[Excerpts from July 16 Governor Pawlenty News Release]
Governor Tim Pawlenty today announced he will visit Northwest, Southeast and Southwest Minnesota over the course of the next two weeks to review Conservation Reserve Enhancement Program (CREP) proposals by local officials. CREP is a voluntary federal-state-local program that works with farmers and ranchers to set aside sensitive agricultural lands to enhance wildlife habitats, improve water quality, reduce erosion and sedimentation and reduce the impacts of recurrent flooding.

The program combines the federal Conservation Reserve Program with Minnesota's Reinvest in Minnesota Reserve Program to fund the conservation of 100,000 acres of land. Nearly $200 million in federal money combined with $40 million from the state would fully fund the effort.

The Pawlenty administration will decide which areas of the state should be included in Minnesota's CREP proposal to the federal government after hearing proposals from three regions in the state. The Northwest region proposal includes the Red River Watershed and all or part of 21 counties. Targets include riparian zones and wetland restoration.

The Governor is scheduled to participate in a forum hosted by the Board of Water and Soil Resources, July 17, 1:00-2:30 PM, on the University of Minnesota Crookston Campus, Kiehl Building, 2900 University Ave.

Full Release
MN BWSR CREP Page
RRBC Nov. 2002 Draft CREP Proposal

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