Conservation Reserve Program (CRP) Land Findings

State of Oregon
National Resources Inventory (NRI) Results
(Revised December 2000)
 

See Broad Land Cover/Use Topic List , for detailed results.

CRP Background

The NRI defines Conservation Reserve Program lands as a land cover/use category that includes land under a CRP contract. The Conservation Reserve Program is a voluntary federal program established under the Food Security Act of 1985 to assist private landowners to convert highly erodible and environmentally sensitive cropland to permanent vegetative cover.

NRI estimates for land in the Conservation Reserve Program in Oregon reached a maximum in 1992 of 522,300 acres. Between 1992 and 1997, more land was removed from the program than enrolled, resulting in a 1997 level of 482,600 acres.

Estimated Acres of CRP Land in Oregon

• 1982 Estimate = No Data, since the program was established under the Food Security Act of 1985.
• 1987 Estimate = 393,200 acres.
• 1992 Estimate = 522,300 acres.
• 1997 Estimate = 482,600 acres.

These documents require Adobe Acrobat.

Chart for Conservation Reserve Program Land (24 KB)
Table for Conservation Reserve Program Land (7 KB)

• Text Version of Conservation Reserve Program Land.
• Details for Conservation Reserve Program Land.

Reduction in Sheet and Rill (Water) Erosion Rates on CRP Land

Sheet and rill erosion is the removal of layers of soil from the land surface by the action of rainfall and runoff. It is the first stage in water erosion. NRI estimates of sheet and rill erosion do not include loss of soil from concentrated sources, such as gully and streambank erosion.

NRI estimates for sheet and rill erosion are calculated for agricultural land only (cropland, pastureland, and CRP land). Estimates are not made for rangeland, forestland or other land uses.

Cultivated cropland in 1982, prior to enrollment in the Conservation Reserve Program, had an average sheet and rill erosion rate of 7.2 tons per acre per year. By 1997, after the establishment of permanent vegetative cover, the average rate of erosion was reduced to 0.4 tons per acre per year on these converted lands.

* Before enrollment in the CRP.

Reduction in Total Tons of Soil Lost on CRP Land

By examining the estimated 482,600 acres enrolled in the Conservation Reserve Program in 1997, the beneficial effects of the erosion rate reduction are apparent. NRI results indicate that these lands had estimated total sheet and rill erosion levels of 3,171,500 tons per year in 1982 when they were in commodity production, and levels of only 166,600 tons per year in 1997. This represents a 95% reduction in erosion and an estimated soil savings of 3,004,900 tons per year.

* Before enrollment in the CRP.

Contribution of the Conservation Reserve Program to Total Erosion Reduction in Oregon

NRI results indicate there was a reduction in the total sheet and rill erosion on all of Oregon’s agricultural lands, from an estimated 17,782,400 tons per year in 1982 to 9,678,700 tons per year in 1997. This is a decrease of 8,103,700 tons per year.

As indicated above, the lands included in the Conservation Reserve Program in 1997, when followed through time, accounted for 3,004,900 tons per year reduction from 1982 to 1997. This means that these 482,600 acres, while comprising only 7.5% of the total agricultural land in 1982, actually accounted for 37% of the total erosion reduction on all of Oregon’s agricultural lands during this period.

To see all results, select Geographic Area.

Send comments and suggestions to the Oregon Resources Inventory Team
Last Modification: Monday, July 28, 2003

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