Conservation Innovation Grants Awards

Fiscal Year 2008

Information about the Conservation Innovation Grants (CIG) awardees for fiscal year 2008 is found below. The information includes the State(s) in which the project will be carried out, the total amount of NRCS funding provided, the project title, and a project summary.

Multi-State Awards

InterTribal Bison Cooperative (AK, WA, OR, ID, CA, WY, CO, NM, AZ, SD, ND, NE, OK, WI, MT, MN, UT, KS)
$$425,787   
Grassland Restoration and Bison Management on American Indian Lands.
Tribes produce buffalo for sale, subsistence and cultural use with little or no collaboration between tribes or outside agencies. Each agency has differing opinions on guidelines and polices for bison/range management and each agency has a different role reservation to reservation due to differing land jurisdictions. This results in inconsistent guidelines, protocols and polices within reservations, states, regions and nationally. ITBC is proposing an innovative project that is uniquely Native American for NRCS to better serve the needs of tribes on specific range management issues.

American Forest Foundation (AL, GA)
$194,350
Developing and Implementing a Market-Based Habitat Credit Bank for the Gopher Tortoise on Family Forestlands in Portions of
Georgia and Alabama
The purpose of this project is to develop and implement a habitat credit bank for the gopher tortoise on family forestlands in
portions of Georgia and Alabama. The habitat credit bank framework will help to preclude the need to federally list the eastern
population of the gopher tortoise. Lessons learned may be transferable to developing market-based management systems for
other conservation-reliant species.

Sagebrush Initiative, Inc: DBA Cooperative Sagebush Initiative (CA, CO, ID, WY)
$1,000,000
Market-Based Approach for Restoring Rangelands and Critical Wildlife Habitat in the Sagebrush Biome
Demonstrate and implement a market based system to implement off site and onsite mitigation for development activities. Once
in place, this system has the potential to be a source of millions of dollars for range and wildlife habitat restoration treatments.

Bat Conservation International (AZ, CA, CO, NV, NM, TX, UT)
$82,473
Southwestern Subterranean Program: Roost Conservation for Pollinating and Insect Eating Bats
Bat Conservation International (BCI) is presenting innovative (on-the-ground) conservation approaches for wildlife habitat
management (supporting pollinator protection and biodiversity) that contributes to an integrated pest management system for
supporting regional agriculture production. Site-specific management plan programming has demonstrated a good probability for
success and leads to replicable “best practices.” The project features habitat conservation of multiple species of bats in the
Southwestern United States. As pollinators and insect eaters, these species have appreciable value to agricultural concerns in
the region.

Conservation Technology Information Center (IN, OH)
$255,014
Transitioning to No-Till Cover Crops
In Indiana and Ohio, this project will use cover crops to facilitate the transition to Continuous No-Till (CNT) by providing the
following: crop consultants to assist 4 farmers in each state with transitioning to CNT, a specialized matrix of cover crop varieties
suited for the Midwest, and targeted workshops to educate landowners about the practices. The project will also provide a
foundation for statewide social networks of farmers to provide support, advice and encouragement through farmer to farmer
communication.

Texas Cooperative Extension (TX, OK, NM)
$133,037
Patch Burn-Grazing as a Quail-Friendly Approach to Manage Cacti-Infested Rangelands in the Rolling Plains of Texas
We seek to implement an innovative approach to managing livestock grazing and prescribed fire (i.e., patch-burn grazing) to
achieve desirable patches of vegetation for quail while reducing the need for chemical control of prickly pear. Burning small
patches on the larger landscape concentrates grazing pressure which should provide moderate biological control of prickly pear.
 

Single State Awards

Tuskegee University (AL)
$257,349
Integration of Goats into Alabama Grazing-Land Systems for Vegetation Management and Improved Pasture Health
The objective of this demonstration project is to enhance soil health, plant health and increase land productivity using goats. All
farms and farm facilities in this project will be geo-referenced and soil plant/browse hay feed and animal blood samples will be
collected and analyzed for macro and micro nutrients to establish baseline data.

White River Irrigation District (AR)
$531,833
Pumping Plant Energy Audit and Reporting System
Energy costs represent up to 6% of farm production costs. Nationwide, the largest on-farm energy uses include motors (with
irrigation being the largest motor application), lighting and onsite transportation. Field testing pumping plant evaluation programs
in Colorado, Wyoming, Kansas, Texas, Nebraska, and other states have shown that overall our pumping plant efficiencies average
less than 50 percent , as compared to a realistically achievable efficiency of 67 percent.

