Hooray, the Big Sioux River Conservation Enhancement Program (CREP) is finally here! This new voluntary habitat program for landowners kicked off in November and farmers and ranchers can begin enrolling their land today. CREP is essentially designed the same way as a 10–15-year CRP contract where cropland and marginal pastureland are restored to native grasses, shrubs, and wetlands, with the landowner agreeing to provide hunting and fishing access for those 10-15 years. By providing public access, the landowner will receive extra payment incentives, which raises their yearly rental rate. Average rental rates/acre for the surrounding areas are as follows: Brookings - $277, Kingsbury - $232, Lake - $294, Moody - $352, and Minnehaha - $310. There is a minimum public access area requirement of 40 acres. This minimum can be achieved with just CREP acres or a combination of CREP and GFP’s Walk-In Area program. “These CREP rental rates are really exciting and should be quite attractive” according to area Private Lands Biologist Lucas Zilverberg.
Aside from landowners, sportsmen and urbanites should be very excited about CREP along the Big Sioux River for various reasons. Obviously, the biggest reason on paper is the opportunity for 25,000 more acres open to public hunting, but other ecosystem services are improved as well. Water quality will improve through reduced sediment, phosphorous and nitrogen runoff from cropland. The Big Sioux River aquifer provides many families with drinking water especially in Sioux Falls, so improved water quality is very important. “SDGFP considers this program a grandslam by protecting and improving water quality, increasing wildlife habitat, creating additional forage resources for livestock producers, and generating additional public hunting and fishing access opportunities. ” said Access Coordinator Mark Norton. “While the investment from the department is substantial, we feel it is important to maintain and grow the hunting heritage in a part of the state home to many of our resident hunters” Norton continued.
In addition, benefits to both resident and migratory wildlife will be significant with and anticipated 71,000 additional ring-necked pheasants and 15,000 ducks produced annually once fully enrolled. Other wetland and grassland dependent species like deer, wild turkeys and grassland songbirds will also see population benefits. Many of the CREP grassland seedings will be comprised of diverse mixes of forbs and wildflowers, providing valuable habitat for pollinators. “The Big Sioux CREP will directly increase local populations of many game species, paying dividends to hunters and viewers alike” according to Senior Waterfowl Biologist Rocco Murano.
There will be a public online training via Microsoft Teams Wednesday Jan. 4th at 5:00PM for landowners interested in learning more about the new CREP program. In the meantime, feel free to call South Dakota Game, Fish and Parks Habitat Biologist Lucas Zilverberg at 612-865-9980 or Pheasants Forever Habitat Biologist William Gallman at 704-689-9091 for more details.
Microsoft Teams Meeting: January 4 @ 5:00PM
Microsoft Teams Meeting ID: 286865925505
Passcode: MCQcdg
