May 12, 2005

The Department of Environmental Quality has announced it is awarding $4 million in Clean Michigan Initiative grant funds to Pheasants Forever to support the Conservation Reserve Enhancement Program (CREP).

CREP is a voluntary program administered by the Michigan Department of Agriculture that uses environmentally sound conservation practices on agricultural lands to improve water quality, prevent soil erosion, and enhance wildlife habitat. Farmers and landowners participating in the program receive reimbursement for establishing conservation practices including riparian buffers, field windbreaks, filter strips, wetland restoration, shallow-water wildlife areas, controlled livestock access, and conservation easements.

“CREP allows us to partner with farmers and other landowners to have a positive impact on the future of water quality and wildlife habitat,” said DEQ Director Steven E. Chester. “The grant announced today will further expand this protection and keep our natural resources healthy for years to come.”

Since CREP began five years ago, it has been responsible for 26,000 acres of vegetated filter strips; 11,000 acres of wetland restoration practices; 8,200 acres of re-vegetated cropland potentially vulnerable to erosion; and 1,200 acres of windbreaks in Michigan. The $4 million announced today will go towards similar actions on at least 33,000 additional acres across Michigan, and allow the program to reach its goal of 80,000 acres.

Pheasants Forever, the recipient of the grant, is a non-profit conservation organization dedicated to the protection, restoration, and enhancement of habitat for pheasant and other wildlife populations in North America.

Areas that qualify for participation in CREP include the Saginaw Bay, River Raisin and Macatawa watersheds, and cover all or parts of 29 Michigan counties. Eligible land within this area, which includes cropland planted with commodity crops for at least four out of six years from 1996 through 2001, will be used to establish specific conservation areas for a period of 15 years.

“Michigan has a results-driven strategy that helps prevent agriculture pollution,” said MDA Director Dan Wyant. “CREP can leverage this $4 million to set up environmentally protective practices that include 29 Michigan counties."

For each dollar the state invests in CREP, the United States Department of Agriculture contributes at least $4. To date, Michigan has successfully leveraged $125 million federal dollars through CREP.

For further information on the CREP program, go to http://michigan.gov/mda.

Editor’s note: DEQ news releases are available on the department’s Internet home page at www.michigan.gov/deq.

Revised May 12, 2005 by Pat Watson