The Conservation Reserve Enhancement Program (CREP), part of the Conservation Reserve Program (CRP), is a new tool for landowners.  CREP enhances and protects water quality, fish habitat and stream stability through the use of riparian buffers.  The program is flexible, administered locally, designed to compensate you for being a good land steward and helps address Endangered Species Act concerns.

CREP is a voluntary program to establish forested buffers along stream where riparian habitat is a significant limiting factor for salmonids.  In addition to providing fish and wildlife habitat, the buffers improve water quality and increase stream stability.

Land enrolled in CREP is removed from production and grazing, under 10-15 year contracts.  In return, landowners receive annual rental payments and singing bonus.  Landowners are reimbursed for 100% of the eligible costs for buffer establishment and maintenance.  In addition landowners may be reimbursed for livestock exclusion fencing, livestock watering facilities, and in the case of small streams, livestock crossings.  CREP pays to remove invasive plants such as reed canary grass and Himalayan blackberry. Reed canary grass and Himalayan blackberry do not provide beneficial riparian functions, and their rapid growth often replaces the native plants that comprise a healthy riparian zone.

Program Flexibility

CREP recognizes site variability.  The buffer boundary can be moved toward or away from the stream at different locations to meet landowner needs, as long as the average meets the buffer standard.  Producers can enroll all or a portion of the eligible streams  on their land.  The can enroll one or both sides of the stream.  There is no minimum or maximum acreage to enroll.

CREP is a partnership between the State and Federal Governments.

The program is administered by USDA Farm Service Agency (FSA). Whatcom Conservation District, under Washington State funding, provides the technical support and project planning. Land is enrolled in CREP under either a 10 or 15 year agreement.

Ask for a No-Obligation Site Assessment

A Skagit Conservation District Resource Specialist will visit your property to make a no-obligation site assessment. The Resource Specialist will discuss buffer design options and provide estimates of the rental rate and the signing bonus.

The site assessment is also a good opportunity for questions and answers about the program and site-specific issues. Please contact the Whatcom Conservation District to schedule a site assessment.

If you would like to Enroll

To enroll in CREP, please make an appointment with the Farm Service Agency (June Free 360-428-7758). Enrolling in CREP does not obligate you to plant anything or to sign an agreement. CREP project planning and approval can take five months or more and during that time, landowners may withdraw without obligation. The landowner CREP agreement is the final step in the planning process. Enrollment just initiates the planning process.

New CREP Report available!

May 9, 2006 -- The Washington State Conservation Commission is pleased to publish an Evaluation of Conservation Reserve Enhancement Program (CREP) Riparian Buffers in Washington State, available in PDF format at http://filecab.scc.wa.gov/CREP/CREP_Report_2006.pdf