Pine Ridge Winery (CA)
$560,134.50
Modular Bio-power for Conversion of Winery Biomass Residues to On-site Heat and Power
The purpose of this highly innovative project is to demonstrate a new sustainable, cost-effective approach what a winery can use to
convert its viticulture and enology biomass residues to electricity and heat using a modular bio-power system. This new
conservation approach will: 1) increase energy efficiency, 2) reduce greenhouse gas emissions and airborne particulate matter 3)
enhance soil conditions and 4) reduce the potential for plant disease.

California Dairy Campaign (CA)
$776,146
Implementing Waste Discharge Requirements on Dairies in the San Joaquin Valley, California
The purpose of this project is to implement and evaluate the effectiveness of Nutrient management Plans (NMPs) and Waste
Management Plans (WMPs) through extensive wastewater, soil, and plant tissue analysis and subsequent nutrient mass loading
estimates.

Russian River (CA)
$270,000
Sonoma County Salmon Coalition
The genesis of the Sonoma County Salmonid Coalition effort relates to the listing critical habitat for steelhead, Chinook and Coho
salmon populations in the Alexander Dry Creek and Knights Valleys of Sonoma County. These valleys are the premiere grape
growing regions of Sonoma County. The economic value of grape production to the region totals more than $8 billion dollars
annually. In addition, the Dry Creek serves as the conduit for delivery of potable water to more than 600,000 northern Californians.
The community, both public and private believed that by working together as partners they could collectively make decisions to
maximize positive conservation outcomes and provide regulatory certainty. Collaboration was crucial as over 90% of the Valley’s
upland and riparian zones are privately owned. The Coalition committed themselves to the development of a conservation plan for
the protection of salmonids and the regional water supply.

University of California (CA)
$294,642
An Advisory Service for Optimum Irrigation Scheduling in California
The project will establish an irrigation advisory service to assist individual farms with improving water use efficiency and maximizing
net economic returns to water. A web-based advisory service designed for that purpose has been developed and tested under
NRCS auspices in Oregon. This proposed project will initiate use of an advisory service in California.

World Wildlife Fund (WWF) (FL)
$950,481
Paying for Environmental Services from Florida Ranchlands: Moving from Pilot Phase to Program Operation
This project will succeed by building on the already significant accomplishments of the CIG funded Florida Ranchlands
Environmental Services Project (FRESP). This a three year collaboration among Florida ranchers, non-governmental
organizations, state agencies and pilot water management projects covering 8500 acres on eight ranches. Activities will include
instrumenting and developing data collection procedures at these pilot sites, achieving agreement on how the services of water
retention and P load reduction will be defined and measured and developing broad principles to govern contracts and payments
between state agency- buyers and rancher-sellers.

Georgia RC&D (GA)
$275,000
Energy Conservation Planning - Broiler Operations
The Georgia RC&D Council proposes to work with project partners to take that next step of incorporating energy conservation
practices into the conservation planning suite of tools from NRCS.

Iowa Soybean Association (IA)
$800,000
A Cooperative Conservation Framework for Improving Watershed Health
Develop, field test, evaluate, and implement a cooperative conservation system for improving watershed health in four HUC-12 Iowa
watersheds. The system will link conservation planning and management at the individual field/farm level with areawide planning
and management at the watershed scale. Watershed teams of Certified Crop Advisors (CCAs) will be recruited and trained in
Cooperative Conservation Enhanced Technical Assistance to achieve public and private stakeholder goals. The system will also
incorporate performance evaluation linked to resource concerns and integrate performance metrics reporting with NRCS’s
Integrated Accountability system.

Coeur d’Alene Tribe (ID)
$77,575
Using Carbon Credits to Offset the Costs of Implementing Carbon Conservation Practices: Landowner Education and
Development of a Carbon Credit Market Infrastructure for Coeur d’Alene Tribe
This project will use carbon credits as economic incentives for landowners to adopt forest management actions that increase
on-site carbon storage. These management actions will improve water quality and moisture retention, important environmental
goals of the Coeur d’ Alene Tribe, as well as contribute to climate stabilization.

Thompsons Pearl Valley Eggs, Inc. (IL)
$443,000
Wastewater Treatment and Disposal System
To reduce odor being caused by an existing egg wash water treatment system. This application will demonstrate and share
innovative technology that is environmentally safe, economical, and technically feasible to install and operate for other egg laying
producers.

Kansas State University (KS)
$450,000
Scientifically-Targeted Locations, Social Strategies, and Market-Based Incentives to Reduce Sediment Transport from
Agricultural Lands
This project demonstrates new strategies to reduce sediment transport from agriculture lands including: scientific methods to
target specific fields vulnerable for sediment loss; market-based incentives weighted to the amount of impact for each best
management practice (BMP) and social strategies to engage producer participation including immediate in-field sign-up. These
strategies are transferable to other watersheds and to other water quality and conservation goals.

