Grassland Easements
 Vast
grasslands once covered much of North America. Settlement, agriculture,
and development have reduced prairie habitats to a patchwork of isolated
grasslands in a sea of croplands, roads, and cities. Loss of grasslands
is detrimental to people as well as to wildlife. Grasslands help reduce
soil erosion caused by wind and water. They also filter chemicals, thus
protecting our water supplies. Vegetation, such as grass, forbs, and
shrubs, help trap snow and rain. This allows a more regulated flow of
precipitation to seep into the ground, recharging water supplies. Grasslands
also provide season long forage for livestock. Many wildlife species
depend on grasslands for food, cover, and nesting sites. Protecting grasslands
ensures that wildlife will be there for future generations to enjoy. |
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 The
grassland easement, always used in combination with a wetland easement,
protects the entire prairie pothole community. The U.S. Fish and Wildlife
Service first offered this combination of easements in 1991. Since then,
it has been used successfully to protect the grass uplands around wetlands
previously protected by wetland easements, and it is now used concurrently
with wetland easements. |
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| The easement terms restrict haying, mowing, and grass seed harvest until after July 15 of each year. This restriction is to help grassland nesting species, such as ducks and pheasants, complete their nesting before the grass is disturbed. Alteration (plowing) of grasslands, wildlife habitat, and other natural features is prohibited. Farming is prohibited. Landowners maintain permanent vegetative cover such as forbs, grasses, and low shrubs. Grazing is allowed at any time. The landowner maintains the right to open or close the land to hunting and trapping. | |
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written permit may be obtained from the administering manager to replant
or rejuvenate tame grassland habitat. Grasses suitable to the owner's
needs and to the long-term benefits of wildlife are encouraged. Cost
sharing or donated seed may be available through Federal, State, or private
organizations.
Grassland easements are part of the National Wildlife Refuge System. In Montana, North Dakota, and South Dakota there are over 400,000 acres in grassland easements. Partners for Fish and Wildlife provides information to landowners regarding grassland easements and makes referrals to the U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service Realty Division staff. Partners for Fish and Wildlife also restores grasslands, making them eligible for grassland easement protection. |
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A grassland easement is a legal agreement signed with the United States of America, through the U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service (Service) that pays landowners to permanently keep their land in grass. Many landowners never plan on putting their land into crop production and can benefit from the added cash incentive of a grassland easement. Property must lie within an approved county and have potential value to wildlife. Highest priority lands are large tracts of grassland with high wetland densities and native prairie or soils most likely to be converted to cropland. Subsurface rights,
such as oil, gas, and mineral, are not affected. However, landowners
must consult their local Service representative to avoid potential
easement violations situations. |
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| A
grassland easement is a permanent (perpetual) agreement between the Service
and all present and future landowners. The Service obtains title evidence
from the abstractor at no cost to the landowner. The title is checked
to determine that all owners of record have signed the easement. Service
attorneys will review the case and furnish an opinion of title. If the
opinion points out any title defects, we will assist the landowner in
correcting these title defects. The easement will then be accepted by
the Service. This process usually take about six to nine months.
Once the easement
has been accepted, the landowner receives a letter by certified mail
informing him that the easement has been accepted and is being recorded
at the county courthouse. The Service will also send a copy of the
fully executed easement at that time. |
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To determine payment, a Service appraiser estimates the value of the easement based on a fair market value appraisal. This appraisal is based on the affect of the easement on your property. The appraisal is then approved by a Service review appraiser. The payment is made in a single lump-sum payment in the form of a check from the U.S. Treasury for the full amount specified in the easement. Payment is usually made within six to nine months after the easement has been signed. The Service pays to record the easement and have the abstracter bring the title evidence up to date prior to payment.
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