CREP in the River Raisin Watershed
 any acres along the
River Raisin were cleared for farming over a century ago. Though the
soil is rich, regular flooding makes farming these riparian acres
difficult, and contributes to excessive sedimentation of the river.
The Conservation Reserve Enhancement Program (CREP) is a voluntary
farmland retirement program that offers agricultural producers an
incentive to protect environmentally sensitive land, decrease erosion,
restore wildlife habitat, and safeguard ground and surface water.
CREP practices are a 15-year contract between the landowner and the
USDA’s Farm Service Agency. Landowners who enrolled in certain
CREP practices in the River Raisin watershed in 2001 were also eligible
to receive payment to place a permanent conservation easement on the
CREP practice areas. Once the CREP contract is completed, the landowner
must still abide by the terms in the Conservation Easement, which
ensures the property will remain undeveloped. The RVLT is glad to
be a partner in this effort to improve the water quality of the River
Raisin.
These easements were funded by a grant from the Michigan Department
of Environmental Quality to the Saginaw Basin Land Conservancy, which
contracted with the RVLT to implement the program in the River Raisin
watershed. The RVLT is working on a third CREP easement in Blissfield
Township. Although there are currently no additional state funds available
for purchase of more easements, farmers can still enter eligible lands
into a 15-year CREP contract to preserve and protect water quality
and natural habitat. Check out their web site (lenaweeconservationdistrict.org/crep)
or contact Lauren Lindemann at the Lenawee Conservation District to
find out more (517-263-7400 ext 119).
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