Conservation Reserve Enhancement Program (CREP)

CREP is a voluntary program that pays landowners to install filter strips along waterways or return frequently flooded fields to wetlands, while leaving the remainder of the adjacent land in agricultural production. There is no minimum acreage for CREP, which allows landowners to enroll as much land as necessary to meet conservation goals. CREP is a joint effort between the Federal, State and County agencies. 

Filter Strip Photo

Environmental Benefits

  • Improves water quality
  • Reduces soil erosion
  • Reduces amount of sediment, phosphorus and other pollutants from entering waterbodies
  • Improves wildlife habitat

Benefits for Landowners

  • Annual rental payments
  • Upfront incentive payments
  • Practices incentive payments to cover installation cost
  • Land maintains agricultural property tax assessment
  • Can help mitigate continual financial losses such as crop damage or seed and nutrient loss on frequently flooded land
  • Can be used to help square up fields
  • No public access is required.

Contract Length

There are two contract options

  • 15-year Agreement
  • Perpetual Conservation Easements

Eligibility

Eligible lands must be in the CREP project area that is shown on the map below. Eligible land must also be within 150 feet of a stream, waterbody, wetland or sinkhole. Additionally, land must meet crop rotation requirements or marginal pastureland qualifications.WI CREP Project Areas

Eligible practices for Riparian Project Area

  • Filter Strips
  • Riparian Buffers
  • Grassed Waterways
  • Wetland Restoration
  • Marginal Pastureland Wildlife Habitat Buffers

Example of Riparian Buffers

Riparian Buffer Photo 1Riparian Buffer Photo 2











For more information see links below or contact the Door County Soil & Water Conservation Department at (920) 746-2214.

DATCP Conservation Reserve Enhancement Program (CREP) Website 

FSA Conservation Reserve Enhancement Program Fact Sheet (PDF)

CREP Training Video