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| Release No. 0430.98 Andy Solomon (202) 720-4623 GLICKMAN ANNOUNCES $250 MILLION EFFORT TO RESTORE STREAMS AND HELP ENDANGERED SALMON IN WASHINGTON STATE SEATTLE, Oct. 19, 1998--Agriculture Secretary Dan Glickman today announced a new $250 million federal-state conservation partnership to protect streams in Washington that are home to endangered species of salmon. Under an agreement between the Clinton Administration and the State of Washington, up to 100,000 acres of environmentally sensitive land along 3,000 miles of salmon streams throughout the state will be restored. "This partnership is good for Washington streams and Washington salmon -- and it is good for America’s environment," said Glickman, who was joined by Governor Gary Locke for today’s announcement. Today’s agreement creates the Washington Conservation Reserve Enhancement Program (CREP), under which land along stream and river banks will be planted with trees to serve as riparian buffers. These buffers, when properly planted, can filter as much as 90 percent of sediment, nutrients, and other contaminants from surface runoff water before it reaches sensitive streams and rivers. They also provide shade to reduce stream temperatures. Agricultural landowners and producers will be eligible to enter into 10- to 15-year contracts to plant and maintain long-term, resource conserving vegetative covers on environmentally sensitive land adjacent to targeted streams and rivers. In return, they will receive cost-share assistance and annual rental payments. USDA’s Commodity Credit Corporation will fund about 80 percent of the program’s expected $250 million cost with the rest of the funds coming from Washington State and private landowners. Farmers and landowners can obtain more information about this program from their local USDA Service Center or on the web at www.fsa.usda.gov. #
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