USDA invests to expand outdoor access
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WASHINGTON - The U.S. Department of Agriculture is investing $52 million in 19 projects, including one in North Dakota, to increase public access to private lands for wildlife-dependent recreation while benefiting farmers, ranchers and private landowners.
Through the Voluntary Public Access and Habitat Incentive Program (VPA-HIP), USDA's Natural Resources Conservation Service (NRCS) is helping state and tribal governments encourage private landowners to allow public access to their land for hunting, fishing and other wildlife-dependent recreation.
The North Dakota Department of Game and Fish's Private Lands Open to Sportsmen (PLOTS) will receive funds to expand, providing walk-in hunting access statewide on lands participating in USDA programs. A one-time, up-front incentive payment is made to the landowner for each year their property will be in the PLOTS program, usually the years remaining in their USDA contract.
Projects are up to three years. Selected projects will receive from $1.5 to $3 million in funding. Project sponsors can use up to 25% of funds to provide incentives to landowners to improve wildlife habitat on enrolled public access program lands.
The Working Families Tax Cuts Act restored funding for VPA-HIP, enabling NRCS to offer the competitive grant program for state and tribal governments.
For more than 90 years, NRCS has helped farmers, ranchers and forestland owners make investments in their operations and local communities to improve the quality of the air, water, soil and wildlife habitat. NRCS provides one-on-one, technical advice and financial assistance and works with producers through voluntary, incentive-based conservation programs.