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Conservation Reserve Enhancement Program (CREP)

Background

The Conservation Reserve Enhancement Program (CREP) is a voluntary program for agricultural landowners. This unique state and federal partnership allows landowners to receive incentive payments from the U.S. Department of Agriculture (USDA) Farm Service Agency (FSA) for establishing long-term, riparian buffers on eligible land. The purpose of the program is to restore, maintain, and enhance streamside areas along agricultural lands to benefit fish, wildlife, and water quality. Landowners enrolled in CREP receive annual rental payments, incentive payments, and cost share payments to implement conservation measures such as planting trees and shrubs, installing fencing, or installing livestock watering facilities.

Oregon and the USDA signed an agreement to create the Oregon CREP in 1998. Oregon’s program is unique in the nation in having a cumulative impact incentive payment where landowners who enroll more than one-half of a 5-mile stream segment receive greater compensation. Similarly, landowners who lease water for instream purposes on acreage enrolled in CREP are paid higher rental rates.

Program Partnership Responsibilities

The Oregon CREP is jointly administered by state and federal agencies.

Federal

  • USDA FSA is the lead federal agency responsible for administering contracts, providing 50% cost-share on eligible restoration practices, and providing rental rate payments and other financial incentives.
  • Natural Resources Conservation Service (NRCS) provide technical assistance for planning and design of CREP practices.

State

  • OWEB is the lead state agency responsible for administering state contracts to provide 25% state cost-share on eligible restoration practices.
  • State agencies (Oregon Departments of Forestry, Agriculture, and Water Resources), soil and water conservation districts, and watershed councils provide technical assistance, public outreach, and financial assistance.

Shared

The state and USDA are both responsible for monitoring and evaluating the effectiveness of CREP in restoring watersheds and threatened and endangered species habitat.

Contact

Please direct questions to Kristi Primley, 971-345-7019.

Resources