A local CREP technician will help you determine if you and your property meet eligibility criteria for the program. General requirements include:

You must have owned and/or operated your land for at least 12 months before enrollment.

Land must be either cropland or marginal pastureland, be able to support the required vegetation, and have the required cropping history.

Your property must border eligible stream segments. A map of eligible segments is available from the Washington State Conservation Commission CREP website (www.scc.wa.gov/crep). Generally, stream segments must have at least one species of Pacific salmon or steelhead present.

Eligible CREP Activities (Property must provide habitat for salmonid fish that migrate to the ocean.):
- Forest Buffers: Plantings of native trees and vegetation bordering a river or stream.
- Hedgerows: Narrow strips of native shrubs planted on eligible streams and drainage channels.
- Grass Filter Strips: Strips of grassy vegetation planted along stream segments that are upstream of salmon habitat.
- Wetland Restoration: Planting native wetland vegetation, including establishment of an upland buffer. Criteria for eligible restoration practices varies depending on whether the site is within or outside of the 100-year floodplain area. This practice is eligible on cropland.
- Pastureland Wetland Buffers: Bands of vegetation planted on marginal pastureland that is adjacent to wetlands.

If your property is eligible for this program, one of our CREP technicians will work with you to develop a project plan that meets both the program requirements and your goals for your property. CREP allows for some flexibility in the width of the riparian buffer planted along the stream, river, or wetland. The width flexibility changes based on site conditions, existing structures and infrastructure, and landowner needs. You may enroll all or a portion of your eligible streamside property.