~ND Partners for Wildlife~

This private lands program offers cost-share and/or financial incentives to private landowners wanting to restore, enhance, or create wildlife habitat on their lands.

This program has restored, enhanced, and established more that one-quarter million acres of wildlife habitat on private lands in North Dakota since 1987.

Tewaukon National Wildlife Refuge administers this program for the following 14 counties in southeastern North Dakota: Barnes, Cass, Dickey, Eddy, Foster, Griggs, LaMoure, Ransom, Richland, Sargent, Steele, Stutsman, Traill, and Wells.

Grassland Easements

  • Only native unbroken sod is eligible for enrollment.
  • A one-time payment of approximately 15-20% of the appraised fair market value.
  • Grasslands enrolled in this program may not be cultivated.
  • Mowing, haying, and grass seed harvesting are allowed after July 15 annually.
  • Grazing is not restricted in any way.
  • Perpetual agreement.

Wetland Easements

  • All wetlands are eligible.
  • A one-time lump-sum payment is made based on a fair market value appraisal.
  • Wetlands covered by an easement cannot be drained, filled, leveled, or burned.
  • Wetlands can be farmed, grazed, or hayed when they dry up naturally.
  • Perpetual agreement.

Rotational Grazing Systems

  • Landowner agrees to a managed rotational grazing system approved by NRCS. (i.e. twice-over, switchback, etc.)
  • No Minimum acreage is required.
  • Pays 40-80% of the cost of fencing materials and water developments needed to implement rotational grazing systems.
  • 10 year agreements.

Wetland Restorations
  • One-time payments based on county rental rates for restoring wetlands.
  • 100% of dirtwork costs will be paid by Fish & Wildlife Service to contractors or private landowners willing to do the work.
  • 10 year agreements.


Wetland Creations
  • Cost share up to $1000/surface acre to install dams for creating wetlands.
  • Shallow wetlands preferred (less than 5 feet deep).
  • May be used as a livestock watering facility.
  • Pays up to 100% of the costs for project that create several acres of wetlands.
  • 20 year agreements.


Prairie-n-Wetland Lease
  • One-time lump sum payment based on county rental rates for restoring wetlands and planting cropland to grass in areas with high wetland densities.
  • 100% of the grass seed and dirtwork costs will be paid by the Fish & Wildlife Service.
  • Payments will not be made for idled or existing wetland acreage.
  • 10 year agreements.
Grass Seeding
  • 40-100% of the cost of grass seed will be paid to plant cropland to grass.
  • Planted field must be delayed from haying until after July 15 or be part of a managed grazing system.
  • Minimum 10 year agreements on tame grasses and 20 years on native grass.

For more information contact Jesse Lisburg@fws.gov or at 701-724-3598.

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Grassland and Wetland Easement map
This section of land in Richland County is protected under the Grassland and Wetland Easement Programs.
Wetland in Sargent County
This restored wetland basin is located in Sargent County.
Prairie and Wetland
This area located in Sargent County was restored through the Prairie-n-Wetland Lease Program.