Conservation Reserve Enhancement Program (CREP)

CREP is a partnership among tribal, state, federal governments and in some cases private groups to address specific, high priority environmental concerns. Its two primary objectives are to coordinate Federal and non-federal resources of a state in a cost-effective manner and to improve water quality, soil erosion and wildlife habitat related to agricultural use. Contracts require a 10-15 year commitment and eligibility is based off of the model from the CRP. All projects are locally developed but address both national and local conservation issues. Practices include filter strips, forested buffers to help protect streams, lakes and rivers from sedimentation and agricultural runoff.

CREP differs from CRP:

QUOTES:

"This agreement will help to improve water quality, as well as improve habitats for endangered and other wildlife species along the coast of Lake Superior."
Mike Johanns, United States Secretary of Agriculture (Wisconsin)

"If you build it they will come. That is what this is about," said Kent Mayer, a fishereies biologist with the Washington Department of Fish and Wildlife. "The CREP program is building so (fish) have a place to come back to."
Eric Barker - Lewiston Morning Tribune (Idaho) - "Giving fish room to breathe; A state-federal program that pays ranchers to fence their cattle out of streams is proceeding swimmingly" - March 22, 2005

Fast Facts:

Timeline:
1996 - Authorized the CREP within the Federal Agriculture Improvement and Reform Act
1997 - First CREP agreement established with Maryland to protect the water quality of Chesapeake Bay
2002 - Greatest year of enrollment with 166,000 acres added nationwide
2006 - Total enrollment as of May is 830,000 acres

Get the latest at the CREP website.