Cape Cod Cranberry Growers' Association (MA)
$33,416
Evaluating a Subsurface Water Drainage and Irrigation System for Massachusetts Cranberry Production
Evaluate subsurface drainage and irrigation systems and related technology to decrease water usage and develop a best
management practice for use in cranberry bogs.

Tarleton State University (MD)
$57,810
Development and Application of a Modified NTT Tool for Water Quality Trading
USDA-NRCS has developed the Nitrogen Trading Tool (NTT) that is very user-friendly and useful for predicting nitrogen credits for
water quality trading. The proposed project will augment NTT by linking Agricultural Policy Environmental Extender (APEX) to it so
that water quality credits can be predicted for phosphorus, an important nutrient in many agricultural watersheds from the
standpoint of water quality.

Conservation Resource Alliance (MI)
$500,000
Wild Link (Implementation Phase) - An Innovative Tribal Partnership for Regional Habitat Conservation
The project will demonstrate an improved delivery system of Farm Bill and non-traditional conservation practices to benefit tribes
and natural resources, reduce reliance on NRCS technical staff, and cause a significant increase in the impact and number of
conservation practices, all concentrated in the most critical lands of the upper Great Lakes.

Michigan Department of Natural Resources (MI)
$402,500
Enhancing Incentives for Hayland and Pasture Management for Declining Grassland Birds
Michigan haylands and pasturelands support important agriculture commodities such as dairy cattle, beef cattle and horses.
Simultaneously these lands provide habitat for a variety of wildlife species, including rare and declining species such as grassland
birds. Grassland birds as a group have suffered the most severe population declines of any other North American birds. There
may be insufficient incentives for hayland and grazing farmers to change their practice or insufficient practices to help grassland
birds. New approaches are needed to help increase farmer participation in programs such as the Environmental Quality Incentives
Program (EQIP) and Wildlife Habitat Incentives Program (WHIP) in order to increase management for declining grassland birds.
This project will provide a forum for partners and agencies to join forces to assist agricultural producers with hayland and
pastureland management for the benefit of declining grassland birds.

Minnesota River Basin Joint Powers Board (MN)
$999,993.60
Starting It Local: Transferable Market Infrastructure for Trading Water Quality Credits & Ecosystem Services in the Upper
Mississippi River Basin
Market-based programs for ecosystem services can bring economically efficient implementation alternatives to land managers and
producers, encouraging them to generate credits that are saleable in local, regional or national markets. In Minnesota,
market-based environmental programs are either established or developing for water quality credit trading (WQCT), greenhouse gas
emissions, source water protection and renewable fuels. This project will develop and institutionalize market infrastructure,
locally-led service providers and the tools necessary to provide simple and easy access to these markets that make them
sustainable.

University of Missouri (MO)
$410,317
Helping Corn and Cotton Producers to Reduce Nitrogen Loss Using Crop Sensors
This project will provide technical assistance to corn and cotton producers to carry out on-farm demonstrations of crop sensor
technology for nitrogen fertilizer management.

North Central MS Resource Conservation and Development Council (MS)
$54,000
Native Warm Season Grasses for North Mississippi Livestock Producers: Reducing Production Inputs with Alternative
Forages
This project will consist of working with livestock producers in a 12-county area in North Mississippi to promote and assist them in
establishing and managing 250 acres of native warm season grass (NWSG) for haying and grazing. The RC&D will provide two (2)
specialized no-till drills needed to plant NWSG in order to assist in the establishment of these grasses. With fertilization that
non-native forages can provide forage yields equal to the non-native grasses if manage properly. Field days will be held to transfer
information on to other producers in the area.

North Carolina State University (NC)
$249,289
Reducing Tillage in Organic Grain Production with an Innovative Cover Crop Management System
Demonstrate an innovative planting system in organic grain production that significantly reduces tillage, and therefore soil resource
concerns, in organic grain rotations. This practice starts with roll killing a cover crop with a heavy new roller design that has
crimping blades attached in a chevron pattern. Grain crops are then planted directly into the rolled cover crop mulch. The mulch,
in conjunction with other innovative weed management tools, suppresses weed growth and increases carbon sequestration, water
holding capacity and water infiltration.

