Section 1515.10  Purpose

Illinois CREP is a land conservation program that provides compensation to Landowners to improve water quality and enhance fish and wildlife habitat on private lands in the Illinois River Watershed and Kaskaskia River Watershed in Illinois.  Illinois CREP provides Landowners that currently have or have had acreage enrolled in federal CREP contracts prior to May 26, 2021 or are currently enrolled in an Illinois CREP Grant of Conservation Right and Easement Agreement the opportunity to enroll that acreage for additional time (15 years or permanent) in Illinois CREP Grant of Conservation Right and Easement Agreement.  Additionally, Illinois CREP provides Landowners that enroll acreage into the federal CREP contract after May 26, 2021 the opportunity to fulfill the federal mandate to enroll that same acreage into an Illinois CREP Grant of Conservation Right and Easement Agreement (either 15 years or permanent).  Upon an Illinois CREP Grant of Conservation Right and Easement Agreement becoming effective, acreage becomes Illinois CREP Acreage and shall be operated and maintained in accordance with an Illinois Conservation Management Plan during the term of the Illinois CREP Grant of Conservation Right and Easement Agreement.  Illinois CREP is managed by the local SWCDs and IDNR.

(Source:  Amended at 46 Ill. Reg. 5986, effective March 30, 2022)