Introduction to WBP

Participant Eligibility

Program Priorities, Payment Rates, Application Dates

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Accepting Applications for 2026 through April 30, 2026

The wetlands serve as habitat for migratory waterfowl and other wildlife, conserve surface waters, reduce runoff and soil and wind erosion, contribute to flood control, improve water quality, improve subsurface moisture and change the natural beauty of the landscape.

BISMARCK, NORTH DAKOTA, March 30, 2026 - The Natural Resources Conservation Service (NRCS) is opening enrollment in Minnesota, North Dakota, and South Dakota. North Dakota NRCS will be accepting applications for counties North and East of the Missouri River. The purposes of WBP include preserving and improving major wetlands as habitat for migratory waterfowl and other wildlife, conserving surface waters, reducing soil and wind erosion, contributing to flood control, improving water quality, improving subsurface moisture, and enhancing the natural beauty of the landscape WBP contracts are nonrenewable, 10-year rental agreements. Rental payments are made annually.

Financial assistance is not available for conservation practices through WBP. WBP participants who wish to establish or maintain conservation practices may apply for financial assistance through other NRCS or State financial assistance programs where available. NRCS will assist participants with developing a conservation plan of operations (CPO) for the enrolled land and associated adjacent land when applicable.

A WBP agreement must be executed for each farm or ranch and the agreement will become effective on January 1 of the calendar year in which the agreement is approved. For this signup period, agreements will be considered effective on January 1, 2027 if existing crops are on the offered acreage. If crops, are not one the offered acreage, landowners can choose to have payment made in calendar year 2026, and payment will be issued in November 2026.

Land enrolled in WBP may not be cropped. NRCS may authorize haying under limited circumstances, such as severe drought. NRCS may authorize grazing where necessary to enhance the wetland functions and values of the land under agreement.

NRCS will prioritize applications as follows:

• High – Cropland impacted by flooding.
• Medium – Pasture, hay and range lands impacted by flooding.
• Low – Forest and other lands impacted by flooding.

Eligible applications from the “High” category will be funded first, followed by the “Medium” and “Low” categories.

The State-established ranking criteria will emphasize the project’s environmental benefits, cost, availability of matching funds, and significance of wetland functions and values.

WBP payment rates include:

• $50 per acre per year for cropland
• $35 per acre per year for pasture and range land (grazing lands)
• $20 per acre per year for forestland

For more information please contact your local NRCS Field Office.

Introduction

The Water Bank Program (WBP) is an NRCS conservation program that enables landowners and operators to keep water on the land to protect wetlands and provide wildlife habitat.

The program:

• Preserves and improves major wetlands as habitat for migratory waterfowl and other wildlife 
• Conserves surface waters 
• Reduces soil and wind erosion 
• Contributes to flood control 
• Improves water quality 
• Improves subsurface moisture 
• Enhances the natural beauty of the landscape

As part of a 10-year rental agreement, landowners receive annual payments for conserving and protecting wetlands and adjacent lands from adverse land uses and activities, such as drainage, that would destroy the wetland characteristics of those lands.

Participant Eligibility

To be eligible to participate in the WBP, a person must:

1. Be the landowner of eligible land for which enrollment is sought for at least two years preceding the date of the agreement unless new ownership was acquired by will or succession as a result of death of the previous owner; or 
2. Have possession of the land by written lease over all designated acreage in the agreement for at least two years preceding the date of the agreement unless new ownership was acquired by will or succession as a result of death of the previous owner and will have possession over all the designated acreage for the agreement period.

Financial assistance will not be available for conservation practices through WBP. WBP participants who wish to establish or maintain conservation practices may apply for financial assistance through other NRCS or state financial assistance programs where available. NRCS will assist participants with developing a Conservation Plan of Operations (CPO) for the enrolled land and associated adjacent land when applicable. 

Land enrolled in WBP may not be cropped. NRCS may authorize haying under limited circumstances, such as severe drought. NRCS may authorize grazing where necessary to enhance the wetland functions and values of the land under agreement. 

Each participating farm or ranch will enter into a WBP agreement, which will become effective on January 1 of the calendar year in which the agreement is approved.  WBP contracts are non-renewable, 10-year rental agreements. Rental payments are made annually.

Program Priorities, Payment Rates, Application Dates

Priorities

• High – Cropland impacted by flooding
• Medium – Pasture, hay and range lands impacted by flooding
• Low – Forest and other lands impacted by flooding

Eligible applications from the High category will be funded first, followed by the Medium and Low categories. 

The State-established ranking criteria will emphasize the project’s environmental benefits, cost, availability of matching funds, and significance of wetland functions and values. 

Payment Rates

• $50/acre/year for cropland
• $35/acre/year for pasture and range land (grazing lands)
• $20/acre/year for forestland

Program Dates

• For more information, contact your local NRCS office in Minnesota, North Dakota or South Dakota. 

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