Center for Agricultural Partnerships (NC)
$53,600
Developing and Implementing a New Approach to Outreach, Planning and Technical Assistance in Delivering Innovative
Resource Conservation Practices to Strawberry Growers in North Carolina
Specialty crop production is an increasingly important part of the North Carolina farm economy. While there are substantive
resource concerns in areas where specialty crops are grown, opportunities to conserve resources and achieve conservation
benefits are going largely unfulfilled. The fundamental problem is the lack of an adequate system to deliver outreach, planning and
technical assistance to specialty crop producers so that they can make use of EQIP in the adoption of conservation practices.

North Carolina State University (NC)
$457,433
Effective Strategies for Biogas and Nutrient Management Resulting from Anaerobic Digestion in Covered Swine Lagoons
The ultimate goals of this project are to exhibit effective, economically-feasible energy generation technologies utilizing biogas,
demonstrate utilization of biogas combustion products (i.e. heat and CO2), and to show a variety of processes that can be
implemented to manage swine effluent nutrients.

Propane Education & Research Council (NE)
$50,550
Reducing Soil Erosion through Thermal Pest Control
Working with four (4) producers in Nebraska, this pilot project will demonstrate that weed flaming for agronomic crops with a clean
burning alternative fuel can reduce or eliminate tillage operations, thereby reducing soil dispersal and run-off while conserving
moisture. Weed flaming also lessens the need for pesticide applications at non-organic agriculture operations and fewer
pesticides reduce the risk of run-off and leaching to ground and surface water. Based on our prior applied research, corn has good
tolerance to flaming and will be used a pilot crop in this project.

Cornell University (NY)
$284,683
Subsurface Drainage Water Management to Reduce Manure Contaminated Drain Discharge
The proposed project will investigate how the land application of liquid dairy manure to subsurface drained lands may impact the
water quality of the tile drainage discharge water. This project will entail both laboratory and field studies. The laboratory studies
will investigate how manure liquidity affects the transport of manure constituents through varying pore sizes in the soil.

Mercer County Soil and Water Conservation District (OH)
$50,000
Grand Lake St. Mary's Shoreline Stabilzation Using Geotextile Tubes
This project, in mid-west Ohio, will utilize geotextile tubes to protect 800 lineal feet of Grand Lake St. Mary’s shoreline, directly
adjacent to a pristine natural wetland. This project will show that geotexile tubes are cost effective as compared to traditional
shoreline stabilization. The site is across a channel from a public park and picnic area, which will allow the public to see the
projects progress.

Ohio Farmers Union Family Farm Center (OH)
$200,000
The Great Lakes Biochar Demonstration Project
A pyrolysis system will utilize animal manure as a feedstock to produce biochar to address water quality issues from agriculture
operations in the Western Lake Erie basin of the Great Lakes. Biochar, a porous, charcoal-like material produced from incomplete
combustion of biomass at controlled temperatures and in the absence of oxygen, will be utilized as a soil amendment in lieu of
land-application of manure, and to replace some fertilizer inputs.

Oklahoma State University (OK)
$225,731
An Innovative Approach to Conservation and Integrated Pest Management in Oklahoma Cropping Systems
Project will rely on demonstration and evaluation studies and extension events to achieve three primary objectives. These
objectives are to i) introduce Oklahoma farmers and ranchers to alternative crop rotations and demonstrate how they might adapt
crop rotation strategies to their farming systems; ii) demonstrate the effectiveness of resistant wheat cultivars and insecticidal
seed treatments against Hessian fly populations; and iii) create opportunity by which beginning no-till farmers can learn from
experienced no-till farmers and researchers. We accomplish outreach and extension through local field days, workshops and a
statewide no-till conference.

The Nature Conservancy (OR)
$78,246
Protecting Biodiversity through Early Detection and Rapid Response to Invasive Species
Invasive species currently affect and have the potential to negatively impact Oregon watersheds and wildlife habitat by reducing
biodiversity, increasing erosion and interfering with restoration efforts. The most effective strategies for invasive species
management are prevention, plus early detection and rapid response (EDRR).

George McKinley (OR)
$24,800
Creating a Conservation Mechanism to Facilitate Non-Industrial Private Forest Owner Access to Carbon Offset Markets: Pilot
Project
Pilot project that endeavors to link voluntary forest management targeting quantitative carbon sequestration on NIPF/FF to existing
and emerging carbon offset markets. The project is focused on a 25-year old, 120-acre ponderosa pine plantation in SW Oregon.
Standard EQIP supported forest practices (e.g. fuels reduction, pruning, thinning) will be utilized to achieve management goals.

