John and Gayle Hart have Jackson County, Oregon, property sandwiched between the Applegate River and Upper Applegate Road . In 2004, they enrolled five acres in the Oregon Conservation Reserve Enhancement Program (CREP). Their hope was to exclude open range livestock from grazing, which created sediment runoff, and to develop their riparian area specifically for wildlife foraging and aesthetics.

The dense brush and blackberries were cleared with slash buster equipment called "Lightfoot." The goal was to maintain as many native plants and trees as possible in the droughty soils. Inter-plantings of hardwood and softwood trees, conifers, and shrubs have been planted to establish a better canopy of shade adjacent to the river.

The Harts say they have greatly appreciated the CREP assistance in creating both a sustainable wildlife habitat and magnificent river views.

Dense brush and blackberries were cleared to allow growth of native plants and trees in this CREP riparian buffer.

Riparian buffers enrolled in the Oregon CREP reduce water temperatures to natural levels and improve critical salmon and trout streams.

Inter-planting of hardwood and softwood trees, conifers, and shrubs will provide a better canopy of shade.