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