Weed Control/Wildlife Habitat Project Accomplishments

The Pennsylvania Association of Resource Conservation and Development (PARCD) Councils embarked on the Weed Control and Wildlife Habitat Technical Assistance Project in 2007. The PARCD Council worked closely with the Pocono Northeast RC&D Council to develop, implement, and administer the project on a statewide level. This project provides technical assistance on weed control and wildlife habitat to landowners enrolled in the Conservation Reserve Enhancement Program (CREP). Throughout the Commonwealth there are nine RC&D Councils that implement this program on a local level.  

What is CREP?

The Pennsylvania Conservation Reserve Enhancement Program (PA CREP) is a partnership of the U.S. Department of Agriculture (USDA) and the Commonwealth of Pennsylvania with the purpose or objective to implement conservation practices on cropland to reduce soil erosion, improve water quality and improve wildlife habitat. Participants remove cropland or marginal pastureland from agricultural production and convert the land to native grasses, forested buffers, and other habitat amendments for the benefit of soil, water, and wildlife resources.

If a landowner decides to enroll in CREP then the landowner visits the nearest USDA Farm Service Agency (FSA) office to initiate the CREP application process. All landowners interested in CREP must sign the non-contractual CREP list, which is necessary to continue to the next step. If FSA determines that the land is eligible, a USDA Natural Resources Conservation Service (NRCS) representative or a PA Game Commission biologist visits the site with the landowner to develop a site-specific CREP Conservation Plan. The Conservation Plan identifies what conservation practices will be used and where they will be installed, but also documents what will be necessary from the landowner to maintain those practices as required by the program.

Through the Weed Control/Wildlife Habitat Technical Assistance project, RC&D Councils work with landowners enrolled in CREP by providing information and resources on how to address noxious and invasive weeds on their property while emphasizing the beneficial plants that improve wildlife habitat. Controlling noxious weeds is a requirement of CREP participants. While noxious weed control is important in and of itself, it is a critical component for attaining the ultimate goal of creating and maintaining high quality wildlife habitat on land enrolled in CREP. This project not only addresses weed control, but also how beneficial plants diversify the habitat.