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Forest Riparian Easement Program (FREP)
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Program level:
State
Provider:
WA Department of Natural Resources
Benefits provided:
Financial, Free technical assistance
Land use:
Forest
Water-focused program:
Yes
A reimbursement for the value of trees required to leave to protect fish habitat.
Overview
Description:
The Forestry Riparian Easement Program (FREP) is a voluntary program that reimburses landowners for the value of trees they are required to leave to protect fish habitat. The program provides compensation for 90% of the timber value and applies to trees adjacent to streams, wetlands, seeps, or unstable slopes. Landowners receive compensation for granting a 40-year conservation easement. The easement is on the trees only and does not provide public access to your land.
What to expect after you have applied:
You can expect an immediate confirmation from the online application or a letter within two weeks of receiving the paper application. You will receive our comprehensive Forestry Riparian Easement Program (FREP) welcome packet within a month of the application date. A conservation easement forester will schedule a field visit and your application will be added to the Forestry Riparian Easement application funding list. Our funding is based on biennial state allotments to this program. You can check your application status on the FREP Application List that is updated monthly.
We created this FREP Timeline to outline the step-by-step process from application to compensation.
Eligibility:
You may qualify if you are an eligible small forest landowner and:
You harvest less than 2 million board feet of timber on average, per year
Your harvest does not convert the qualifying land to a use incompatible with forestry
Have completed a harvest* and left a buffer of trees next to a stream, river, wetland, lake, pond, or adjacent unstable slopes
You are an individual, partnership, corporation, or other nongovernmental for-profit legal entity
You own either a parcel larger than 20 contiguous acres or more than 80 forested acres in Washington State
Note: you may still be eligible if your harvest is not possible due to Forest Practices rules.
Financial benefit:
To determine the value of your easement, FREP staff will measure and calculate the volume of the qualifying timber in your application. You may also be eligible for reimbursement for the compliance costs for participation in this program which may include the cost to mark the streamside buffer trees that are a part of this application.
Contact information
Information last updated on July 15, 2025.
Planning Importance
Developing a forest, agricultural, or conservation plan helps identify and prioritize objectives for landowners. These objectives can determine what type programs to search for. Supporting organizations in your area often provide free consultation and planning.
Landscape Characteristics
See how your land fits into the broader context of regional conservation, ecosystem services, and working lands' values across the landscape through our interactive mapper tool. It could help you determine which program is a good fit for you!
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