Markey, Bennet & Udall Hail Addition of 7,000 Acres for CRP Program

Press Release

Congresswoman Betsy Markey, Senator Michael Bennet and Senator Mark Udall today welcomed an announcement that the U.S. Department of Agriculture has approved 7,000 acres for a conservation project under the Conservation Reserve Program (CRP) initiative practice called State Acres For Wildlife Enhancement (SAFE).

An additional 7,000 acres will be allocated to the highly successful Lesser Prairie Chicken SAFE project in Colorado. To date, farmers and ranchers have restored or enhanced more than 2,600 acres of lesser prairie chicken habitat in southeastern Colorado. The lesser prairie chicken is a candidate for listing as threatened or endangered by U.S. Fisheries and Wildlife Service.

"This is a win for farmers, ranchers, and for wildlife conservation efforts in Southeast Colorado," said Rep. Markey. "The lesser prairie chicken is an important part of the High Plains ecosystem and is in danger of joining the endangered species list. The negative impacts of that would extend beyond farming and ranching to energy development throughout the region. CRP has proved to be a popular and effective means to protect wildlife habitat and to promote essential economic benefits for farmers and ranchers in troubling economic times."

"The Conservation Reserve Program and initiatives like it have a proven track record of success in addressing natural resource concerns and preserving wildlife habitat in a cost-effective way," Sen. Bennet said. "Keeping thousands of the nation's most fragile lands in grass is a win-win for Colorado farmers, ranchers, conservationists-and the lesser prairie chicken."

"The Conservation Reserve Program is an important tool for farmers to enhance their role as good stewards of the land, while providing vital habitat for wildlife," Sen. Udall said. "Expanding the SAFE project is something that will help keep sensitive lands in conservation in Southeast Colorado and help to keep the Lesser Prairie Chicken off the endangered species list."

In December, Markey, Bennet and Udall sent letters to Secretary of Agriculture Tom Vilsack, urging the USDA to establish a High Plains Conservation Reserve Program to allow farmers and ranchers to restore eligible lands to native grassland habitat for lesser prairie chickens and other grassland-dependent species.

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