Land Management Assistance
Updated July 9, 2026
The National Wildlife Refuge System is the nation’s largest collection of public lands and waters conserved for fish and wildlife. Planning is essential to ensure that the Refuge System meets this conservation commitment. Find tools, resources, and partnership opportunities to help with land management.
National Wildlife Refuge System GIS Data and Mapping Tools
The National Wildlife Refuge System provides a variety of geospatial web tools for researchers, cartographers, partners, recreational visitors and others who want to incorporate our authoritative data layers into their map products or spatial analyses.
Fish and Wetlands Conservation
Fish Passage and Technical Planning Assistance
The National Fish Passage Program provides financial and technical assistance for projects that improve the ability of fish or other aquatic species to migrate by reconnecting habitat that has been fragmented by a barrier such as a dam or culvert
National Fish Habitat Partnership Coordination
The National Fish Habitat Partnership is a national investment strategy that leverages funds through regional partnerships to address the nation’s biggest fish habitat challenges.
Alaska Streambank/Lake Shore Restoration Cost-Share
The U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service provides funding and technical expertise for projects that restore and protect fish habitat.
Wetland Easements
A wetland easement is a legal agreement that pays landowners to permanently protect wetlands.
The Fisheries Restoration and Irrigation Mitigation Act
The Fisheries Restoration and Irrigation Mitigation Act (FRIMA) of 2000 was established with the goals of decreasing fish mortality associated with the withdrawal of water for irrigation and other purposes.
The Fisheries Restoration and Irrigation Mitigation Act
The Fisheries Restoration and Irrigation Mitigation Act (FRIMA) (Public Law 106-502) of 2000 was established with the goals of decreasing fish mortality associated with the withdrawal of water for irrigation and other purposes without impairing the continued withdrawal of water for those purposes; and to decrease the incidence of juvenile and adult fish entering water supply systems.
Land Management
Cooperative Agriculture
Cooperative agreements between the U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service and farmers or ranchers may permit grazing by cattle or the growing of grain, hay or other crops at a refuge. The refuge benefits by producing food for wildlife or by improving natural habitat. The farmer profits by harvesting and selling some of the crop. The rancher gains access to grazing land.
Conservation Benefit Agreements
Conservation Benefit Agreements (CBAs) are voluntary agreements that provide incentives for non-Federal property owners to conserve endangered and at-risk species. For the length of the agreement, property owners agree to undertake specific conservation measures for the net conservation benefit of the agreements covered species.
Candidate Conservation Agreements
Candidate Conservation Agreements (CCAs) are voluntary conservation agreements between the Service and one or more public or private parties. The Service works with its partners to identify threats to candidate species, plan the measures needed to address the threats and then monitor their effectiveness.
Conservation Banking
Conservation banks are permanently protected lands that contain natural resource values. These lands are conserved and permanetly managed for species that are endangered or at-risk.
Grassland Easements
A grassland easement (also known as a habitat easement) is a legal agreement that pays landowners to permanently keep their land in grass.
Safe Harbor Agreements
A Safe Harbor Agreement (SHA) is a voluntary agreement involving private or other non-federal property owners whose actions contribute to the recovery of species listed as endangered or threatened under the Endangered Species Act (ESA).
Integrated Natural Resources Management Plans (INRMPs)
The Sikes Act requires most military installations within the United States to develop and implement a comprehensive plan for natural resource conservation and management (e.g., fish and wildlife, forestry, land management, outdoor recreation) on the installation.
Explore more resources
Consultation and Technical Assistance
Access additional resources to help you plan projects or participate in conservation agreements.
Grants
Get information on grants available for public-private partnerships
Every Kid Outdoors Pass
The Every Kid Outdoors program allows 4th-graders to see America’s natural wonders and historic sites for free.
Theodore Roosevelt Genius Prize Competitions
The U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service (Service) is excited to announce the 2023 Theodore Roosevelt Genius Prize winners.