Environmental Credit Corporation (PA)
$225,000
Enhancing Air Quality through the Adoption of Small-Scale Anaerobic Manure Digesters on Dairy Farms in Pennsylvania
ECC seeks to enhance air quality of dairy farms through the adoption of small-scale, pre-fabricated, completely-enclosed
anaerobic manure digester technology (“bag digester”) via an innovative carbon credit incentive program. The project will
implement and demonstrate a new program for reducing agricultural emissions, including greenhouse gases, ammonia,
particulates, volatile organic compounds and odors on small farms, while providing additional farm income to dairies in
Pennsylvania.

Michael H. McCulloch (TX)
$32,896
Desalination of Ground Water in the Cenozoic Aquifer West of and Adjacent to the Pecos River
Improve quality of water so as to sustain livestock, wildlife and trees used for windbreaks.

University of Vermont (VT)
$248,027
Winter Pasture and Bedded Pack Management for Vermont Dairy Farms
Management intensive grazing (MIG) has changed the economics of farming for livestock owners in the Northeast. Yet MIG
addresses pasture management during the productive summer months. Working with 9-12 cow dairy MIG farms in Vermont, this
project will develop a farm leadership group of winter grazing innovators to improve season extension of forage crops,
ecologically-sound winter pasture feeding and bedded pack management. UVM staff and partners will work with farms to reduce
feed and energy costs and monitor benefits of improved soil, forage quality, carbon storage and energy conservation.
Farmer-to-farmer learning and adult education principles will be employed to stimulate further adoption.

Washington State University (WA)
$414,013
Nutrient Capture and Redistribution In a Community Anaerobic Digester
This project will focus on capture, redistribution (economic and nutrient use), and efficient use of nutrients (N and P) from post-
Anaerobic Digester (AD) liquid manure. 2) Comparison of post- AD liquid manure nutrients (N and P) to non-AD liquid manure with
field scale replicated plots in forage grass and 3) development of an economic redistribution model (spreadsheet tool) for return of
nutrients to participating dairies based on nutrients contributed to the community AD and crop nutrient needs at those dairies.

University of Wisconsin – Madison (WI)
$184,165
Demonstrating Innovative Manure Separation and Precision Ag Technologies to Optimize Nutrient Manure Utilization and
Reduce Environmental Concerns
The main goal of this project is to evaluate the economic and environmental costs/benefits of using innovative manure separation
and precision ag technologies.

DBA Green Tier Advancement Project (WI)
$100,000
Dairy Business Association-Green Tier Advancement Project (DBA-GTAP)
The DBA-GTAP will provide dairy producers who participate in the Green Tier Charter with information, resources, and training to
develop and implement EMS programs and innovative and effective agriculture performance practices in the pursuit of
environmental protection, enhancement, and conservation. The project seeks to change attitudes, change behavior, and ultimately
change the dairy business climate of the Wisconsin. The cornerstone of the project is implementation of an EMS. The EMS will
strengthen relationships within the broader.

West Virginia University Research Corporation (WV)
$206,000
Multi-Species Grazing System Using Sheep and Cattle for Improved Ecological Soil Conditions
Evaluate the suitability of co-grazing sheep with cattle to provide ecological soil services and improve economic status of
Appalachian hill farmers.

West Virginia University Research Corporation (WV)
$75,800
Demonstration of Precision Agriculture on Grasslands in the Greenbrier Valley
Demonstrate the effectiveness of precision agriculture as it pertains to nutrient management, water quality, and forage
enhancement on grassland in Greenbrier Valley.

Coaltec Energy USA, Inc. (WV)
$475,500
Broiler Production Best Practice Using Gasification of Poultry Litter to Produce Heat and Chilling for Economic and
Environmental Benefits
Coaltec Energy, in an effort to utilize the energy from the farm’s poultry litter, will couple an adsorption chiller to the existing
gasification system at Frye Poultry. Benefits will include reduced nutrient loading as more litter is gasified to provide constant
temperature and reduced relative humidity throughout much of the year; evaluation of ash for best economic and environmental
benefit; air emissions; and a best practice model that should encourage transferability of the technology.

Trout Unlimited (WY)
$48,000
Flat Plate Fish Screen Development to Benefit Conneville Cutthroat Trout and Other Dear River Native Fish
Bonneville Cutthroat Trout (BCT) have suffered widespread declines in population size and distribution during the past 100 years,
and currently occupies less than 35% of their historic range. Habitat degradation, fragmentation, genetic introgression and
competition with non-native salmonids are responsible for most BCT declines. Trout Unlimited will develop and install flat fish
screens on key Bear River irrigation diversions to reduce entrainment and mortality.
 

2008 Award Details Document (Word, 87KB)

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