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| Release No. 0427.98 Andy Solomon (202) 720-4623 GLICKMAN ANNOUNCES $250 MILLION EFFORT TO RESTORE STREAMS AND SAVE ENDANGERED SALMON AND TROUT IN OREGON PORTLAND, Ore., Oct. 17, 1998--Agriculture Secretary Dan Glickman today announced a new $250 million federal-state conservation partnership to protect Oregon streams that are home to endangered species of salmon and trout. Under an agreement between the Clinton Administration and the State of Oregon, up to 100,000 acres of environmentally sensitive land along 4,000 miles of salmon and trout streams throughout the state will be restored. "This new partnership will protect the habitats of eight different endangered salmon species and two endangered trout species," said Glickman, who was joined by Governor John Kitzhaber and U.S. Senator Ron Wyden for today’s announcement. "It will restore our natural heritage of salmon and trout, improve water quality, and protect the environment in Oregon." Today’s agreement creates the Oregon 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 technical assistance. The agreement offers two innovative approaches to eligible landowners. First, in any case where more than 50 percent of the land along a five mile stream segment is enrolled prior to January 1, 2002, producers will receive a one-time incentive payment equal to four times the base annual rental rate. Second, and unique to this agreement, producers who are currently irrigating their land will be eligible for a rental payment based on the rental value of irrigated land rather than the normal dryland rental rate. In return for the higher irrigated-land rental rate, producers must execute a lease with the State of Oregon. These lease agreements will require producers to divert less water for surface irrigation, thus allowing more water to stay in streams and rivers. 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/daft/cepd/crpinfo.htm # |
