The South Dakota Department of Game, Fish and Parks (GFP) has received a $2.175 million grant to expand public access for hunting and fishing on private lands. Some of the money is going to be used for up-front signing incentive payments to landowners.

The grant is from the 2020 Voluntary Public Access and Habitat Incentive Program (VPA-HIP) administered by the USDA’s Natural Resources Conservation Service (NRCS).

Land already enrolled in the Conservation Reserve Program, Wetlands Reserve Easements, or other conservation programs that create undisturbed habitat or land containing high-demand, big-game hunting opportunities will be eligible to receive the VPA-HIP incentive payment.  

GFP also plans to use VPA-HIP funding to expand public fishing access. It will extend existing public fishing access leases and add new public fishing access sites to waters on private land. VPA-HIP funding may also be used to create new boat ramps on private land to provide improved public water access to established fisheries.

The project will not only improve public fishing access, but public access for other recreational watercraft to use these waters.

“It is exciting to be able to partner with the NRCS to add an aquatics component to the VPA-HIP award,” says Jason Jungwirth, GFP aquatic habitat and access coordinator. “Opening waters on private land will provide added recreational opportunities across the state. We look forward to working with NRCS to implement these funds on some of the best habitat in South Dakota.”

Source: South Dakota Game Fish and Parks, which is solely responsible for the information provided and is wholly owned by the source. Informa Business Media and all its subsidiaries are not responsible for any of the content contained in this information asset.