NEWS
UNITED STATES DEPARTMENT OF AGRICULTURE 
Office of Communications News Room 460-A
Washington, DC 20250-1300
Internet: News @usda.gov   Phone: 202-720-9035
World Wide Web Home Page: http://www.usda.gov

Release No. 0146.01
                      Kevin Herglotz (202) 720-4623
                         Dann Stuart (202) 690-0474
                                                   
USDA ANNOUNCES $40 MILLION CONSERVATION PROGRAM IN IOWA

     DES MOINES, August 17, 2001   Agriculture Secretary Ann
M. Veneman today announced that USDA and the State of Iowa will
launch a $40 million program to address water quality issues
related to excess nitrogen impacting water quality in 37
counties in North Central Iowa.  She was joined by Iowa
Governor Tom Vilsack, U.S. Senators Tom Harkin and Charles
Grassley, and members of the Iowa Congressional delegation.

     "Working together with the leadership in Iowa this
program encourages farmers to help conserve Iowa's natural
resources," said Veneman.  "Reducing runoff contaminates will
return our investment many times in healthier wildlife,
recreation and cleaner water in the State's rivers and
streams."

     The Iowa Conservation Reserve Enhancement Program (CREP)
will target 9,000 acres in North Central Iowa.  The program
will provide financial incentives to producers to restore
wetlands and install riparian buffer practices.  

     The wetlands portion of the project is specifically
designed to take tile and surface drain water and treat the
water in a wetland.  The wetlands will reduce nitrogen loading
of water by 40 percent to 90 percent and improve wildlife
habitat in the project area.  Iowa State University is working
closely with USDA in the design and monitoring of these wetland
systems. 

     According to USDA, the wetlands  created  under this
program will reduce the amount of nitrogen loading to streams
and rivers by 6 to 12 million pounds over the next 10 years. 
This will reduce water treatment costs for the City of Des
Moines, improve wildlife habitat, and reduce nitrogen loading
to the Mississippi River and the Gulf of Mexico.

     In addition, the project calls for the installation of
riparian buffers in the Lake Panorama watershed that will
reduce sediment by over 80,000 tons per year.  The Lake
Panorama Watershed Association has provided private monies to
install riparian buffers to reduce sediment loading to the
Lake.  This is a citizen-centered program that is working with
USDA to improve water quality and address other resource
concerns.
                          
          The total cost of the program is expected to reach
$40 million over 15 years. Of that amount, $31 million will
come from USDA, $7 million from the State of Iowa, and the Lake
Panorama Association is providing $2 million.  The goal of the
program is to significantly reduce the amount of nitrogen,
sediment, and  pesticides that enter the streams and rivers of
Iowa while improving wildlife habitat.

     CREP uses State and Federal resources to help solve
environmental problems.  CREP combines an existing USDA
program, the Conservation Reserve Program, with state programs
to provide a framework for partnerships to meet specific State
and National environmental objectives. The program provides for
voluntary agreements with farmers to convert cropland to native
grasses, trees, and other vegetation in return for rental
payments and other incentives.

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