Conservation Reserve Enhancement Program (CREP)

The program converts envi­ronmentally sensitive cropland to native vegetation in order to improve water quality, reduce soil erosion, increase flood water storage, and provide for fish and wildlife habitat. Establishment of certain practices in native vegeta­tion will greatly reduce runoff of sediments, nutrients, pesticides, and pathogens from agricultural sources. CREP will also increase the water storage capacity of the watersheds through wetland res­toration. Restoring native vegeta­tion will increase wildlife habitat, which will benefit flora and fauna including threatened and endan­gered species. Other agricultural impacts mitigated by a CREP easement include fragmentation of riparian corridors, grasslands, and forest­lands.
Contact the District for more details.