Emergency Wetlands Reserve Program??

[hillrunner]

Does anyone have any experience with this program? I am looking at a piece of Timber along a river that is enrolled in this. It gives the government a permanent easement on the property should it need maintenance to prevent damage to the wetland. I'm guessing this would only come into play should a large flood come in. The easement states that the goal is long term protection of the wetland and all other natural values of the easement area.

It also prevents any ag activity at all including haying, grazing, seeding, harvesting, burning, or tree removal without permission. This is my main concern. I do not want to own a property that I cannot put in plots and cut down a few trees. I am curious if this is an issue or if they are more concerned with commercial ag and forestry activity.

 

[Scott]

Its my understanding you can't do anything to it, that's why most is listed for under a grand an acre.

 

[jw_wildfire]

It really varies what you can do from easement to easement. Often times you are allowed to do things such as logging or timber stand improvement as long as it is in accordance with an approved plan, such as a forest stewardship plan written by the DNR. Other times whoever put the land into the easement may have specifically wanted there to be no logging in the future (which is a really bonehead move). Ask for specific clarification from the seller before you proceed and what exactly "permission" to do things means.