CEAP Background

Purpose

The Conservation Effects Assessment Project began in 2003 as a multi-agency effort to quantify the environmental benefits of conservation practices used by private landowners participating in selected U.S. Department of Agricultures (USDA) conservation programs. Project findings and results will be used to report progress on the environmental effects of these programs, aid discussions on conservation policy development, guide conservation program implementation, and ultimately, help farmers and ranchers make informed conservation choices.

Scope

CEAP will assess the benefits of conservation practices associated with the following USDA conservation programs in the 2002 Farm Bill: Environmental Quality Incentive Program (EQIP), Conservation Reserve Program (CRP), Conservation Security Program (CSP), Wetland Reserve Program (WRP), Wildlife Habitat Incentives Program (WHIP), NRCS Conservation Technical Assistance Program, and Grassland Reserve Program (GRP). Conservation practices that will be assessed include conservation buffers; erosion control; wetlands conservation and restoration; establishment of wildlife habitat; and management of grazing land, tillage, irrigation water, nutrients, and pests.

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2002 Farm Bill (1.2 MB)

Process

CEAP will focus on developing approaches, methodologies, and databases to produce scientifically credible estimates of environmental benefits of conservation. Initially, the project will study water quality, soil quality and water conservation on cropland, including enrolled CRP land. Eventually, CEAP will assess benefits to water quality, soil quality, water conservation and wildlife habitat on cropland, grazing land, and wetlands. Work is underway to develop suitable and affordable analytical approaches for these other land uses and natural resource concerns.

Timeline (2003-2008)

• 2003
  • Initial Funding
  • 2003 Farmer survey
• 2004
  • Initial CEAP summary paper in the Journal of Soil and Water Conservation:
    The length we go: MEASURING ENVIRONMENTAL BENEFITS OF CONSERVATION PRACTICES. (390 KB)
  • CEAP bibliographies
  • 2004 Farmer survey
• 2005
  • Wetlands Peer Review Panel (42 KB)
  • Wildlife literature review (program-based)
  • 2005 Farmer survey
  • First ARS Benchmark Watersheds progress report
• 2006
  • Cropland literature reviews
  • Wildlife work plan
  • Wildlife literature review (practice-based)
  • Preliminary habitat quality models - Prairie Pothole region
  • Preliminary Cropland National Assessment report
  • 2006 Farmer survey
  • Second ARS Benchmark Watersheds progress report
  • Wetlands - Prairie Pothole final report
• 2007
  • Special Emphasis Watersheds final reports
  • Third ARS Benchmark Watersheds progress report
  • Wetlands - Mississippi Alluvial Valley final report
  • Cropland National Assessment final report
• 2008
  • CSREES Competitive Grant Watersheds final reports for 1^st four projects
  • Fourth ARS Benchmark Watersheds progress report

Participants

Lead USDA agencies

• Natural Resources Conservation Service
• Agricultural Research Service
• Cooperative State Research, Education and Extension Service
• Farm Service Agency
• National Agricultural Statistics Service

Other represented agencies

• USDA Economic Research Service
• USDA Forest Service
• USDA Office of Risk Assessment and Cost-Benefit Analysis
• U.S. Army Corp of Engineers
• U.S. Environmental Protection Agency
• U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service
• U.S. Geological Survey

Non governmental organizations

• International Association of Fish and Wildlife Agencies
• Soil and Water Conservation Society
• The Nature Conservancy
• The Wildlife Society

... Contacts

CEAP External Review Panel: Blue Ribbon Panel:

Under a grant from USDA, the Soil and Water Conservation Society convened a panel of recognized conservation leaders from public, private, and non-governmental organizations to provide guidance to USDA on CEAP activities and goals.