Wetlands Reserve Enhancement Program

The RWBJV submitted and was awarded our fourth Wetlands Reserve Enhancement Partnership (WREP) award to support playa protection and restoration. This application was developed statewide and includes all four Nebraska playa wetland complexes. This WREP outlines strategies to protect and restore 400 wetland acres and 200 acres of upland buffer. As with past WREPs this proposal is structured to allow landowners that enter an ACEP WRE easement to maintain pivot irrigation travel over the enrolled acres as a right reserved water right.

A total of $5.1 million will be available for easement acquisition, $1.1 million for restoration, and $147,500 for due diligence to support easement acquisition. Easement compensation will be based on 95% of appraised value. This should make an attractive option for landowners with playas that frequently flood out. Three major pivot manufactures have signed onto this grant and will be supporting the proposal with cost-share for flotation tires to cross the restored wetlands and upgrades for adoption of Variable Rate Irrigation (VRI). The pivot dealerships will be supporting enrollment by highlighting the opportunities to their clients with playas. Partner funds have also been leveraged to install grazing infrastructure to ensure the sites can be grazed to promote desired wetland vegetation communities. Total partner leverage is $751,225 for grazing infrastructure and VRI upgrades. A new RWBJV Easement Specialist will also be hired using funds awarded through the WREP to  assist with outreach, enrollment, planning, and closing of playa wetland easements.