A cooperative effort of several state and federal agencies (the North Dakota Game and Fish Department, the State Water Commission, the U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service and the U.S. Natural Resources Conservation Service), the Department of Agriculture-administered State Waterbank Program provides participating landowners with a financial incentive to preserve wetlands.

The program provides 5 or 10 year agreements. During the agreement period, a participating landowner may not "drain, burn or fill or otherwise destroy the wetland character" or use the land for agricultural purposes, including cultivation, grazing or haying.

Funding for the program is derived from a combination of federal and state monies and through fund-raising activities.

For more information please contact Ken Junkert at (701)328-4756 or by e-mail kjunkert@nd.gov.