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Mission The Forest Service mission is "Caring for the
Land and Serving People." The mission is further expressed in the Forest
Service land ethic: "Promote the sustainability of ecosystems by ensuring their
health, diversity, and productivity," which is coupled with the service ethic:
"Work collaboratively and use appropriate scientific information in caring for
the land and serving people" (see Key Facts About the Forest
Service).
The Forest Service, through ecosystem management, applies these
land and service ethics. Ecosystem management is the integration of ecological,
economic, and social factors in order to maintain and enhance the quality of
the environment to meet current and future needs.
The four strategic goals of the Forest Service are to: (1) protect
ecosystems, (2) restore deteriorated ecosystems, (3) provide multiple benefits
for people within the capabilities of ecosystems, and (4) ensure organizational
effectiveness.
The Forest Services Natural Resource Agenda identifies four
key areas of national focus. They are: watershed health and restoration,
sustainable forest ecosystem management, forest roads management, and
recreation enhancement.
Principal Laws The Forest Service administers the lands
and resources of the National Forest System (NFS) under the Organic
Administration Act of 1897, the Multiple Use-Sustained Yield Act of 1960, and
the National Forest Management Act of 1976.
The agency also conducts research, provides assistance to State
and private landowners, assesses the Nation's natural resources, and provides
international assistance and scientific exchanges. These activities are carried
out under the Forest and Rangeland Renewable Resources Planning Act of 1974,
the Renewable Resources Extension Act of 1978, the Forest and Rangeland
Renewable Resources Research Act of 1978, the Cooperative Forestry Assistance
Act of1978, and the International Forestry Cooperation Act of 1990.
Organizational Structure The Chief, the top
administrative official of the Forest Service, reports to the Secretary of
Agriculture through the Under Secretary for Natural Resources and Environment.
The Forest Service typically is viewed as consisting of three major
components:(1) the National Forest System (NFS), (2) State and Private Forestry
(S&PF), and (3) Research and Development (R&D). However, the agency
supports many other programs, such as International Programs and Job Corps
Civilian Conservation Centers. The NFS is organized into a Deputy Area within
the Washington Office, 9 regional offices, 155 national forests managed by 115
supervisors' offices, and approximately 570ranger districts and 20 national
grasslands.
The Forest Serviceman ages the 192-million-acre NFS and supports
multiple use; sustained yields of renewable resources such as water, livestock
forage, wildfire, habitat, wood, and recreation; and integration of mineral
resource programs and visual quality. The agency also mitigates, when
appropriate and in a scientific manner, wildfires, epidemics of disease and
insects, erosion, floods, water quality degradation, and air pollution.
The NFS provides many recreational activities for the public. In
2000, it hosted more than 209 million recreation visits, including 60 percent
of the Nation's skiing and significant percentages of hiking, camping, hunting,
fishing, and driving for pleasure. NFS takes care of 4,418 miles of the Wild
and Scenic Rivers System; 412 units of the National Wilderness Preservation
System, 133,000 miles of trails; more than 250,000 heritage sites; and over
23,000 campgrounds, picnic areas, and visitor facilities.
The National Forests and Grasslands support economic activity
contributing $38 billion in total income to the national economy. The Forest
Service administers many S&PF programs to provide technical and financial
conservation assistance to State and private no industrial forestland. These
programs serve as a link among many public and private organizations and they
help to promote the best use and conservation of Americas natural
resources on private lands. Wildland fire protection on private and public
lands, Smokey Bear, forest health protection, and natural resource education
are examples of S&PF programs. S&PF is organized into a Deputy Area
within the Washington Office; it has an office in Newtown Square, PA. to work
with States and landowners in the Northeastern United States, and has programs
delivered from most NFS offices.
Forest Service Research& Development (R&D) is one of the
world's leading forestry research organizations, conducting and sponsoring
basic and applied scientific research. This research provides both credible and
relevant knowledge about forests and rangelands and exciting new technologies
that can be used to sustain the health, productivity, and diversity of private
and public lands to meet the needs of present and future generations.
Forest Service Community-Based Partnerships Over a
century ago, public concern about adequate supplies of clean water contributed
to the establishment of federally protected forest reserves. These reserves are
now part of the USDA, Forest Service. In 1999, the Forest Service established
an innovative approach to restoring watersheds through
partnerships-community-based, large-scale watershed restoration projects.
Projects were competitively selected for supplemental funding at
the national level because of their important location and purpose,
collaborative relationships, feasibility, and precedent-setting approach to
achieve long-term improvement of watershed conditions. The national office has
invested over$70 million in these projects. And this was matched 2:1 by partner
organizations that have contributed over $150 million. Work has focused on
improving water quality, forest and range health, recovering threatened
species; implementing the State and Private Forestry Action Strategy and the
North American Waterfowl Management Plan; and providing jobs for local
communities. These funds and their use are the critical link to local
governments and allow private landowners to become major partners in watershed
restoration efforts (Large-Scale Watershed
Restoration Projects).
