State Representative
Mark Buesgens

ST. PAUL State Representative Mark Buesgens (R-Jordan) announced his support of a water conservation program for the Minnesota River Valley this week. The program will help protect farmers in the Minnesota River watershed from flooding and other river-related problems.

The Conservation Reserve Enhancement Program (CREP) is a federal-state initiative to funnel federal dollars into the Minnesota River watershed, which covers the southwestern third of the state, and 92 percent of which is in agricultural production.

Under the program, farmers with marginal farmland including flood prone fields, land in river corridors, and drained wetlands can enroll their land in a CREP easement. Farmers who choose this option will receive guaranteed compensation averaging $2,200 per acre.

"This is a good option for farmers who choose to enroll in the program," Buesgens said. "It provides a way to take marginal and vulnerable acres out of tillage."

Buesgens also pointed out that enrollment in the program is entirely voluntary, and it's up to farmers if they think enrolling in CREP is a good business decision. Land that is enrolled in CREP is removed from production and restored with trees, shrubs and grasses. This program is popular with both farmers and environmentalists.

Minnesotans can enroll up to 100,000 acres of land (156 square miles) into CREP -- just one percent of the agricultural land in the watershed. The federal government provides $2.30 for every dollar supplied by the state, requiring a significant investment by the state to secure all the available federal money. "The state's match will bring millions of federal dollars to Minnesota conservation and water quality efforts," Buesgens said.

The CREP initiative was included in the bonding recommendations made this week by the House Capital Investment committee. If approved, $20 million in state funds would match current federal dollars available under the program.

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