Committee approves change to conservation easement: grass filter strip to riparian forest buffer

Richland County Land and Water Resources Committee members voted to revise a Conservation Reserve Enhancement Program (CREP) easement to a riparian forest buffer after monitoring found the easement area had been converted to row crops.

A staff member reported that the permanent easement originally required a grass filter strip installed in 2004. County monitoring, done with a student intern, found much of the easement had been planted in soybeans after the federal contract monitoring lapsed. The landowner agreed to restore the practice and proposed planting trees instead of reverting to grass. The staff member said the proposed riparian forest buffer meets NRCS implementation requirements and will reduce the risk of future tillage.

Committee member Mark moved to approve the change to the conservation plan; Julie seconded. The motion passed by voice vote.

Staff said the revision will go to the next-level agency review (county/state/federal technical review) and that the landowner will be responsible for implementation costs associated with changing the conservation practice. The committee noted the landowner had previously received higher incentive payments for enrolling the land as a perpetual easement and that any change after the original federal contract requires committee approval.

Committee members said the proposed tree species included red pine, purchased by the landowner before final plan approval; staff advised the plan met technical standards for the site despite species selection differences and noted the landowner’s son has forestry training and will participate in stand management. The committee approved the plan revision and directed staff to forward the revised plan to the appropriate agency for final sign-off.