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USDA ANNOUNCES Funding Applications for Wetlands Habitat Improvement Accepted until February 10, 2012

Contact:  Christina Coulon, 614-255-2471

COLUMBUS, January 18, 2012 - USDA Natural Resources Conservation Service (NRCS) Ohio State Conservationist Terry Cosby announced today the availability of Wetlands Reserve Enhancement Program (WREP) funding to enter into agreements with eligible partners to carry out high priority wetland protection, restoration and enhancement activities on eligible lands. 

“Nationally, up to $17 million is available through General WREP for wetlands restoration and enhancements on a competitive basis,” said Cosby.  “Eligible partners are encouraged to submit WREP proposals to our state office by February 10, 2012.  The proposals will be evaluated by Ohio NRCS staff using a competitive process with recommended proposals being forwarded to the national NRCS office for review, ranking and final selection.”

WREP is a voluntary conservation program that works through partnership agreements with states, nongovernmental organizations and tribes.  It is a component of the Wetlands Reserve Program (WRP) through which NRCS enters into agreements with eligible partners to leverage resources to carry out high priority wetland protection and improve wildlife habitat. 

General WREP proposals may be submitted by eligible partners for individual projects, watershed-wide or larger geographical area.  States and local units of government, Indian tribes and nongovernmental organizations described in section 501(c)(3) of the Internal Revenue Code may submit written proposals to the Ohio NRCS State Office, 200 North High Street, Room 522, Columbus, Ohio, 43215 or danielle.balduff@oh.usda.gov by 5:00 p.m. February 10, 2012. Proposals submitted by fax or through the www.grants.gov website will NOT be accepted. 

Benefits to the partners in WREP Agreements include:

  • Involvement in wetland restoration in high priority areas;

  • Ability to cost-share restoration or enhancement components beyond those required by NRCS;

  • Ability to participate in management or monitoring of selected project locations; and

  • Opportunity to utilize innovative restoration methods and practices. 

WREP partners are required to contribute a financial or technical assistance fund match. 

For more additional information about General WREP or to apply, visit http://www.oh.nrcs.usda.gov/programs, http://www.oh.nrcs.usda.gov/programs/wrp/WREP.html or contact Danielle Balduff, WRP/WREP Manager at 614-255-2574 or e-mail at danielle.balduff@oh.usda.gov.

This announcement is for submission of General WREP proposals.  WREP proposals associated with the Mississippi River Basin Initiative (MRBI-WREP) are being solicited under a separate Request for Proposals (RFP) which is expected to be published in the Federal Register in January 2012.

For information about other NRCS conservation programs, visit http://www.oh.nrcs.usda.gov/programs,  or visit the nearest USDA Service Center in your area.  To locate your nearest NRCS office, visit http://offices.sc.egov.usda.gov/locator/app?agency=nrcs.

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