2. Cooperative Opportunities for Resource Enhancement
Contact: Minnesota Department of Natural Resources Regional Fisheries Supervisor (phone 1-888-MINNDNR for nearest supervisor’s name and location) or DNR Fisheries Habitat and Development Coordinator, 500 Lafayette Road, Box 12, St. Paul, MN 55155-4012.
The objective of this program is to involve the public in improving fish habitat or angler use on Minnesota’s streams and lakes. Projects include, but are not limited to: a) stream and lake habitat improvement (e.g., adding structures to streams that provide spawning gravel, pools for rearing, or cover for hiding by trout and salmon; planting streamside vegetation; and stabilizing streambanks), b) fish population management (e.g., clearing and burning brush and trees on grassy floodplains where northern pike spawn, fencing livestock away from pike spawning areas, purchasing pike spawning areas, installing and maintaining lake aeration systems, and removing undesirable fish species by chemicals or trapping and restocking), c) management of experimental harvest regulations that restrict the number and sizes of fish species harvested, and d) development of access to fishing waters (e.g., acquiring public access by easement or land purchase and construction and maintenance of pathways, fences, and fence bypass structures). An individual, organization (e.g., organized fishing group, lake association, resort association), or local unit of government may apply. Project approval is based on biological feasibility, social interactions of user groups, public support, economic impact on the local community, and equitable distribution of projects across the state.

3. Deer Habitat Improvement Program
Contact: Minnesota Department of Natural Resources Area Wildlife Manager (phone 1-888-MINNDNR for the nearest manager’s name and location).
This program encourages the development, restoration, and maintenance of deer habitat across Minnesota. Most funding is directed toward public lands in northern forested areas, but funds are available for cost-sharing agricultural food plots (usually corn or green forage) near priority deer concentration areas in western and southern Minnesota. Up to 100% of food plot establishment costs may be reimbursed. In most cases funds are very limited and there are waiting lists for participation. Funds come from a surcharge on each deer license.

4. Emergency Conservation Program
Contact: Farm Service Agency (FSA) in your phone book under U.S. Department of Agriculture.
This program provides cost-share funds to agricultural producers for rehabilitating farmland damaged by a natural disaster that creates a new conservation problem, which, if left untreated, would impair or endanger the land; materially affect the land’s productive capacity; represent unusual damage which, except for wind erosion, is not the type likely to recur frequently in the same area; or be so costly to repair that federal assistance is or will be required to return the land to productive agricultural use. Funds may be used for debris removal, fence restoration, grading and shaping farmland, restoring structures, or emergency water assistance for livestock and for existing orchard and vineyard irrigation systems during severe drought. Other emergency conservation measures may be authorized. Conservation problems existing prior to the disaster are not eligible. The FSA State Executive Director designates natural disasters for which cost-share funds will be available, except for drought payments which must be authorized by the USDA Deputy Administrator for Farm Programs. Cost-share rates may not exceed 64%. Requests for cost-sharing of $20,000 or less per person per disaster must be approved by county committees. Applications for more than $20,000 must be approved by the State FSA Committee. Applications for more than $62,500 must be approved by the USDA Deputy Administrator for Farm Programs. Technical assistance may be provided by the USDA Natural Resources Conservation Service.

5. Emergency Watershed Protection (EWP)
Contact: Natural Resources Conservation Service in your phone book under U.S. Department of Agriculture.
This program helps protect people and property threatened by natural disasters such as floods, windstorms, tornadoes, and wildfires. It provides funding for such work as clearing debris from clogged waterways, restoring vegetation, and stabilizing river banks. Projects must be environmentally and economically sound and generally benefit more than one property owner. Owners, managers, and users of public, private, or tribal lands are eligible for EWP assistance if their watershed has been damaged by a natural disaster. A sponsor must apply for the assistance. A sponsor can be any legal subdivision of state or local government. Cost-sharing pays up to 75% of the funds needed to restore a watershed’s natural function. The community or local sponsor pays the remaining 25% by cash or in-kind services. (For information about a conservation easement option, see #36).

