The Conservation Reserve Enhancement Program is a voluntary land conservation program that helps agricultural producers protect environmentally sensitive land, decrease erosion, restore wildlife habitat and safeguard ground and surface water.

The Umatilla County Soil and Water Conservation District has paired with the Farm Service Agency (FSA) and the Natural Resource Conservation Service (NRCS) to provide technical support to install the conservation program known as CREP. Its purpose is to establish riparian vegetation on agriculture land along streams, protecting water quality and restoring fish and wildlife habitat.

Expectations of Landowners

• Landowners must commit to keeping land out of agricultural production for the life of a 10 or 15 year contract.
• To qualify for the program, a 35 foot minimum buffer is required. This wildlife buffer will include native grasses, shrubs and trees.

Cost Share Available

• Landowners receive cost-share payments for restoration practices once the practices are completed. Landowners are reimbursed 75% (50% from USDA, 25% from the State of Oregon), as long as they don’t exceed cost estimates.

Annual Rental Rate

• Landowners enrolled in CREP receive annual conservation rental payments for the life of the contract.

One Time Payments

• Landowners receive a Signing Incentive Payment when the contract is signed and a Practice Incentive Payment when the project is completed.
• If a landowner or landowners enroll over 50% of the streambank in a 5-mile segment of a stream into CREP, they receive a Cumulative Impact Incentive Bonus.

The Umatilla County Soil and Water Conservation District will provide all technical support for planning the project.

If you would like to know if your property is eligible for CREP, contact Shiloh at 541-278-8049 ext. 142

shiloh.simrell@or.usda.gov