wetlands | Red River Farm Network

Lacking Clarity

Published September 28, 2026

In a Friday meeting on wetlands easements in Valley City, North Dakota Agriculture Commissioner Doug Goehring said landowner disputes typically center on older easements that lacked detailed mapping. “That’s the problem here and it all goes back to pre-1976. We…

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Burgum, ND Lawmakers Gather in Valley City

Published September 28, 2026

North Dakota leaders say progress is being made in a long-running dispute over federal wetland easements. Interior Secretary Doug Burgum met with farmers and landowners in Valley City Friday. The Fish and Wildlife Service is expanding a pilot program reviewing…

Change Possible in Wetlands Permitting

Published September 2, 2025

According to an internal EPA document obtained by Politico, the Trump Administration will soon eliminate federal protection for many wetlands. A new Clean Water Act rule would reportedly have the government regulate wetlands if it met a two-part standard. Number…

Wetlands Appeal Gets Another Shot

Published July 3, 2024

Thanks to the Supreme Court Chevron deference decision, a South Dakota farmer is getting another turn in the Eighth Circuit Court of Appeals. Arlene Foster has been in court for more than 15 years regarding a USDA wetlands designation. Chevron…

Rounds Introduces Wetlands Bill

Published April 4, 2023

South Dakota Senator Mike Rounds has introduced a bill to change the way the Natural Resources Conservation Service handles wetlands compliance. Rounds says the bill would prohibit NRCS from entering into permanent easements with landowners, only allowing term agreements for…

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Grants Awarded in Prairie Pothole Region

Published May 29, 2020

The Migratory Bird Conservation Commission has approved $22 million to conserve or restore more than 160,000 acres of wetlands and habitat. Multi-million dollar grants will target the Prairie Pothole Region in North Dakota, Minnesota and South Dakota. Land will be…

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FWS Finalizes Wetlands Appeals Process

Published March 10, 2020

A new appeals process is in place for farmers and ranchers impacted by wetlands easements. The U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service has finalized the administrative process for appealing the wetlands maps and resolve questions about conservation compliance. The agency has…

Abuse Cited for Wetland Determination Appeals

Published September 19, 2019

American Farm Bureau Federation President Zippy Duvall is urging USDA to change its appeals process for wetland determinations. The letter follows a recent federal court decision that found fault with the NRCS appeals process. Duvall said farmers and ranchers are…

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More Transparency Promised in Wetlands Determinations

Published May 15, 2019

USDA’s Natural Resources Conservation Service is meeting with stakeholders and working through the public comments on the interim wetlands rule. Conservation compliance and water management regulations have caused heartburn in the past, particularly in the Prairie Pothole Region. NRCS Chair…

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ND Farmers Looking for Certainty in Wetland Regulations

Published February 14, 2019

Earlier this year, North Dakota agriculture groups filed comments on USDA’s interim final rule on wetlands. Attorney Kale Van Bruggen says the NRCS was really trying to say they want to make existing policies more permanent. He is unclear on the…

Articles tagged under: wetlands

Lacking Clarity

Burgum, ND Lawmakers Gather in Valley City

Change Possible in Wetlands Permitting

Wetlands Appeal Gets Another Shot

Rounds Introduces Wetlands Bill

Grants Awarded in Prairie Pothole Region

FWS Finalizes Wetlands Appeals Process

Abuse Cited for Wetland Determination Appeals

More Transparency Promised in Wetlands Determinations

ND Farmers Looking for Certainty in Wetland Regulations

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