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Fall 2022
PA CREP News and Updates
2022 CREP Partner Training
As part of the CREP Outreach Program Office, the Pennsylvania Association of Conservation Districts and CREP Program Partners will offer a virtual, two-day CREP Partner Training to all partner staff involved in the program including conservation district staff.

Registration is free and required. Please use the link below to register for the training.
 
 
CREP Partner Training
November 9-10, 2022 | 9:00am - Noon
Audience: New and experienced staff working with the CREP program in Pennsylvania
 
 
Financial and other support for the CREP Partner Training is provided through a Growing Greener Watershed Protection grant from the Pennsylvania Department of Environmental Protection and with additional support from USDA-NRCS. 
PACD Accepting CREP Mini-Grant Applications
from Conservation Districts
PACD is now accepting applications for a new round of CREP mini-grants!

Application Deadline: November 18, 2022
 
Grants up to $3,000 will be awarded to implement educational and outreach activities that support and extend the work of the Conservation Reserve Enhancement Program (CREP). 
Project examples:
-      Walk abouts/field days
-      Farmer and landowner workshops
-      Riparian buffer workshops
-      Workshop series with several topics
-      Developing educational materials like brochures, flyers, fact sheets, or billboards
-      Hire interns to provide CREP outreach
 
2016 CREP Billboard by Berks County Conservation District
We encourage working with USDA-NRCS, USDA-FSA, Pheasants Forever, PA Game Commission, Stroud Water Research Center, Alliance for the Chesapeake Bay, Chesapeake Bay Foundation, DEP, and other CREP partners to set up workshops and other projects! Be creative!
 
Click here for the application and guidelines: https://pacd.org/?page_id=23193

Financial and other support for the CREP Outreach Program Office Mini-grant Program is provided by the Pennsylvania Association of Conservation Districts, Inc. through a Growing Greener Watershed Protection grant from the Pennsylvania Department of Environmental Protection and with additional support from USDA-NRCS.
2021-2022 CREP Mini-Grant Round Outcomes
Project Highlights
Adams County
Adams County Conservation District held 3 maintenance field day trainings and hosted a tree planting maintenance workshop. The trainings provided tips for proper tree planting, sheltering and maintenance, and information on the importance of planting the right tree in the right place.
Blair County
Blair County Conservation District offered a Bramble Workshop in April 2022 to teach participants how to manage brambles in a multi-functional buffer. This was part of a 5-workshop education series that highlighted CREP and other conservation programs.
Westmoreland County
In June, Westmoreland Conservation District held an Ag Stewardship Workshop to provide information on agricultural programs including CREP.
New CREP Fact Sheets Available
The USDA Farm Service Agency created three new fact sheets on the Conservation Reserve Enhancement Program (CREP). The program pays farmers and other landowners to conserve and enhance their land.

The fact sheets were created in April 2022 so they contain up-to-date information on the program. Links to the fact sheets are listed below. For more information on CREP, visit www.creppa.org
Conservation Districts Complete Buffer Projects
Chester County

Chester County Conservation District planted 1.1-acres of multi-functional riparian forest buffer on a dairy farm in Chester County. The project cost $9,850.00.
Chester County

Chester County Conservation District planted 5.5-acres of multi-functional riparian forest buffer on a farm in the White Clay Creek watershed in Chester County. The project cost $52,289.00. 
Warren County

Warren County Conservation District planted 1.3-acres of multi-functional riparian forest buffer on a farm in the Conewango Creek watershed in Warren County. The project cost $4,252.94.


Beaver County
Beaver County Conservation District planted 6.5-acres of multi-functional riparian forest buffer at Zelienople Airport in Beaver County. The project cost $24,948.00.
Armstrong County
Armstrong Conservation District planted 2.4-acres of multi-functional riparian forest buffer along Crooked Creek in Burrell Township, Armstrong County. The project cost $12,434.00.
Butler County
Butler County Conservation District planted 0.36-acres of multi-functional riparian forest buffer along a tributary to Big Run in Butler County. The buffer was located on a pasture field. The project cost $2,068.00.
Delaware County
Delaware County Conservation District planted 1.352-acres of multi-functional riparian forest buffer in Haverford Township, Delaware County. The project cost $9,188.86.
Financial and other support for this project is provided by the Pennsylvania Association of Conservation Districts, Inc. through a grant from the Pennsylvania Department of Conservation and Natural Resources, Bureau of Recreation and Conservation.
Landowner Guide to Buffer Success
CREP partners updated the “Landowner Guide to Buffer Success” that was last published in 2007. The guide features key tasks by season, tips to improve outcomes, example photos, summaries of how riparian forest buffers help streams, and links to resources. Guides are still available. 
Contact Holly Miller at hmiller@pacd.org to request copies and make arrangements for pick-up.
Thank you to all our CREP partners who contributed to the Landowner Guide to Buffer Success!
Are You a Member of the CREP Partners Listserve?
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Members of the CREP Partners Listserve already know that it’s a convenient way to share and receive program information, but did you know it’s also an email discussion group? Listserve members can ask questions, seek opinions, and discuss current issues related to the program through the list. Interested partners can email Molly Burns at mburns@pacd.org to join.
Financial and other support for the CREP Outreach Program Office is provided by the Pennsylvania Association of Conservation Districts, Inc. through a Growing Greener Watershed Protection grant from the Pennsylvania Department of Environmental Protection and with additional support from USDA-NRCS.

  The Pennsylvania CREP program is administered by the USDA Farm Service Agency.

CREP Outreach Program Office | 717.238.7223 | info@creppa.org | www.creppa.org