Washington State Conservation Commission

The Washington State Conservation Reserve Enhancement Program (CREP) provides funding to farmers, ranchers, and other private landowners to plant native trees, shrubs, and grasses along streams that support salmon or steelhead.  The program is jointly managed by the Farm Service Agency and the Washington State Conservation Commission.  Funds are provided for: (1) restoration costs (within caps),  (2) maintenance costs within caps for the first 5 years, (3) a signing incentive bonus, and (4) rental payments for 10-15 years.

These buffers improve water quality by increasing shade and decreasing bank erosion.  They also contribute to the food web (leaf litter), wildlife habitat, and in the future will contribute large wood as fish habitat to the stream. 

Our Library contains CREP documents useful to conservation districts and Conservation Commission program reports.