USDA Invests $21 Million in an Additional 10 Projects including one in South Dakota to Expand Wildlife Conservation and Outdoor Access

(Huron, SD, November 4, 2026) – The U.S. Department of Agriculture (USDA) is investing $21 million in an additional 10 projects to increase public access to private lands for wildlife-dependent recreation while benefiting farmers, ranchers and private landowners. This includes a $3 million project in South Dakota (SD) with SD’s Game, Fish and Parks department.

Through the Voluntary Public Access and Habitat Incentive Program (VPA-HIP), USDA’s Natural Resources Conservation Service (NRCS) is helping state and tribal governments encourage private landowners to allow public access to their land for hunting, fishing and other wildlife-dependent recreation. The second round of award selections includes projects in Arizona, Kansas, Oklahoma, South Carolina, South Dakota, Tennessee, Texas, Washington and Wyoming.

The project in SD selected during Round Two is:

• The SD Department of Game, Fish and Parks proposes to expand public hunting and fishing opportunities by partnering with private landowners through multi-year access agreements funded by the Voluntary Public Access and Habitat Incentive Program (VPA-HIP). The project aims to enroll 150,000 acres of private lands enrolled in WRE or CRP into public hunting access programs. It will also extend 15 existing fishing access leases and establish at least 15 new multi-year leases to open additional private waters for public fishing. Through one-time signing incentive payments, the project is designed to increase outdoor recreation access, strengthen wildlife-dependent activities, and generate substantial economic benefits for SD.