Restoring Natural Ecology in Wetlands (ReNEW) Program

The Restoring Natural Ecology in Wetlands (ReNEW) Program is administered by the Oklahoma Conservation Commission in cooperation with Oklahoma's 84 conservation districts. The program supports the mission of the Commission's Wetlands Program to improve the quantity, quality, and biological diversity of wetlands in Oklahoma. Oklahoma has approximately 950,000 acres of wetlands, estimated to represent about one-third of the wetland acreage that existed in the late 1700s. Remaining wetlands may be impaired by altered hydrology and invasive species encroachment. ReNEW is intended to increase functional wetland acreage while improving water quality, aquifer recharge, floodwater storage, habitat, and other wetland functions. The Commission allocated $80,000 in cost-share funds to the program, and additional private partner funds may be added to support additional projects. Approved applicants may receive up to 80 percent of total project costs from OCC. There is no maximum program payment per project. Because wetland restoration costs vary substantially, project cost is considered during ranking, and the Commission will prioritize projects costing less than $50,000 in total so that more projects can be funded. Projects exceeding $50,000 may still be considered when they provide large conservation impacts. At least one approved project is intended to be a playa restoration project and another is intended to be located in the Central Flyway if eligible applications are received. Eligible work is based on needs identified during a field visit by the Commission Wetlands Team. Priority conservation practices are Wetland Restoration, Wetland Creation, and Wetland Enhancement. Ancillary practices may be used only to facilitate those priority practices and include Brush Management, Herbaceous Weed Treatment, Conservation Cover, Critical Area Planting, Dike and Levee, Fence, Range Planting, and Structure for Water Control. Practices are generally implemented according to applicable NRCS national conservation practice standards and specifications unless otherwise authorized by a Commission Wetlands Team member. Projects that require pumping surface water or groundwater to sustain wetland hydrology are not eligible. The program is for individuals interested in restoring wetlands on their property. Applicants must be district cooperators with an approved cooperator agreement and must be cooperators by the time an agreement is signed. Property proposed for implementation cannot be enrolled in another program, such as EQIP or WRE, that is accomplishing the same practice implementation. Applicants must maintain approved conservation practices for the duration of their ownership or control of the property and agree to wetland monitoring by the Commission Wetlands Team. A lessee or applicant who is not the deed owner must submit a Landowner Consent Form signed by the landowner. Conservation Commissioners, Conservation Commission staff, conservation district employees, and their spouses are ineligible. Conservation district directors may participate subject to conflict-of-interest restrictions established in the guidelines. Interested individuals apply through the General Wetlands Programs Application, which is available on the Wetlands Program Website or through a local conservation district. Each applicant is limited to one application. Although the general application is available year-round, an application must be submitted before September 30, 2026 to be eligible for the current ReNEW allocation. Conservation districts forward applications they receive to the Commission Wetlands Team for review and approval. The Wetlands Team reviews and ranks applications with a preset ranking tool, and applicants receiving the highest scores are selected for participation. Following approval, Wetlands Team staff conduct an initial consultation with the participant and develop the restoration plan, including the design and implementation schedule. The program period begins August 17, 2026 and continues until funding is exhausted. The initial allocation period runs from August 17, 2026 through June 30, 2027, and subsequent allocation periods may be opened until remaining funds are obligated. The Wetlands Team receives ReNEW funding annually as part of the base Wetlands Program budget, so the program is intended to continue indefinitely subject to recurring funding. Approved applicants must demonstrate implementation progress within six months after signing a restoration plan, subject to possible weather-related extensions determined by the Wetlands Team, and the construction deadline for each project is December 31, 2027. Reimbursement is available only for practices implemented according to the approved restoration plan and verified by an OCC Wetlands Team member. After verification and a signed Certification of Completion and Acceptance, the conservation district processes the claim and pays the applicant.

Prioritize projects costing less than $50,000 total where practicable because lower-cost projects are favored so more projects may be funded; demonstrate strong conservation impact; do not propose wetland hydrology dependent on pumping surface water or groundwater; ensure proposed practices follow applicable NRCS standards and Wetlands Team requirements; plan to demonstrate implementation progress within six months after signing the restoration plan