07/09/2026
Applications Now Open – Green River Basin Stream Protection & Grazing Improvement Program (Available to Eligible Producers in Select Counties)
What if one conservation challenge could help solve another?
Earlier this year, the Kentucky Department of Fish and Wildlife Resources (KDFWR) partnered with local Conservation Districts and the U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service to launch an innovative pilot project. KDFWR staff spent several long days cutting, hauling, and processing eastern red cedar from one of our Wildlife Management Areas, improving early successional wildlife habitat while transforming an overabundant tree into durable cedar fence posts for Kentucky producers.
This project is about more than giving away fence posts. It's about turning cedar encroachment into a conservation resource that helps producers improve grazing systems, protect streams, improve water quality, and restore aquatic habitat.
Applications are now open for producers in Adair, Barren, Edmonson, Green, Hart, Metcalfe, and Taylor Counties. These counties were selected because they lie within the Green River Subbasin—one of North America's most biologically diverse freshwater systems and home to the federally endangered Kentucky creekshell, numerous rare freshwater mussels, eastern hellbenders, rare fish, aquatic snails, crayfish, and many other Species of Greatest Conservation Need. Protecting stream corridors in this watershed improves water quality, restores aquatic habitat, and benefits these species while supporting healthier working lands. Because this is a pilot project and our supply of cedar fence posts is limited, these are the only counties included at this time, but we hope to expand the project's footprint to additional areas as interest grows.
KDFWR biologists will conduct a site visit for each applicant and evaluate projects using a conservation-based ranking system. Applications with the greatest potential to improve water quality, aquatic habitat, and grazing management will receive donated cedar fence posts. In addition to donated cedar fence posts, select projects may be eligible for additional fencing material (wire, other necessary materials). Availability of these materials may vary and will be discussed during the site visit and project review.
The Kentucky Department of Fish and Wildlife Resources Private Lands Program is always looking for innovative ways to conserve Kentucky's privately owned lands. With more than 95% of our state in private ownership, lasting conservation depends on partnerships with landowners. If you have an idea—just like this cedar fence post project—we'd love to hear it. Your ideas could help shape the next project that makes a landscape-scale impact.
Together, we're turning cedar encroachment into cleaner streams, healthier wildlife habitat, and healthier working lands.
If you own land in one of the counties within the project area and think this could assist your operation, apply today by using this link or scanning the QR code embedded into the attached flyer.
https://docs.google.com/forms/d/e/1FAIpQLSeHWhSfxp8Abt5PBuMR8-9aO3GIhy4X9WmbUDYjlYvBDUpq-w/viewform?usp=header
