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West Virginia Success StoryBuffers Offer Many BenefitsProgram or Category: Conservation Technical Assistance (CTA) and Conservation Reserve Enhancement Program (CREP). Overview: Mr. James Mowrey of Hampshire County, West Virginia is participating in the Conservation Reserve Enhancement Program (CREP) on his farm located along the North River in the community of Sedan. He has entered into a contract to fence an 11 acre riparian buffer along the river, (approximately 3,200 feet), excluding livestock access for 15 years. This contract is an example of the 62 other such contracts in Hampshire County totaling just over 1,000 acres. While many of these contracts establish forested riparian buffers include tree planting practices, others establish successional growth of woody vegetation once the livestock are restricted from those areas. Cooperating agencies in this program include the USDA Farm Service Agency, USDA Natural Resources Conservation Service, West Virginia Division of Natural Resources, West Virginia Division of Forestry, Potomac Valley Conservation District, West Virginia Conservation Agency, and the U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service. This high tensile electric fencing was installed through Mr. Mowrey’s participation in the Partners for Wildlife program of the U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service. Accomplishments: Mr. Mowrey has established most of the trees that he is planning to plant in this riparian area but will complete this planting in the spring of 2005. He became interested in the program because of frequent flooding in this area and the constant maintenance that was required when the exclusion fence was located closer to the river. Through the CREP he is able to establish additional livestock watering facilities and no longer needs to water his cattle in the North River. Soil compaction, excess erosion, and animal manure entering the river have been reduced by restricting his cattle from this area along the river. Wildlife habitat is being restored as well. Program Benefits to Landowner: Since a new fence has been installed that is located farther away from the river and on somewhat higher ground, it will not be as susceptible to damage from high water. Wildlife habitat has been improved greatly by the livestock exclusion and the planting of trees such as Chinese chestnut and oak that will provide hard mast. Program Benefits to Community: When asked why he was interested in this program Mr. Mowrey stated, “I see it as doing my part to improve the quality of the river; not so much for me but for the future generations. If everybody did their part it would solve problems that may occur.” The North River supports trout populations in areas upstream of Mr. Mowrey’s farm. Many people live downstream of his farm and water quality is continually threatened by land uses that disturb the soil. This buffer increases the filtering capacity of the adjacent land. Contact: Romney Service Center−Serving Hampshire County
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