Conservation Reserve Enhancement Stream Buffers:
Conservation Program
Reduces Runoff Pollution
MADISON, WI (April 12, 2005) - More than 1,000 miles of Wisconsin streams have been protected from the effects of phosphorus, sediment and other pollutants found in agricultural runoff thanks to the Conservation Reserve Enhancement program.
State officials estimate that CREP has kept 110,000 pounds of phosphorus out of Wisconsin's waters. Phosphorus is found in commercial fertilizers and manure. Phosphorus-containing runoff is connected to algae-growth and pollution of our state's lakes, rivers and streams.
"As Earth Day approaches, I'm pleased that Wisconsin farmers and rural landowners once again demonstrate that environmental protection is a top priority and are continuously working to protect and improve our valuable resources," said state agriculture secretary Rod Nilsestuen. "CREP has made significant progress since it began in October 2001. In addition to phosphorus, the program has also removed nearly 60,000 pounds of nitrogen from runoff, and has kept nearly 100 million pounds of sediment from reaching our streams and lakes and buffered more than 1,110 miles of streams from runoff."
CREP is a partnership among county land conservation committees, the state of Wisconsin, and the USDA. The program's purpose is to plant trees, grasses or other appropriate native vegetation along wetlands, lakes and streams to create buffers, and restore or enhance grasslands within two grassland project areas. Landowners receive payments for enrolling land and funds to help pay for approved conservation practices that are put in place.
Studies estimate that the annual amount of phosphorus and other pollutants contained in runoff from agricultural land can be reduced from 60 to 90 percent depending on factors such as the width of the buffer and the slope of the land.
The program's goal is to enroll 100,000 eligible acres into CREP in all or portions of 47 counties at an estimated $240 million investment in conservation by Wisconsin and USDA. Since the program began, 2,250 landowners have enrolled more than 32,000 acres into the program. Landowners have the option of enrolling their land for 15 years or into a state or county held perpetual conservation easement.
"Governor Doyle has sent an amendment to USDA in Washington that will add some additional high priority areas into CREP which will help to increase signups that have leveled off over the past year. We want to make sure that farmers, landowners and the public are aware that this program is now available in many areas of the state and more areas if we can get approval of the amendment in Washington," Nilsestuen said.
Another environmental goal of the program is to establish 15,000 acres of grasslands to provide habitat for endangered grassland birds and other wildlife. This has been very successful with 9,700 acres of grasslands enrolled which is more than 65 percent of the intended acreage.
Governor Doyle has also proclaimed 2005 as the "Year of Land and Water Conservation." According to Nilsestuen, CREP is a perfect example of a multi-agency partnership that supports landowner efforts to protect our resources now and for future generations.
"Through CREP, we are removing phosphorus, nitrogen, and sediment from our lakes and streams from agricultural runoff will reduce algae blooms, improve fish spawning areas and habitat, and improve overall water quality," Nilsestuen said. "This is a unique opportunity to leverage limited state tax dollars with federal money. The latest estimate is that the $9 million Wisconsin has spent to achieve these successes has leveraged over $63 million in federal payments over the next 15 years."
Under an average CREP contract, landowners receive federal payments of about $115 per acre, per year over the 15-year contract or a total of $1,600 per acre. In addition, counties provide an up-front, one time state payment that averages about $118 per acre for the 15-year contracts and averages about $890 per acre for the perpetual conservation easement option. The total state and federal average payments for CREP are about $1,720 per acre for the 15-year contracts and about $2,700 per acre for the perpetual conservation easement. The average contract is about 15 acres, but landowners can often install buffers ranging from 30 to 150 feet wide along streams. In the two grassland project areas, landowners may enroll cropland up to 1,000 feet from streams.
With regard to property taxes, if the lands were assessed as agricultural land when they were enrolled in CREP, the enrolled land continues to be assessed as agricultural land under use value.
Eligible lands are those with a cropping history of annually planted row crops or lands that meet the definition of marginal pastureland.
Program sign-up is first-come, first-served through December 31, 2007. For more information, or to determine if your land is eligible, contact your local office of the Farm Service Agency or your county land conservation department. You can find both organizations in the government pages of your telephone book.
For more information on the Year of Land and Water Conservation, contact the Wisconsin Land and Water Conservation Association at www.wlwca.org.
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