Conservation Reserve Enhancement Permanent Easement Program (CREP)
The Maryland Department of Natural Resources' CREP program secures permanent easements to protect water quality and natural resources by maintaining conservation practices on eligible Maryland lands.
Funder: Maryland Department of Natural Resources
Due Dates: Rolling
Funding Amounts: Compensation based on easement valuation system (property value, buffer size, contract acres, and match acres); payment terms are negotiated per easement.
Summary: Enables Maryland landowners to permanently protect water quality and natural resources through perpetual conservation easements.
Key Information: Open statewide; only available to landowners with an existing federal CREP or CRP contract and established practices.
Description
The Conservation Reserve Enhancement Permanent Easement Program (CREP), administered by the Maryland Department of Natural Resources (DNR), allows landowners to enter into a perpetual legal agreement with the state to install or maintain conservation practices that protect water quality and natural resources. This program is designed for landowners who have an existing federal CREP or Conservation Reserve Program (CRP) contract and who have already implemented the required conservation practices. Upon expiration of the federal contract, participants agree to maintain their land in accordance with an approved conservation management or forest stewardship plan indefinitely. Each easement is tailored to the specific property and landowner, with restrictions typically prohibiting development and requiring the maintenance of certain vegetation types. The easement is recorded with county land records and is held by a government agency or qualified nonprofit, ensuring long-term stewardship and protection.