6. Environmental Quality Incentives Program (EQIP)
Contact: Natural Resources Conservation Service or Farm Service Agency in your phone book under U.S. Department of Agriculture, or your Soil and Water Conservation District.
This program aims to protect soil, water, and related resources on farm and ranch lands (including tribal lands). A producer must agree to implement practices through a 5- to 10-year agreement. Cost-sharing pays up to 75% of the costs for such conservation practices as: facility to compost agricultural waste, diversion dam, floodwater retarding dam, diversion tile for terrace system, fencing, perennial vegetation for field border, filter strip, forest harvest trails and landings, forest improvement (thinning, release, pest control), forest site preparation, grade stabilization structure, windbreak, herbaceous wind barrier, riparian forest buffer planted with trees, spring development, tree planting, and livestock tank. One-time incentive payments apply to such practices as establishing contour buffer strips, strip cropping, perennial vegetation for field border, filter strip, herbaceous wind barrier, riparian forest buffer, and use exclusion (no grazing, haying, or harvesting). Applications are rated on their potential to address water erosion control, wind erosion control, water resource protection, fish and wildlife habitat, forest resource management, grazing lands, and other factors. Priority is given to agreements in Conservation Priority Areas which are selected geographic regions in Minnesota. Cost-sharing and incentive payments may not exceed $50,000 over the contract’s life.

7. Erosion, Sediment Control, and Water Quality Cost-Share Program
Contact: Soil and Water Conservation District.
This program provides technical and financial assistance to landowners who install permanent, nonproduction-oriented practices designed to protect and improve soil and water resources. Practices include, but are not limited to: erosion control structures, strip cropping, terraces, diversions, storm water control systems, field windbreaks, animal waste control systems, and critical area stabilization. Cost-sharing may not exceed 75% of the costs for high priority practices and 50% for secondary priority practices.

8. Flood Risk Reduction Program
Contact: Farm Service Agency in your phone book under U.S. Department of Agriculture.
This voluntary program provides a financial incentive to stop farming on frequently flooded land. It offers contracts that provide one lump sum payment to producers who farm land with high flood potential. The payment equals 95% of the seven-year market transition payments, and other payments to offset estimated federal outlays on frequently flooded land. In return, the producer agrees to comply with applicable wetlands and highly erodible land requirements and to forego commodity loans, crop insurance, conservation program payments, and disaster payments.

9. Forestry Incentives Program (FIP)
Contact: Natural Resources Conservation Service in your phone book under U.S. Department of Agriculture or Minnesota Department of Natural Resources (DNR), Division of Forestry, 500 Lafayette Road, St. Paul, MN 55155-4044; phone (651) 296-4491.
This program aims to increase timber production on highly productive sites. Practices include site preparation for natural regeneration; planting trees for timber production, including hardwoods, softwoods, and short rotation intensive culture (e.g., site preparation, planting, animal damage control, tree mats and mulch); and improving a stand of forest trees (e.g., thinning, pruning crop trees, releasing desirable seedlings, and controlling pests). Landowners must own at least 20 acres of forest land (but less than 1,000 acres) or have 20 acres on which they will plant and manage trees. Individuals, groups, associations, Indian tribes, or corporations whose stocks are not publicly traded may be eligible provided they are not primarily engaged in manufacturing forest products. Participants must have a comprehensive Forest Stewardship Plan in addition to a FIP project plan. Such plans can be obtained from the DNR or other technical personnel designated by a DNR forester. FIP funds are available only in about 40 Minnesota counties. The cost-share rate is 50%, except for hardwood tree planting, which is 65%. The maximum cost-share payment is $10,000.

10. Minnesota Deer Hunters Association
Contact: Minnesota Deer Hunters Association, 2820 South Highway 169, Box 5123, Grand Rapids, MN 55744; phone (218) 327-1103 or (800) 450-3337 for the name of a local chapter contact in your area.
This nonprofit wildlife conservation organization is dedicated to promoting quality deer hunting and developing the best possible deer herd. Local chapters (65 in Minnesota) may fund special deer habitat improvement projects (e.g., food plots or seeding) on private land.

11. Minnesota Forestry Association (MFA) Program
Contact: Minnesota Department of Natural Resources (DNR) forester or DNR, Division of Forestry, 500 Lafayette Road, St. Paul, MN 55155-4044; phone (651) 296-4491. This state cost-share program encourages installation of ecologically based resource management systems that conserve water quality, soil, and other natural resources and enhance the timber, wildlife, recreational, aesthetic, and environmental benefits of private woodlands. There is a wide range of practices under the categories of reforestation and afforestation; forest and agroforest improvement; soil and water protection and improvement; riparian and wetland protection and improvement; fisheries habitat improvement; wildlife enhancement; windbreak and hedgerow establishment, maintenance and renovation; and forest recreation enhancement. The cost-share rate is 50%, except for hardwood tree planting, which is 65%. The maximum cost-share payment is $10,000 per landowner per year. Landowners must own at least 20 acres of forest land or have 20 acres on which they will plant and manage trees. Participants must have a comprehensive Forest Stewardship Plan in addition to an MFA project plan. Such plans can be obtained from the DNR or other technical personnel designated by a DNR forester.

