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Growing Clean Water Along the Ohio River Basin Sediment from eroding cropland and nutrients arising from livestock and chemical fertilizers flow from farms to nearby streams, degrading water quality and the watershed downstream. Thanks to a cooperative effort between the WPC, 23 local organizations, the Pa. Governor’s office, Pennsylvania’s congressional delegation, and the U.S. Department of Agriculture (USDA), farmers in 16 regional counties have access to a federal program designed to improve water quality and wildlife habitat by rewarding good land management. from initial contact to contract completion. What the number does not reflect is the total number of area farmers who today understand what CREP is and why sound conservation practices are important to not only their livelihood, but to those who farm and live downstream. Many of these farmers have either signed up and are not through the CREP enrollment (the process can take anywhere from a few months to nearly a year to complete), or are thinking about signing up. WPC’s Agricultural Conservation Scientist Alysha Trexler has great hope for the success of the program and compares WPC's work connecting farmers with CREP to planting seeds. “Over the last year, thousands of seeds have been planted and sit in the ground developing and sending out roots, some will germinate sooner than others, but germination takes time and is usually unseen,” Trexler noted. Trexler appreciates the opportunity CREP gives WPC staff to not only talk about the benefits of the program, but talk about other conservation practices that could be applied to the land. Another farming analogy that Trexler likes to use in describing the goal of CREP is ‘water farming.’ “If we look at managing clean water as a crop, it is easier to grasp the purpose of CREP,” Trexler said. “Clean water, like any crop, has higher yields when grown in suitable soils and location. The acreage placed under CREP can be considered the fields needed to produce clean water. CREP rents the field space to ‘grow’ clean water.” WPC assigned three of its agricultural conservation scientists to work specifically on CREP outreach. Additional WPC staff helped with CREP implementation and monitoring. During the summer months, WPC had the aid of six temporary positions who became known as “CREP Reps.” They would individually travel throughout the CREP-eligible region spreading the word at rural homes, and leaving fact sheets and contact information. Throughout the 11-week period, the CREP Reps made more than 2,000 direct contacts, and covered more than 3,000 square miles of the Ohio CREP region. Additionally, WPC has created outreach tools including CREP coupon boards, fact sheets, brochures, a statewide toll free number, a web site, portable banners and display materials explaining CREP and other practices to improve water quality. “As more CREP projects are put on the ground and become visible, interest in the program will grow,” Trexler noted. In the meantime, WPC’s CREP staff is gearing up to plant thousands more seeds in 2007.
Plastic tubes (often mistaken for large candles) are protecting young native trees, planted through the Conservation Reserve Enhancement Program (CREP). These trees, and the vegetation surrounding them, are key to stabilizing stream side soils and filtering out pollutants that would otherwise have direct access to the Ohio River watershed. As these trees mature, their shade will help maintain water temperature and their fallen leaves will provide essential food for to the stream-bound bugs that are dinner for other aquatic life. Photo by Chesapeake Bay Foundation. In cooperation with county partners, WPC has:
For more information on the CREP program, contact Alysha Trexler at 724-459-0953, ext. 108, or e-mail her at atrexler@paconserve.org.
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