The Permanent Wetland Preserves Program (PWP) helps balance these competing interests by offering compensation to landowners willing to enroll their wetlands in a permanent conservation easement that will protect the wetland and prohibit cropping and grazing of the easement area.

Program benefits:

• Store surface runoff and reduce flooding damages
• Provide food, shelter and habitat for fish and wildlife
• Replenish subsurface water
• Provide outdoor recreation areas
• Enhance the natural beauty and biodiversity of landscapes

Eligible wetlands:

Type 1 wetlands consist of seasonally flooded basins or upland flats. The soil is occasionally waterlogged or covered with water at various times, but is usually adequately drained during much of the growing season. Vegetation varies from bottomland hardwoods to herbaceous plants.

Type 2 wetlands are inland fresh meadows. The soil is usually without standing water but is waterlogged within a few inches of the surface. Vegetation includes grasses, sedges, rushes and various broad-leafed plants.

Type 3 wetlands are shallow marshes. The soil is often covered with water during the year. Vegetation includes cattails, arrowheads, pickerelweed, smartweeds, spikerushes and bulrushes.

Type 6 wetlands are shrub swamps. The soil is usually waterlogged during much of the growing season, and is often covered with as much as 6 inches of water. Vegetation includes alders, willows and dogwoods.

Only existing wetlands and adjacent uplands that provide a buffer for the wetland are eligible. Wetlands that have been partially drained, but are not feasible to restore, are also eligible. The entire wetland area owned must be offered for enrollment. If the applicant owns only part of a wetland, it will be eligible only if there will be little or no adverse impact to the wetland area by activities that may take place in the non-enrolled portions of the basin.