Letter-to-the-Editor
(252 words)

Dear Editor,

The State of Illinois and the United States Department of Agriculture (USDA) agreed this summer to re-open the highly successful Conservation Reserve Enhancement Program (CREP) with $50 million in allocated funding. New opportunities for landowners are now open to enroll eligible acres and receive compensation to create conservation areas, including wetlands, streamside forest buffers and grass waterways.

The new funding will be used to restore 15,000 acres of flood-prone or erodible lands.

Illinois’ CREP is a state, federal, and local partnership that offers voluntary, incentive-based opportunities to meet the goals of reducing sediment in the Illinois River and its tributaries, reducing excessive nutrients in water, and improving wildlife numbers and habitat.

Since its creation, CREP has made a tremendous impact to meet these goals, especially in reducing soil erosion that chokes the Illinois River and restricts navigation and recreation opportunities. To date, over 110,000 acres have been enrolled in the program, and Illinois has become a model for other states to emulate.

Stewardship of our water, soil, and wildlife resources is important for the health of our citizens and economy. As chairman of the Illinois River Coordinating Council, a broad stakeholder group including citizen representatives from agriculture and conservation, I feel this program is an integral part of the management plan for the future of the Illinois River.

The CREP sign-up period is open from November 14-25, and I encourage interested landowners to contact your local USDA Service Center to apply. For more information, visit CleanWater.il.gov.

Sincerely,

Pat Quinn

Illinois Lieutenant Governor

Letter-to-the-Editor (252 words)

Letter-to-the-Editor
(252 words)