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By Chris Bird "
Rappahannock N«w» Writer
It is common knowledge that the Chesapeake Bay is in serious trouble. Excessive amounts of soluble nutrients and silt in the bay are causing biological changes that result in oxygen depletion. Dissolved oxygen is a requirement for species that rely on oxygen to support respiration. This includes aquatic animals, of all sizes and forms.
One of the major sources of these nutrients is agriculture. Animal manure and stream bank erosion ultimately end up downstream, as does the chemical runoff from fertilizers and pesticides.
To try to reverse the deterioration of the Chesapeake Bay, the United States Department of Agriculture, the Commonwealth of Virginia, the Chesapeake Bay Foundation and Ducks Unlimited have joined to fund and pursue the Conservation Reserve Enhancement Program (CREP).
Their goal is to improve the quality of Virginia’s streams and ground water by restoring wetlands and establishing hardwood forests and grass buffer strips along streams and around wetlands. Research indicates that riparian forest buffers filter out most sediment and nutrients before they reach a stream.
The CREP program encourages stream bank and wetland protection by providing a yearly rental of $85 per acre per year for 10-15 years for land in Rappahannock County currently used for livestock grazing or rpw crops. The land must be fenced and planted to hardwood trees to preserve stream banks and protect water quality. In addition to the yearly rental, the CREP program pays for all the fencing and whatever alternative water sources are needed as a result of stream bank protection. Further, a one time payment of $500 per acre is available for permanent easements of 100 feet from the stream banks.
The CREP program provides significant financial incentives for providing protection of our streams, rivers and finally the Chesapeake Bay itself. Ninety-one million dollars have been allocated for this program in Virginia. Funds are distributed on a first come, first served basis by region. Rappahannock County comprises the headwaters of
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