Nebraska's Wetland Initiative Program

The Nebraska Game and Parks Commission can help private landowners protect and restore wetlands.

The Private Lands Wetland Initiative Program helps reimburse landowners who protect, restore, enhance or create shallow water wetlands.

The program pays a landowner's cost to restore, enhance or create a shallow water wetland area. Landowners are reimbursed 100 percent of development costs for approved projects.

Landowners wanting to participate in the program sign an agreement with the Game and Parks Commission. These agreements are for no less than 10 years (some agricultural use of the land may be prohibited or curtailed).

Wetlands provide the principal habitat for virtually all waterfowl, as well as shorebirds and wading birds.

Interested landowners should contact their nearest Game and Parks Commission office for more information, or contact the commission's central offices at: Nebraska Game and Parks Commission, P.O. Box 30370, Lincoln, NE 68503-0370. Phone (402) 471-0641.

Other programs available to landowners with wetlands may include the Wildlife Habitat Improvement Program, administered by local Natural Resources Districts (NRDs) and/or the Game and Parks Commission. The Wetlands Reserve Program and Conservation Reserve Program, adminstered by the U.S. Department of Agriculture and the Partners for Wildlife Program, administered by the U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service are others. Many private conservation groups also have wetland incentive programs.