Conservation Programs in Arizona
Updated 9/26/2008
The Natural Resources Conservation Service (NRCS) in Arizona administers a
broad range of programs to assist landowners, communities, and tribal nations
with conserving and protecting natural resources while promoting sustainable
economic development. All conservation programs are voluntary and provide
such incentives as technical assistance and financial incentives for planning and
implementing conservation systems. Some programs provide rental
payments for placing eligible lands into conservation easements.
2008 Farm Bill - Conservation Title Programs
Learn about basic program information and legislative changes in the
following 2008 Farm Bill programs:
Environmental Quality Incentives Program
Agricultural Water Enhancement Program
Conservation Stewardship Program
Voluntary Public Access and Habitat Incentives Program (Open Fields)
Wetlands Reserve Program
Wildlife Habitat Incentives
Program
Additional Farm Bill and Other NRCS Programs
The Agricultural Water Enhancement Program (AWEP) is a voluntary conservation
program under the Environmental Quality Incentives Program (EQIP). AWEP provides
financial and technical assistance to farmers and ranchers to assist them in
applying agricultural water enhancement activities that conserve ground and
surface water and improve water quality on agricultural lands.
More information is available on the Agricultural
Water Enhancement Program authorized by the 2008 Farm Bill.
Conservation Innovation Grants (CIG) is a voluntary program intended to
stimulate the development and adoption of innovative conservation approaches and
technologies while leveraging Federal investment in environmental enhancement
and protection, in conjunction with agricultural production. Under CIG,
Environmental Quality Incentives Program funds are used to award competitive
grants to non-Federal governmental or non-governmental organizations, Tribes, or
individuals. CIG will benefit agricultural producers by providing more options
for environmental enhancement and compliance with Federal, State, and local
regulations.
Conservation Innovation Grants Awarded in
Arizona
Conservation Innovation Grants
National Webpage
State Contact:
Kevin Stein, Program Manager,
(602) 280-8800
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The
Conservation Stewardship Program (CSP) is a voluntary conservation program that
encourages producers to address resource concerns in a comprehensive manner by:
•
Undertaking additional conservation activities; and
• Improving, maintaining, and managing existing conservation activities.
The
2008 Farm Bill replaces
the Conservation Security Program with the new Conservation Stewardship Program
for fiscal years 2009 through 2017.
More information is available for the Conservation
Stewardship Program.
State Contact:
Kevin Stein, Program Manager,
(602) 280-8800
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The Conservation Technical Assistance (CTA) Program
provides technical assistance, supported by science-based technology and tools,
to help people conserve, maintain, and improve their natural resources. CTA
provides the technical capability, including direct conservation planning,
design, and implementation assistance, that helps people plan and apply
conservation on the land.
Contact your local NRCS-Arizona
field office to ask about our technical experts who can visit your farm or
ranch for CTA.
State Contact:
Cy Sokoll, Assistant State
Conservationist (Operations), (602) 280-8781
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The Cooperative Conservation Partnership Initiative (CCPI) provides targeted
assistance to producers for enhancing conservation outcomes on agricultural and
nonindustrial private forest land. Areas of CCPI assistance are selected
competitively through applications of eligible partners. Eligible partners
include State, local, and Tribal governments, producer associations and
cooperatives, institutions of higher education, and nongovernmental
organizations.
Cooperative Conservation
Partnership Initiative
State Contact:
Kevin Stein, Program Manager,
(602) 280-8800
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Following a natural disaster (flood, wildfire, drought), the Emergency Watershed Protection (EWP) program helps remove remaining
erosion and flooding threats to life and property. NRCS evaluates each request
for assistance on a case-by-case basis to determine eligibility.
EWP recovery consists of conservation
measures to retard runoff, prevent flooding, or reduce soil erosion. The work
can include such measures as:
-
removing debris from stream channels and bridges
-
reshaping and protecting eroded banks
-
repairing levees and structures,
reseeding damaged areas
-
purchasing floodplain easements.
