Welcome to Story County
Soil and Water Conservation District

Conservation Reserve Program

The continuous Conservation Reserve Program (CRP) has several different conservation practices that help slow water runoff, trap sediment and enhance wildlife habitat. Conservation buffers are a simple way to help you, the landowner, stay profitable and protect your land. Buffers are also a great way to demonstrate your commitment to conservation. Click here for a pdf document on buffers.

Conservation buffers are strips or areas of land in permanent vegetation that helps landowners reduce pollution and achieve other objectives. Here's a list and description of some of the main practices approved for the continuous CRP sign-up.

Riparian Buffers

Streamside plantings of trees, shrubs and grasses that can intercept contaminants from both surface water and groundwater before they reach a stream and help restore damaged streams.  

Filter Strips

Strips of grass used to intercept or trap field sediment, nutrients, organics, pesticides and other potential pollutants before they reach a body of water.  

 

 

Grassed Waterway

Strips of grass seeding in areas of cropland where water concentrates or flows off a field. While they are primarily used to prevent gully erosion, waterways can be combined with filter strips to trap contaminants or field sediment.  

Wellhead Protection Areas

Land within a maximum 2,000-foot radius from a public well, as designated by the Environmental Protection Agency or a state-designated agency, can be enrolled in the continuous CRP sign-up.  

Shallow Water Area for Wildlife

Areas of shallow water within or near cropland that are protected by permanent shrubs, trees and grasses areas. These areas are vital to enhancing wildlife habitat. Maximum area is 10 acres per tract.  

Shelterbelts/Field Windbreaks

A row or rows of trees, shrubs or other plants used to reduce wind erosion, protect young crops and control blowing snow. Shelterbelts also provide excellent protection from the elements for wildlife, livestock, houses and farm buildings. Field windbreaks are similar to shelterbelts, but are located along field borders or within the field itself.  

Living Snow Fences

Similar in design to field windbreaks or shelterbelts, living snow fences serve the additional function of being used to help manage snow deposits to protect buildings, roads and other property. They can be designed and placed to help protect nearby areas for livestock, provide wildlife cover and collect snow to enhance soil moisture and nearby water supplies.  

Contour Grass Strips

Narrow bands of perennial vegetation established across the slope of a crop field and alternated down the slope with wider strips of crops. Properly designed and maintained contour grass strips can reduce soil erosion, minimize transport of sediment and other water-borne contaminants and provide wildlife habitat. Field borders may be included with contour grass strips if needed as an integral component of a contour buffer strip system.  

Farmable Wetland Pilot Program

This program allows landowners to enroll small wetland areas and adjacent buffers into CRP. These fields must have been cropped at least 3 of the past 10 years. The acres of the buffer must not exceed 3 times the wetland acres. Hydrology restoration will be required to meet feasibility. This program will provide financial incentives while helping to improve water quality and enhance wildlife habitat.  

Benefits of Buffers

Conservation buffers are installed along streams or in uplands - within crop fields, at field edges, or outside a field. Properly installed and maintained, they have the capacity to:
Story Soil and Water Conservation District
510 South 11th Street, Nevada, IA  50201
Phone: (515) 382-2217 - Fax: (515) 382-5708
 

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