Restoration and Stewardship, was posted on September 25, 2026.
On GovTribe
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