National Forest SystemConservation and Multiple Use
Lands and Realty Management Lands and Realty Management
activities include:
- Purchasing land to protect critical resources
areas and provide increased public recreation opportunities,
- Authorizing powerlines to provide electricity
to communities,
- Ensuring that hydro-electric projects protect
riparian areas on the national forest,
- Exchanging lands with private parties to
achieve a desired national forest landownership pattern that supports
forestland and resource goals and objectives,
- Surveying national forest boundaries to
identify and protect private and public lands,
- Determining the fair market value of lands
purchased or exchanged, so that transaction is fair to the public and the
landowner involved,
- Authorizing right-of-ways for roads to private
in-holdings within the forest,
- Accepting donations of land to protect
archeological, historical, or other significant sites,
- Maintaining records of national forest land
areas, land transactions, land status, permitted uses, and easements,
- Securing public road and trail access to
existing National Forest System lands,
- Responding to congressional request drafting
services for land ownership adjustment activities.
Key Facts About Wildlife, Fish, and Rare
Plants
The National Forest System includes 2.3 million acres of
fishable lakes, ponds, and reservoirs and more than 197,000 miles of perennial
streams.
National forests and grasslands support habitats for
more than 3,000 species of birds, mammals, reptiles, amphibians, and fish, as
well as some 10,000 plant species.
In 2000, over 76,000 people
engaged in Eyes on Wildlife and Migratory Bird Day events on national forests
and grasslands.
The national forests and grasslands also
provide:
- 80 percent of the elk, mountain goat, and bighorn
sheep habitat in the lower 48 States,
- 28 million acres of wild turkey habitat,
- 5.4 million acres of wetland habitat,
- Habitat for 250 species of neotropical migratory
birds, and
- 2,800 species classified as sensitive, threatened, or
endangered plants, fish, or wildlife.
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Partnerships In 2001, $17.6 million in Federal funds
was matched by partners' $26.9 million, for a total of $44.5 million to
accomplish partnership projects for wildlife, fish, and threatened, endangered,
and sensitive species on the national forests and grasslands. For example,
employees of the Alabama Power Company and the Bankhead Ranger District
utilized bundles of donated Christmas trees to construct sunken fish habitat
structures.
Water, Soil, and Air About 14 percent of the surface
water supply in the United States flows from National Forest System (NFS)
watersheds. The goals of the Forest Service's watershed, soil, and air
management programs are to (1) manage watersheds to maintain or improve
watershed conditions to sustain forest land and rangeland health for multiple
uses; (2) sustain soil productivity, (3) protect 88 Class I wilderness areas
from air pollution, and (4) evaluate Forest Service activities and their effect
of air quality, watershed and soil condition.
Key Facts About Water, Soil, and Air:
- There are approximately 6,000 watersheds on National
Forest System lands that produce an average 190 million acre-feet of water
annually.
- There are 3,336 municipalities, serving 60 million
people, which get their tap water from NFS lands.
- 173trillion gallons of water are supplied by National
Forest System municipal watersheds annually.
- There are 88 wilderness areas designated Class I for air
quality protection totaling15 million acres. As of FY 2001, all of these areas
are monitored for regional haze and part of a nationwide multi-agency
network.
- There are 5 regional planning organizations assessing
strategies for improving visibility in class/acreages. The Forest Service
participates in all of these. Strategies developed will improve air quality for
all people.
- About 600 remote weather data collection platforms are
used in agricultural, fire, weather, and stream flow forecasting.
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The task of mapping all soils within NFS, with the cooperation of
USDA's Natural Resources Conservation Service, is continuing and is over 50
percent complete. Annually, the Forest Service completes approximately 30,000
acres to improve water and soil resources. Other significant ongoing activities
include watershed inventory and analyses to better understand the capability of
watersheds to sustain forest land and rangeland health; participating in water
rights adjudications; restoring desired watershed conditions on abandoned mines
and hazardous materials sites located on national forests; monitoring to
determine air pollution impacts on visibility, water, and soil chemistry in
wilderness areas; and leading collaboration on large-scale watershed
restoration efforts.
Rangeland NFS rangeland is managed to conserve the land
and its vegetation while providing food for both livestock and wildlife. Under
multiple-use concepts, grazing areas also serve as watersheds, wildlife
habitat, and recreation sites. Grazing privileges are granted on national
forests and grasslands through paid permits; permittees cooperate with the
Forest Service in range improvement projects.
(National Environmental Policy Act (NEPA) process decisions were
made on allotments across the country in adherence to the Rescissions Act of
1995 (Public Law 104-19). The first 6years of the 15-year Rescissions Act
schedule, 1996 through 2001, ended with approximately one-third of all the
livestock grazing allotments that needed environmental analyses being analyzed.
Implementation of improved management was undertaken on these allotments.
Monitoring both implementation and effectiveness of the management actions has
been undertaken and will continue into the future.
The noxious weed management program was a success in FY 2000 with
143,938 acres treated. The Forest Service in cooperation with the States,
counties, and cities worked together to prevent the spread of noxious weeds,
treating existing infestations, and educating citizens about noxious weed
problems.