NRCS
provides up to 75 percent of the cost of construction. Sponsors pay the
remaining costs.
EWP Emergency Recovery Plan and
EWP Project Status and Success Stories.
State Contact:
Ilde Chavez, State
Engineer, (602) 280-8832
Don Paulus, Assistant State
Conservationist, (602) 280-8780
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The Environmental Quality Incentives Program (EQIP) is a voluntary program
that provides financial and technical assistance to farmers and ranchers who
face threats to soil, water, air, and related natural resources on their land.
Through EQIP, the NRCS provides financial incentives to producers to promote
agricultural production and environmental quality as compatible goals, optimize
environmental benefits, and help farmers and ranchers meet Federal, State,
Tribal, and local environmental regulations.
Priority will be given to water conservation or irrigation efficiency
applications that will reduce water use or where the producer agrees not to use
any associated water savings to bring new land under irrigation production.
More information is available on the Environmental
Quality Incentives Program authorized by the 2008 Farm Bill.
State Contact:
Sherman Reed, Farm Bill
Specialist, (602) 280-8829
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The Farm and Ranch Lands Protection Program (FRPP) is a voluntary program
that helps farmers and ranchers keep their land in agriculture. The program
provides matching funds to State, Tribal, or local governments and
non-governmental organizations with existing farm and ranch land protection
programs to purchase conservation easements.
State Contacts:
Steve Smarik, Environmental
Coordinator, (602) 280-8785
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The National Resources Inventory (NRI) is a statistically-based sample of land
use and natural resource conditions and trends on U.S. nonfederal lands. It is
the most comprehensive database of its kind ever attempted anywhere in the
world. The Natural Resources Conservation Service’s program for NRI serves as
the Federal Government’s principal source of information on the status,
condition, and trends of soil, water, and related resources in the United
States.
Arizona data are collected at five-year intervals in a continual
inventory process at more than 8,000 locations. The data are analyzed and made
available through published reports.
NRI Website
State Contact:
Phil Camp, State Soil Scientist,
(602) 280-8837
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The Plant Materials Program provides native plants that can
help solve natural resource problems. Beneficial uses for which plant material
may be developed include:
-
biomass production
-
carbon sequestration
-
erosion
reduction
-
wetland restoration
-
water quality improvement
-
streambank and
riparian area protection
-
coastal dune stabilization
-
other special
conservation treatment needs.
Scientists at the Plant Materials Centers seek out
plants that show promise for meeting an identified conservation need and test
the plant performance. After species are proven, they are released to the private
sector for commercial production. Work is carried out cooperatively with state
and federal agencies, commercial businesses, and seed and nursery associations.
Tucson Plant Materials
Center
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The Resource Conservation and Development (RC&D) program purpose is to:
-
accelerate the conservation, development and
use of natural resources
-
improve the general level of economic activity
-
enhance the environment
and standard of living in designated RC&D areas.
The program:
-
Improves the capability of
state, tribal and local units of government and local nonprofit organizations in
rural areas to plan, develop and carry out programs for resource conservation
and development
-
Establishes or improves coordination systems
in rural areas
Current program objectives focus on improving quality of
life achieved through natural resources conservation and community development,
leading to sustainable communities, prudent use (development), and the
management and conservation of natural resources. RC&D areas are locally
sponsored areas designated by the Secretary of Agriculture for RC&D technical
and financial assistance program funds.
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The Snow Survey and Water Supply Forecasting program provides western states with information on future water supplies. NRCS field
staff collect and analyze data on depth and water equivalent of the snowpack at
more than 1,200 mountain sites and estimate annual water availability, spring
runoff, and summer streamflows. Individuals, organizations, and state and
federal agencies use these forecasts for decisions relating to:
-
agricultural
production
-
fish and wildlife management
-
municipal and industrial water supply
-
urban development
-
flood control
-
recreation power generation
-
water quality
management.