12. Minnesota ReLeaf Community Forestry Grants Program Contact: Minnesota Department of Natural Resources (DNR) forester or DNR, Division of Forestry, 500 Lafayette Road, St. Paul, MN 55155-4044; phone (651) 296-4491. This program offers cost-sharing on a competitive basis to communities and nonprofit organizations to protect and strategically plant trees to reduce energy consumption during peak heating and cooling periods, reducing carbon dioxide buildup in the earth’s atmosphere. Matching funds are available for planting trees on public and private property around buildings and parking lots; to establish community windbreaks, shelterbelts and living snowfences; and to reduce the urban heat island effect. Some funds may be earmarked to protect oak forests threatened by oak wilt, to preserve existing trees, or to conduct community-wide tree inventories. Requests for proposals are solicited from July through October of odd-numbered years. Cost-sharing pays up to 50% of the cost, not to exceed $25,000.

13. Minnesota Sharp-tailed Grouse Society
Contact: Minnesota Department of Natural Resources Area Wildlife Manager (phone 1-888-MINNDNR for the nearest manager’s name and location) or Minnesota Sharp-tailed Grouse Society, P.O. Box 3338, Duluth, MN 55803.
This nonprofit organization is dedicated to improving sharp-tailed grouse habitat in Minnesota. It provides cost-sharing for habitat management on private lands in sharp-tailed grouse range, provides free seed to landowners for planting food plots, places observation blinds on private and public land for observing spring dancing ground displays, and has private lands management brochures.

14. Minnesota Waterfowl Association (MWA)
Contact: Minnesota Waterfowl Association, 5701 Normandale Road, Minneapolis, MN 55424; phone (612) 922-2832.
This nonprofit organization’s mission is to protect statewide waterfowl resources, including the improvement of wetland habitats on private property. MWA’s Habitat Development Program provides cost-sharing to landowners to restore or enhance wetlands and associated upland nesting cover. A wildlife professional and/or MWA staff member reviews all project proposals.

15. Minnesota White Pine Cost-Share Incentives Program
Contact: Minnesota Department of Natural Resources (DNR) forester or DNR, Division of Forestry, 500 Lafayette Road, St. Paul, MN 55155-4044; phone (651) 296-4491.
This program’s goal is to increase the abundance of white pines in the species’ natural range in Minnesota. Approved practices include site preparation for planting, seeding, or natural regeneration; seed or seedlings; planting; tree mats/mulch; tree shelters; bud caps; fencing; temporary ground cover; thinning; pruning; release from competition; pest control; and other special practices approved by the DNR. The cost-share rate is 50% for all practices. Private landowners not engaged in manufacturing forest products may apply. Landowners must have a comprehensive Forest Stewardship Plan. The area must be protected from destructive grazing and fire and the practice must be maintained for at least 10 years.

16. Partners for Fish and Wildlife
Contact: local U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service (USFWS) office or USFWS Regional Office, Branch of Private Lands, Whipple Federal Building, 1 Federal Drive, Fort Snelling, MN 55111; phone (612) 713-5452.
This voluntary program offers technical and cost-share assistance to private landowners for projects that improve native habitats on private, tribal, and other non-federal lands. The program may also improve water quality and reduce floods by reducing sedimentation and soil runoff. The USFWS, in cooperation with other federal, state and private partners, matches financial contributions and services to provide this habitat improvement opportunity to landowners. At least 60% of the cost associated with restoring wetland, streamside, native prairie, and instream habitat may be paid. Priorities focus on conservation of migratory birds, threatened and endangered species, and certain fish species. A simple assistance agreement developed with the landowner secures the federal investment for a minimum of 10 years.

17. Pheasant Habitat Improvement Program (PHIP)
Contact: Minnesota Department of Natural Resources Area Wildlife Manager (phone 1-888-MINNDNR for nearest manager’s name and location).
This program offers up to 75% cost-sharing for management practices that restore or maintain pheasant habitat in southern and western Minnesota. Practices include establishing food plots (usually corn or sorghum), establishing or improving nesting cover, and planting trees or restoring wetlands to enhance pheasant winter cover. PHIP is funded from the Minnesota State Pheasant Stamp.

