HR1420-119

What This Bill Does

The Pacific Flyway Habitat Enhancement Act expands the Conservation Reserve Enhancement Program (CREP) to allow more agricultural lands to be enrolled for wetland wildlife habitat conservation. The bill specifically targets the Pacific Flyway—a major migratory bird route along the West Coast—by enabling farmers to maintain seasonally flooded cropland as wetland habitat while continuing some agricultural uses.

Who Benefits and How

Agricultural landowners and farmers in the Pacific Flyway region benefit the most. They can receive federal rental payments for enrolling additional lands in conservation agreements, even lands not previously eligible. The bill also allows the Secretary of Agriculture to waive matching fund requirements, making it easier for farmers to participate without needing state or local matching funds. Wetland-dependent wildlife species, particularly migratory birds, benefit from expanded and improved habitat along their migration route.

Who Bears the Burden and How

The federal government (and by extension, taxpayers) bears the cost of expanded rental payments to participating landowners. The Department of Agriculture takes on additional administrative responsibilities for managing the expanded program and coordinating with state technical committees. However, the bill imposes no new mandates or compliance burdens on private parties.

Key Provisions

• Allows enrollment of agricultural lands not previously eligible if critical to achieving wetland habitat conservation goals
• Permits continued seasonal agricultural uses on flooded working cropland when combined with best management practices
• Establishes regionally consistent rental payment calculations comparable to other wetland habitat maintenance programs
• Authorizes the Secretary of Agriculture to waive state/local matching fund requirements for wetland wildlife habitat agreements