Located in the rolling Litchfield Hills of Northwest Connecticut along the banks of the Blackberry River, a tributary of the Housatonic River which flows into Long Island Sound, is Freund's Farm, Inc. This dairy farm is operated by brothers Matt and Ben Freund. In 1995, the Freunds began use of an intensive rotational grazing system for their 230 dairy cows.

The Freunds enrolled about 16 acres in the Conservation Reserve Program, installing riparian buffers and filter strips on both sides of the river and 13 acres of open and wooded upland wetland in the wetland restoration practice. They also installed perimeter and paddock fencing which kept the cows out of the restored wetland, the Blackberry River, and feeder streams.

The herbaceous or grass filter strip traps soil particles and nutrients to prevent them from entering the river. Blight-resistant chestnut seedlings have been planted close to the river in certain locations to enhance wildlife habitat, stabilize the river bank, and enable monitoring of chestnut growth in Northwestern Connecticut.

The fencing also protects the riparian buffer. The riparian buffer includes cherry and elm trees which were already established and enables natural re-growth of alders, willows, maples, and oaks. The Freunds also installed two cattle crossings and an alternative water supply.

"The compensation we receive from the Conservation Reserve Program is very modest, indeed, when compared to the benefits of protecting our streams and preserving our farmland for future generations," said Ben Freund.

A CREP-installed riparian buffer at the edge of the cornfield traps soil particles and nutrients.

A fence built near the bank of the Whiting River creates a riparian buffer, preventing cows from eroding the bank and fouling the water.

Blight-resistant chestnut seedlings were planted in the CREP riparian buffer along the Whiting River.