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Conservation Reserve Enhancement Program

The Conservation Reserve Enhancement Program (CREP) is a Federal-State partnership that focuses on establishing wooded stream buffers on agricultural land. In Whatcom County, the program is directed by the Whatcom Conservation District. The district works with landowners to design vegetated buffers along streams on their property. Once a buffer is established through CREP, that land area is removed from production and grazing under a 10-15 year contract. The buffer zones can improve water quality and habitat conditions in streams where riparian habitat is a significant limiting factor for salmonids. The program especially targets potential and historic chinook habitat due to their listing as a threatened species under the Endangered Species Act. For land to qualify under CREP it must have the required cropping history, be able to support trees and shrubs, and include an eligible stream. Almost 500 miles of streams and rivers in the lowlands and rural areas of Whatcom County are eligible.

The buffers are established by planting native conifers, hardwoods, and woody shrubs adjacent to eligible streams. Established riparian vegetation can help improve habitat and water quality by acting as a filter. The additional ground cover alters the drainage path, slowing rainwater runoff. The soil can then absorb more water and along with it, chemicals and nutrients. Water is then cleaner when it enters the stream on the surface or through groundwater movement. Trees and shrubs also stabilize banks with an extensive root system. This helps limit erosion, which can affect water quality and stream hydrology beyond the tolerance of salmonid species. The addition of trees and shrubs along the banks also provides valuable shade. This keeps water temperatures cool, which is vital for all salmonids in the Pacific Northwest. With buffer areas in place, the over all water quality and habitat conditions of the stream can be improved.

To encourage landowners to establish buffers under the program, CREP offers incentives. Participants receive compensation for voluntarily being good land stewards. Benefits begin with the cost-free implementation. Both federal and state funds share the cost of preparation and establishment of a riparian buffer zone. Although landowners have the option to implement the restoration activities themselves, CREP offers a ‘turn key project’ approach that provides contractors to do the work. All maintenance costs of the vegetated area are also funded until there is a successful, self-sustained buffer area. In addition to the cost of establishment and maintenance, the landowner receives annual rental payments and a signing bonus.

Land along streams in the Betrand Creek watershed was the focus of restoration efforts in 2001 by Whatcom Conservation District’s Stream Team. In 2001, 16 CREP projects were contracted in the Bertrand Creek, including the restoration efforts at Hidden Acres Dairy, located near the headwaters of the creek. This project demonstrates successful salmonid habitat enhancement through CREP restoration efforts. Site preparation for this dairy began in fall 2000, and seedlings were planted in the winter and spring 2001. Following CREP guidelines, at least fifteen different species of seedlings were planted and protected with small plastic tubes around the stems. The tubes aid seedling survival in the early years while trees are establishing. They provide protection against animal damage, such as gnawing rodents, and shelter during adverse weather conditions. About 5,325 feet of fencing were also installed to exclude livestock from entering the buffer area. Overall, there were 30.2 acres of buffer created along 1.6 miles of stream banks. Since implementing the riparian buffer, juvenile salmonids have been observed in channels that were previously choked with Reed Canary grass, which contributes degraded habitat conditions for salmonids. Additionally, there has been a notable increase in use of the buffer area by birds, especially waterfowl, and other terrestrial wildlife, like deer.

CREP projects across the state have had a positive influence on salmonid habitat. The Whatcom Conservation District is a current leader in the state for riparian buffers planted under the CREP. There have been more than 1,239 acres of CREP buffer planted with more than 600,000 seedlings over the past four years in Whatcom County. With 132 projects and 71.1 miles of streamside fish and wildlife habitat established, CREP has created a positive environment for both landowner stewardship and our salmon resources.

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