natural resources conservation service usda-nrcs...soil conservation service (scs) - 1935 soil...
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Natural Resources Conservation Service
USDA-NRCS
Dave SchmidtAssistant State Conservationist – Field Operations
Pocatello, ID
Soil Erosion Service - 1933
Soil Conservation Service (SCS) - 1935
Soil Conservation and Domestic Allotment ActApril 27, 1935
it is hereby recognized that the wastage of soil and moisture resources on farm, grazing, and forest lands of the Nation, resulting from soil erosion, is a menace to the national welfare and that it is hereby declared to be the policy of Congress to provide permanently for the control and prevention of soil erosion and thereby preserve natural resources, control floods, prevent impairment of reservoirs, and maintain the navigability of rivers and harbors, protect public health, public lands and relieve unemployment
Standard State soil Conservation District Law - 1937• Local input critical in addressing soil erosion• Success of programs would be on the local level
not out of Washington DC• A Partnership between local and federal sources
would be required• President Roosevelt contacted states asking
them to develop local district structure• Idaho Soil Conservation District Law passed in
1939 and five districts formed that year
• Name changed to reflect the expanded mission of addressing all resources – soil water, air, plants, animals
Natural Resources Conservation Service (NRCS) - 1994
More legislation regarding environmental issues:
National Environmental Policy Act
Clean Water Act
Endangered Species Act
Prime and Unique Farmland
National Historic Preservation Act
Wild and Scenic Rivers
ETC, ETC, ETC ...
USDA Farm Bills
• Vision – Productive Lands - Healthy Environment
• Mission – Helping People Help the Land
• Mission Goals– High Quality Productive Soils– Clean and Abundant Water– Healthy Plant and Animal Communities– Clean Air– Adequate Energy Supply– Working Farm and Ranch Lands
• The Natural Resources Conservation Service (NRCS) provides leadership in a partnership effort to help people conserve, maintain, and improve our natural resources and environment. Primarily on private lands.
• We do not work alone.
NRCS Programs – Technical Assistance
• Conservation Technical Assistance (CTA)• Conservation Plant Material Centers (PMC)• Conservation Planning (RMP) and Idaho OnePlan• Grazing Lands Conservation Initiative (GLCI)• Resource Conservation and Development (RC&D)• Snow Survey and Water Supply Forecasting• Soil Survey Program• Tribal Government Assistance• Watershed Protection and Flood Prevention Operations
NRCS Programs – Financial Assistance
• Environmental Quality Incentive Program (EQIP)• Agricultural Water Enhancement Program (AWEP)• Cooperative Conservation Partnership Initiative (CCPI)• Conservation Stewardship Program (CSP)• Wildlife Habitat Incentives Program (WHIP)• Emergency Watershed Protection Program (EWP)• Conservation Reserve Program (CRP)
NRCS Programs - Easements
• Farm and Ranch Land Protection (FRPP)• Grassland Reserve Program (GRP)• Wetlands Reserve Program (WRP)
Idaho NRCS Operations
• 180 – 200 employees• Annual Budget of $50 million +/-• Of that, approximately $37 million in FY 2009 was direct financial
assistance to Idaho farmers and ranchers
Problem• During the last two Farm Bills financial assistance to farmers and
ranchers has increased dramatically but technical assistance funding (staff) has decreased.
One Solution• Cooperative agreements with partnership organizations to assist
with program implementation
• NRCS WORKS WITH:
• Private land owners • Groups of landowners/users• Community groups• Project sponsors• Local, county and state
governments• Other federal agencies• Educational institutions• Private organizations • etc.
NRCS Partners
• Conservation Districts • ISCC• IASCD• IDDA• IDDEQ• IDDWR• IDF&G• Private organizations – Land trusts, Friends of the Teton,
Trout Unlimited, Power Companies, Rocky Mountain Elk, Nature Conservancy, etc. etc.
• Other federal, state, and local government entities• Others
Partner Programs
• WQPA• RCRDP• FWS• IF&G• Rocky Mountain Elk• Salmon Recovery• Rocky Mountain Power• Etc.
Partnership Examples
• Conservation Districts – Local Working Group, Cooperative Agreements, local input, information and education activities
• IASCD – Cooperative agreements - staff• ISCC – Cooperative agreements, programs, planning,
staff, CCPI/AWEP – TMDL implementation • IDWR – AWEP to implement state CAMP plan - $15
million• Irrigations Districts – AWEP Marsh Creek – $18 million• ID F&G – staff, programs• Many other examples
NRCS Values Partnerships
• With current budget considerations and program demands a very strong coalition of partners is invaluable to NRCS operations
• NRCS would not be as effective as we are without our partnership
• The conservation program delivery mechanism offered by the conservation partnership is envied by all other agencies and they frequently ask to participate
Final Thoughts
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