LANDOWNER INTERVIEWS
Leaving a Legacy through Conservation in the Little Cottonwood Watershed

Several landowners in the Little Cottonwood River Watershed have taken advantage of two very popular programs, the Conservation Reserve Enhancement Program (CREP) and the Continuous CRP program, and each have their own reasons for participating. Between CRP and CREP almost 4,000 acres have been enrolled by an estimated 150 landowners within the 170 square-mile watershed. The links below highlight just a few of the landowners and their reasons for participating in the voluntary programs.

Landowner Interviews
Gary Rathman
Roland Richert
Gerald and Lorrel Riederer
Marvin and Esther Windschitl

CREP Program
The Minnesota River Conservation Reserve Enhancement Program combines the USDA Conservation Reserve Program with the state’s Reinvest in Minnesota Reserve (RIM) program to retire 100,000 acres of environmentally sensitive land in the 37-county Minnesota River Basin. Targeted acres include frequently flooded cropland in the Minnesota River Valley and its principal tributaries, riparian buffers along cropland identified as a major polluter, and wetlands that can be restored and provide water quality and wildlife benefits to the Minnesota River and its tributaries. As of recently the 100,000 acre goal has been met with over 4,000 of those acres being signed up in Brown County. The initiative was one of the largest efforts to restore habitat and improve water quality in the Minnesota River—one of the nation’s most polluted rivers—and its tributaries.

Best Management Practices
Seeding down marginal cropland with native grasses, trees, and forbs is one of the best management practices (BMPs) that Brown and Cottonwood County producers can use to protect soil and water quality. However, BMPs like buffer strips, and prairie and wetland restorations go beyond just protecting the soil and water. They are an excellent management tool because they offer multiple benefits. Better wildlife habitat, good neighbor relations, and the promotion of a sustainable concept of land management are just a few.