Snow Survey Website
State Contacts:
Dino DeSimone, Water Supply
Specialist, (602) 280-8841
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The National Cooperative Soil Survey (NCSS) is a nationwide partnership of
Federal, regional, State, Tribe, and local agencies and institutions. This
partnership works together to cooperatively investigate, inventory, document,
classify, and interpret soils and to disseminate, publish, and promote the use
of soils information. The Natural Resources Conservation Service (NRCS) provides federal leadership and coordination of NCSS activities.
Soils Website
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Voluntary Public Access and Habitat Incentive Program (Open Fields)
The Voluntary Public Access and Habitat Incentive Program (Open Fields)
provides incentives to state governments and Indian tribes to provide public
access to private land for hunting and fishing. The Open Fields Program is a new
program in the 2008 Farm Bill.
Open Fields Key Points
- Establishes a voluntary public access program 2009 - 2012
- States and Tribes may apply for grants to encourage owners and operators
of privately held farm, ranch, and forest land to make that land available
for wildlife-dependent recreation
- The program does not preempt State or tribal government laws, including
liability laws
- Provides $50,000,000 in mandatory funds for this program
- Includes a 25 percent reduction for the total grant amount to an entity
if the opening dates for migratory bird hunting in the State are not
consistent for residents and non-residents.
More information will be available following the rule making process for this
new program in the 2008 Farm Bill.
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The Watershed Protection and Flood Prevention program assists Federal, State,
local agencies, local government sponsors, Tribal governments, and program
participants in:
-
protecting and restoring watersheds from damage caused by erosion,
floodwater, and sediment
-
conserving and developing water and land resources
-
solving natural resource and related economic problems on a watershed basis.
Authorized by the Watershed Protection and Flood Prevention Act (P.L. 83-566),
the program provides technical and financial assistance to project sponsors,
builds partnerships, and requires local and state funding contribution.
In watersheds of 250,000 or fewer acres, resource concerns addressed include:
-
watershed protection and flood prevention
-
erosion and sediment control
-
water supply, quality and conservation
-
rural development
-
fish and wildlife habitat enhancement
-
wetland creation and restoration
-
public recreation
State Contacts:
Dino DeSimone, Resource
Conservationist, (602) 280-8786
Don Paulus, Assistant State
Conservationist, (602) 280-8780
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The Small Watershed Rehabilitation Amendments of 2000 (PL 106-472) authorizes
the NRCS to work with watershed project sponsors to address public health and
safety concerns and environmental impacts of aging dams. NRCS assists sponsors
by providing technical and financial assistance for the assessment, planning and
installation of improvements necessary to extend the service life of dams and
meet applicable safety and performance standards.
Watershed Rehabilitation in Arizona
National Watershed
Rehabilitation Website
State Contacts:
Ilde Chavez, State
Engineer, (602) 280-8832
Don Paulus, Assistant State
Conservationist, (602) 280-8780
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The Wetlands Reserve Program (WRP) is a voluntary program that provides
technical and financial assistance to private landowners and Tribes to restore,
protect, and enhance wetlands in exchange for retiring eligible land from
agriculture.
More information is available on the Wetlands Reserve Program authorized in the
2008 Farm Bill.
State Contact:
Steve Smarik, Environmental
Specialist, (602) 280-8785
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The Wildlife Habitat Incentives Program (WHIP) is a voluntary program for
private landowners to develop and improve high quality habitat that supports
wildlife populations of National, State, Tribal, and local significance.
Non-agricultural lands, as well as State, county, or local
government-owned lands are ineligible for WHIP in the 2008 Farm Bill. Land eligible for WHIP
includes:
• Private agricultural land
• Non-industrial private forest land
• Tribal land
More information is available on the Wildlife Habitat
Incentives Program authorized in the 2008 Farm Bill
State Contact:
Steve Smarik, Environmental
Specialist, (602) 280-8785
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