Trees along streams will provide shade and reduce the rate of solar water heating. Riparian buffers will reduce pollution and improve stream water quality. Landowners who enroll land in CREP will have have more stable streams in the long run. They will also have much greater assurance that their farming activities comply with Endangered Species Act, and Clean Water Act, requirements. Best of all, the program is voluntary, and provides flexibility to participants in the amount and layout of the land they offer.
Riparian buffers are the only eligible practice.
Funds are also available for fencing, and providing livestock water outside the buffer area, if necessary. Offers to enroll in the Washington State CREP are accepted on a continuous basis. Land must be either cropland or marginal pasture land. Cropland must have been planted to crops two of the past five years and be physically and legally capable of being cropped. Marginal pasture land can be enrolled provided it is suitable for use as a riparian buffer planted to trees.