The Agricultural Conservation Easement Program – Wetland Reserve Easement (ACEP-WRE) is a voluntary federal conservation program implemented by the USDA Natural Resources Conservation Service (NRCS). WRE pays landowners to remove land from production and restore and protect wetlands that were previously degraded by agricultural use.

The most important, lasting element of an Agricultural Conservation Easement Program – Wetland Reserve Easement (ACEP-WRE) transaction is the ACEP-WRE deed. This is the legal document that ensures the program purposes are met and the land stays in conservation use. There are a few different warranty easement deed and contract templates used to implement the program.

This resource follows the ACEP-WRE Warranty Easement Deed in Perpetuity, dated October 2017, the version in use as of 2024.