18. Pheasants Forever Cost-Share Program
Contact: Minnesota Department of Natural Resources Area Wildlife Manager (phone 1-888-MINNDNR for nearest manager’s name and location), or Pheasants Forever, 1783 Buerkle Circle, St. Paul, MN 55110; phone (651) 773-2000.
This private, nonprofit organization promotes habitat restoration and improvement projects for pheasants and other wildlife on private lands. Program funds may be “piggy-backed” on other cost-share programs for such practices as shelterbelt establishment, food plots, nesting cover, and wetland restorations. The organization does not financially support pheasant stocking.

19. Stewardship Incentive Program (SIP)
Contact: Minnesota Department of Natural Resources (DNR) forester or DNR, Division of Forestry, 500 Lafayette Road, St. Paul, MN 55155-4044; phone (651) 296-4491.
This cost-share program encourages installation of ecosystem-based resource management systems that conserve water quality, soil, and other natural resources and enhance the timber, wildlife, recreational, aesthetic, and environmental benefits of private woodlands. SIP includes a wide range of practices under the categories of reforestation; forest improvement; windbreak and hedgerow establishment, maintenance and renovation; soil and water protection and improvement; riparian and wetland protection and improvement; fisheries habitat improvement; wildlife enhancement; and forest recreation enhancement. The cost-share rate is 50%, except for hardwood tree planting, which is 65%. The maximum cost-share payment is $10,000 per year. Landowners must own at least 20 acres of forest land (or have 20 acres on which they will plant and manage trees), but less than 1,000 acres of forest land (exemptions may be granted for ownerships up to 5,000 acres). Landowners must have a comprehensive Forest Stewardship Plan before other SIP practices can be approved. Such a plan can be obtained from the DNR or other technical personnel designated by a DNR forester. SIP applies to land that is privately owned by an individual, group, association, corporation, Indian tribe, or other legal private entity. (Funds were not appropriated for this program in 1999.)

20. Wetlands Reserve Program
Contact: Natural Resources Conservation Service (NRCS) in your phone book under U.S. Department of Agriculture.
This program offers landowners 75% cost-sharing to restore degraded or destroyed wetlands and associated upland habitat. Restoration plans are prepared by the NRCS in cooperation with other agencies. The landowner must agree to maintain the practice for at least 10 years.The landowner may use the land for appropriate recreational activities, retains control over access to the land, and may sell or lease the land. (Permanent and 30-year conservation easements are also available. See #46.)

21. Wildlife Damage Management Program
Contact: Minnesota Department of Natural Resources (DNR) Area Wildlife Manager (phone 1-888-MINNDNR for nearest manager’s name and location) or Wildlife Depredation Specialist, DNR Fish & Wildlife, Box 7, 500 Lafayette Road, St. Paul, MN 55155; phone (651) 297-3208.
This program’s goal is to provide emergency wildlife damage abatement materials to agricultural producers and to increase tolerance for wildlife on private lands. Short-term projects typically include issuing shooting permits and temporary fences. Long-term projects may include hunting management, repellent applications, fence construction, and creation of lure/food plots. Eligible landowners include owners of stored forage crops, crops damaged by flightless geese, and growers of specialty crops: fruit, orchards, vegetables, tree farms, nurseries, turf farms, and apiaries. All crop damage projects are considered equally and are handled in the order received. Landowners may be reimbursed up to $750 for damaged stored forage crops, up to $500 for damage by flightless geese, and up to $3,000 in damage abatement materials per eligible specialty crop grower.

22. Wildlife Habitat Incentives Program (WHIP)
Contact: Natural Resources Conservation Service in your phone book under U.S. Department of Agriculture.
This cost-share program’s goal is to maintain a healthy, diverse ecosystem through the improvement and restoration of fish and wildlife habitat on private agricultural lands (including tribal lands). WHIP emphasizes management and establishment of declining species and their habitats. Priority habitats and related practices include riparian areas (in-stream structures, tree/shrub planting, native grasses), prairie restoration (planting native grasses, burning, fencing), forest land (fencing, tree/shrub planting, openings, timber stand improvement), pasture land grazing systems (fencing, native grasses), and farmstead shelterbelts (establishment and renovation). Federal cost-sharing will reimburse up to 75% of costs, not to exceed $10,000. The practice must be maintained for 5-10 years according to the agreement. A landowner must own at least 5 acres. Land is not eligible if it is enrolled in the Water Bank Program, Conservation Reserve Program, or Wetlands Reserve Program. Other Cost-Share Programs

Programs listed below provide cost-sharing in conjunction with conservation easements, but are described elsewhere in this publication.
32. Conservation Reserve Program
33. Conservation Reserve Program Continuous Sign-Up for High-Priority Practices
34. Conservation Reserve Enhancement Program
44. Reinvest in Minnesota Resources Program
46. Wetlands Reserve Program