Endowment Releases Report on State of Watershed Payment Programs

The U.S. Endowment for Forestry and Communities (the Endowment) today announced the release of a report entitled, “Innovations in Watershed-based Conservation in the United States:  Payments for Watershed Services for Agricultural and Forest Landowners.”

Carlton Owen, President of the Endowment, noted that the work is the result of the first collaboration with the USDA Office of Environmental Markets with the work being conducted by EcoAgriculture Partners.  “We are very pleased with this foundational work that comes in two parts.” said Owen.  “The report provides a good state-of-the-practice for watershed payments projects across the U.S., while the accompanying geospacial map of projects allows on-going updating opportunities.”

EcoAgriculture’s work identified thirty-two innovative payments for watershed service models across the country–driven by both public and private sector buyers.  These models form the basis for the report’s examination of the current state of projects in the U.S., future possibilities for these incentive mechanisms, and recommendations for expanding the reach of these conservation programs.  While the scale of these emerging segments of practices remains small relative to more established conservation mechanisms, such as conservation easements and Farm Bill conservation programs, the diversity of cases suggests that these new models have wide applicability and potential for scaling-up.