Press Release

CONSERVATION RESERVE ENHANCEMENT PROGRAM SIGN-UP BEGINS

The Conservation Reserve Enhancement Program (CREP) is a new federal-state conservation program that provides farmers financial incentives to install and maintain streamside buffers to enhance wildlife habit and to improve water quality.  CREP offers farmers up to 100% cost-share for installing  conservation practices, plus annual rental payments, in Prince William County of $75 per acre for a ten or fifteen-year period, plus additional incentive payments.  In addition, an Aopen-space@ easement option with a flat rate payment is being developed.  Eligible land must be either cropland that has been cropped two out of the past five years, or pasture land - adjacent to streams, springs, ponds, lakes or wetlands.  Restorable, prior-converted wetlands are also eligible.  Permanent hayland and horse farms are not eligible.

Buffer requirements are a minimum width of 35 feet from the top of the stream bank, to a maximum width of 300 feet, as long as the buffer strip is within the floodplain.  If the buffer strip is pasture, the buffer must be planted to mixed hardwood trees.  Cropland buffers may be planted to mixed hardwood trees for a minimum width of 35 feet.  Cropland buffers may also consist of a native warm season grass filter strip from 35 - 100 feet wide.  All buffers can be at least 100 feet wide regardless of floodplain shape, but never less than 35 feet wide. 

CREP buffers must be protected from livestock grazing.  Buffers may be mowed once annually, but not hayed.  The cost of fencing to exclude livestock and the cost of installing alternative livestock watering facilities, as well as tree planting and grass establishment costs, are eligible for cost-share.  Participants will receive 75% cost-share for eligible costs, with an additional 25% provided by the Chesapeake Bay Foundation and Ducks Unlimited for installing forested buffers at least 100 feet wide, for wetland restoration, and for any CREP buffer held in a permanent conservation easement.

Landowners may contact the Prince William Soil and Water Conservation District office at (703) 361-1710 for further CREP information and assistance.