Conservation Reserve Enhancement Program (CREP)
What Is It?
CREP is a conservation program that uses 15-year and perpetual conservation easements to promote riparian buffers and filter strips. CREP reclassifies lands not meeting past cropping history to marginal pasture to increase eligibility. The primary goal is to: Improve conservation cover on 5,000 acres to reduce peak stream discharges and reduce sediment entering streams and Lake Superior.
Cost-Share may be available for conservation practices and tree planting. There is no waiting period; enrollment and eligibility determinations are made on a first-come, first-served basis. You are not required to allow public access.
CREP is a Federal-State-Local partnership between the United States Department of Agriculture (USDA), the Farm Service Agency (FSA), Department of Agriculture Trade and Consumer Protection (DATCP), Natural Resources Conservation Service (NRCS), the Wisconsin Department of Natural Resources (DNR) and participating county Land Conservation Departments (LCD) throughout much of the state.
The Lake Superior Basin counties have areas primarily along streams, lakes, and wetlands that may be eligible.
You may be eligible if:
- You have a perennial stream, lake, or wetland on your property that borders cropland or grassland.
Examples of potential eligible lands may look like this:
Many conservation practices are eligible for Cost-Share funding, including:
- Forest Riparian Buffer
- Wetland Restoration
- Marginal Pastureland Wildlife Habitat Buffer
- Marginal Pastureland Wetland Buffer
- Grassed Waterway (non-easement)
- Filter Strips
For questions, or sign-up, contact Gary Haughn at the NRCS office at 715-682-9117.
How Much Money Can I Get?
