Section 1515.20  Eligibility Requirements

Lands that meet the CREP eligibility criteria for CRP contracts as determined by the USDA Farm Service Agency (FSA) are eligible for the State Incentive Program, unless specifically excepted by Section 1515.40(a).

a)         The acres to be enrolled under CREP must consist of eligible land in the Illinois River Watershed as described in the Agreement between the U.S. Department of Agriculture, Commodity Credit Corporation, and State of Illinois, as amended, for the Illinois River Watershed Conservation Reserve Enhancement Program, as shown on the attached map (Exhibit A).  These acres are eligible if they are:

1)         Acres with a weighted average Erodibility Index (EI) ≥ 12.  Such acres will only be eligible if: such acres are adjacent to a stream corridor; the landowner agrees to enroll riparian areas in the stream corridor using CREP or any other CRP enrollment opportunity; the acres have become an uneconomic remnant as a result of the establishment of a riparian buffer; or the enrollment of the acres is required for effective functioning of a riparian buffer; and/or

2)         Riparian areas, defined as the 100 year floodplain of the Illinois River and its associated tributaries and streams in the watersheds specified in subsection (a) of this Section and shown in Exhibit A, or located within the watershed depicted in Exhibit A and determined to be for wetland restoration purposes, farmed wetlands, prior converted wetlands and wetlands farmed under natural conditions.

b)         The CRP practices eligible for use on the CREP enrollments to receive cost-share assistance are listed below.  Practices that enhance or create habitat or desired environment as part of an IDNR approved conservation plan may be eligible for use on the enrolled property.  Exceptions can be made to eligible practices or to standards within a practice if the USDA/IDNR approved conservation plan identifies extenuating circumstances that justify the exception.

1)         For acres qualifying on the basis of erosion (must have an EI ≥ 12):

                                    Establishment of Permanent Native Grasses (CRP Practice CP 2)

                                    Tree Planting (CRP Practice CP 3)

                                    Hardwood Tree Planting (CRP Practice CP 3A)

                                    Permanent Wildlife Habitat, Noneasement (CRP Practice CP 4D)

                                    Wildlife Food Plot (CRP Practice CP 12)

Rare and Declining Habitat (CRP Practice CP 25) – For prairie ecosystem restoration and tallgrass prairie/oak savanna ecosystem restoration

2)         For acres qualifying as riparian areas:

                                    Hardwood Tree Planting (CRP Practice CP 3A)

                                    Permanent Wildlife Habitat, Noneasement (CRP Practice CP 4D)

                                    Shallow Water Areas for Wildlife (CRP Practice CP 9)

                                    Wildlife Food Plot (CRP Practice CP 12)

Filter Strip (CRP Practice CP 21) – Filter strips can extend to the Natural Resources Conservation Service (NRCS) maximum design standard for Illinois based on percent slope for the purposes of water quality. Installation of appropriate practices authorized in this Section may be combined adjacent to CP 21 (Filter Strip) up to a combined maximum width for both practices of 234 feet.

Riparian Buffer (CRP Practice CP 22) – Riparian buffers can extend to the maximum widths allowed in the NRCS Field Office Technical Guide, which include the 100 year floodplain for water quality purposes.

Wetland Restoration (CRP Practice CP 23) – Will be applied to farmed wetlands, prior converted wetlands, wetlands farmed under natural conditions and acres that lie in the 100 year floodplain.

Rare and Declining Habitat (CRP Practice CP 25) – For prairie ecosystem restoration and tallgrass prairie/oak savanna ecosystem restoration.

(Source:  Amended at 29 Ill. Reg. 20507, effective December 2, 2005)