Conservation Programs in Arizona

Updated 9/26/2008

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

• Conservation Innovation Grants
• Conservation Technical Assistance
• Cooperative Conservation Partnership Initiative
• Emergency Watershed Protection Program
• Farm and Ranch Land Protection Program
• National Resources Inventory
• Plant Materials Program
• Resource Conservation and Development Program
• Snow Survey and Water Supply Forecasting Program
• Soil Survey Program
• Watershed Protection and Flood Preventing Program
• Watershed Rehabilitation Program

Agricultural Water Enhancement Program

Conservation Innovation Grants

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

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Conservation Stewardship Program

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.

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Conservation Technical Assistance

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.
 

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Cooperative Conservation Partnership Initiative

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

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Emergency Watershed Protection Program

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.

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Environmental Quality Incentives Program

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.  

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Farm and Ranchland Protection Program

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National Resources Inventory

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

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Plant Materials Program

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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Resource Conservation & Development Program

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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Snow Survey and Water Supply Forecasting Program

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

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Soil Survey Program

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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Watershed Protection and Flood Prevention Program

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

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Watershed Rehabilitation Program

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

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Wetlands Reserve Program

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Wildlife Habitat Incentives Program

• 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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