Wildlife Habitat Incentives Program

What is the Wildlife Habitat Incentives Program?

Streambank restoration project through WHIP in German Valley, Dane County, Wisconsin

Wisconsin WHIP Plan for 2009 WHIP State Policy, Manual and Archives Forms for Program Contracting

The Wildlife Habitat Incentives Program (WHIP) is a voluntary program for people who want to develop or improve wildlife habitat on private lands. The WHIP Program offers technical and financial assistance to help protect, restore, develop and enhance fish and wildlife habitat.

How WHIP Works

Landowners agree to prepare and implement a wildlife habitat development plan. The U.S. Department of Agriculture Natural Resources Conservation Service (NRCS) provides technical resources to applicants to help plan eligible practices which benefit wildlife habitat.  List of Eligible Practices and Payment Schedule for WHIP, 2009.

How to Apply - Signup by April 17, 2009

Landowners may apply by contacting the NRCS office in the county in which the land is located.  Applications received by April 17 will be ranked for funding in 2009.
 

The Plan

Participants work with NRCS to prepare a WHIP plan of operations, which describes the landowner’s goals for improving wildlife habitat, includes a list of practices and a schedule for installing them, and details the steps necessary to maintain the habitat for the life of the cost-share agreement.

WHIP Financial Assistance

WHIP financial assistance payments help successful applicants with the practice implementation costs. Federal or State wildlife agencies or private organizations may provide additional funding or expertise to help complete a project.  The agreement  lasts a minimum of 5 years from the date the contract is signed and may be as long as 10 years. Under the agreement, the landowner agrees to implement and maintain the contracted practices and allow NRCS access to monitor the effectiveness of the practices.

Payment Rates in 2009
General Wisconsin WHIP Payment Rates
Beginning Farmer Rates
Limited Resource/Socially Disadvantaged Farmer Rates   (Definition for special rate categories)

What’s Eligible?

Almost any type of land may be eligible.  To participate in WHIP, you must own or have control of the land under consideration.

What Land is Not Eligible?

Publicly owned land is not eligible.  Land currently enrolled in the Water Bank Program, Conservation Reserve Program, or Wetlands Reserve Program is not eligible. Land enrolled in the Emergency Watershed Program or Grassland Reserve Program may not be eligible; check with the local NRCS office for details.   Land is also ineligible  if USDA determines that onsite or offsite conditions would undermine or reduce the benefits of habitat development.

Wisconsin Priorities

WHIP proposals will be evaluated based on Wisconsin wildlife habitat priorities. Applications are scored on a number of factors, including type of habitat to be established, location within designated priority area if applicable, practice lifespan, benefit to at-risk species, and cost.  Application and scoring worksheets are completed at the field office to prioritize projects.  

WHIP Ranking Worksheet (7 kb, pdf)  This is the ranking system that will be used to prioritize WHIP applications in Wisconsin in 2009.

WHIP Priority Areas 2009  (620kb, pdf) Map identifying counties with priority for particular species or habitat.
                       

Some of the opportunities

• Install in-stream structures to provide fish habitat
• Restore prairie and oak savannahs
• Brush management and control of invasive species

For More Information

For more information about WHIP contact your local Natural Resources Conservation Service office for program information and announcements.