Letter to Tom Vilsack, Secretary of Agriculture - Higher Irrigation Rental Rates for Republican River Farmers and Ranchers

Letter

Dear Secretary Vilsack:

I write to request that the Department of Agriculture implement equitable Conservation Reserve Enhancement Program (CREP) irrigation rental rates for the Republican River CREP. I appreciate the recent conversations that you and your staff have had with me and my office. We encourage you to continue to work with us and the Republican River Water Conservation District ("District') on this issue.

Currently, the Colorado Republican River CREP irrigation rental rate is $115 per acre, which is nearly 50 percent lower than CREP irrigation rental rates ($210-$215 per acre) in connected watersheds in Nebraska. Despite previous inquiries from the District and the Colorado Department of Natural Resources, it remains unclear why there is such a significant rate difference between the two states.

CREP is a valuable, voluntary tool for land and water conservation that ranchers, farmers and landowners use across the country. However, outdated rental rates cause inequitable conditions in the Republican River system. This puts Coloradans at a disadvantage and makes it more difficult to meet our obligations under the Republican River Compact. A higher rental rate in Colorado would encourage CREP participation and improve water management in this multi-state region.

I appreciate your commitment to re-evaluate the current rate structure and encourage the Department of Agriculture to establish equitable rental rates for the Colorado Republican River CREP.

Thank you for your consideration.

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