Key Facts About Rangeland:
- In FY2001, the Forest Service administered 8,783 grazing
allotments.
- Permitted livestock grazing totaled approximately 9.4
million animal head months. (A head month is 1 month's occupancy by an adult
animal.)
- By the end of 2001, 2,107 allotments underwent
environmental analyses under the 1995Rescissions Act. Management decisions were
made on those that resulted in improved rangeland vegetation.
- In FY 2001, 143,938 acres of rangelands were treated to
control noxious weeds infestations.
- Forage improvement took place on 33,667 acres of
rangelands in FY 2001.
- In FY 2001, 1,357 structural improvements were
constructed on NFS rangelands to implement management changes prescribed in
recent decisions.
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Energy, Minerals, and Geology Exploration, development,
and production of energy and minerals from National Forest System lands
contribute to economic growth, provide employment in rural communities, and
raise revenues that are shared with the States. The energy and minerals
component of the program is directed at obtaining these benefits while ensuring
operations are conducted in an environmentally sound manner. In terms of the
magnitude of the energy and minerals program, there are approximately
5.3million acres leased for oil and gas, over 150,000 mining claims, about
9,000mineral material sales contracts and permits, over 2,000 new operations
proposed each year, and more than 15,000 operations to monitor and inspect. The
largest coal mine in the United States is on NFS lands, and much of the
Nations phosphate and lead production comes from NFS lands. The value of
all energy and mineral production exceeds $2.1 billion per year. Annual
revenues are about $170 million, 25-50 percent of which is returned to the
States where production occurs.
Key Facts About Forest Service Energy, Minerals, and Geology
Program
- Minerals found on Forest Service lands provide more than
$3.3 billion in private sector revenue.
- 7million acres where there is a possibility for coal
leasing (50 billion tons)
- 45million acres where there is a possibility for oil and
gas leasing; 5.3 million acres leased
- About 7,000 sand, gravel, and stone pits and
quarries
- Approximately 2,000 new operations requiring review each
year
- Over 95percent of domestic platinum/palladium comes from
the Custer and Gallatin National Forests
- Over 20,000 existing operations requiring monitoring
- 45percent of the Nation's production of lead
- One of the world's largest molybdenum deposits (Tongass
National Forest, AK)
- Many of the Nation's 100,000 rock hounds, recreational
mineral collectors, students, and geologic organizations use the national
forests for education and recreational purposes.
- Recreational panning for gold is an activity that is
rapidly increasing.
- The Forest Service manages fossil and geologic sites of
interest as resources for present and future generations, scientific,
education, interpretive, recreational, and aesthetic values.
- The most complete Champsosaurus skeleton in the world (55
million years old) came off Little Missouri National Grasslands and is on
display at FS headquarters.
- FS has partnerships with communities, States, and
universities on managing the paleontological resource.
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Following are examples of energy and mineral production on NFS
lands: FY 2001
- 7.3 million barrels of oil
- 93 billion cubic feet of gas
- 94 million tons of coal
FY 2000
- 575 million pounds of lead
- 178 million pounds of copper
- 529,000 ounces of gold
Recreation, Heritage and Wilderness Resources
Americas national forests and grasslands are the "gold crown" of
outdoor settings where American and international visitors alike enjoy a wide
variety of premier recreation activities. From the Tongass National Forest in
Alaska, where glaciers and coniferous forests abound, through the wild and
scenic rivers of Idaho, to the heritage sites of the Jemez Mountains in New
Mexico and the tropical forest of the Caribbean National Forest in Puerto Rico,
recreation is outdoor fun on our national forests and grasslands.
In partnership with six other Federal agencies, the Forest Service
unveiled an Internet program that makes it possible for anyone with access to a
computer to learn about outdoor recreation opportunities on all Federal public
lands. Visit http://www.recreation.gov
Forest Service Recreation Portfolio
- 60 percent of the Nations skiing
- Significant percentages of hunting, fishing,
and wildlife viewing
- World-class hiking, camping, and driving for
pleasure
- 50 percent of habitat for salmon and trout
(lower 48 States)
- 80 percent of habitat for elk, bighorn sheep,
and mountain goat (lower 48 States)
- 50 percent of public lands trail miles in the
country
Key Recreation Facts:
- Wilderness areas 399 (34.7 million acres)
- 63 percent of National Wilderness Preservation System
managed by Forest Service in lower 48 States
- 34 percent of National Wilderness Preservation System
managed by Forest Service in total United States
- 20 national recreation areas (NRA) (includes land between
the lakes NRA)? -9national scenic areas (NSA)
- 4 national monuments and volcanic monuments (NM)
- 6.7million acres of NRA, NSA, and NM (includes land
between the lakes NRA)
Recreation Roads, Trails, and Rivers
- 136 (9,126 miles) national forest scenic byways
- 5 (4,418 miles) wild and scenic rivers
- 133,087 miles of trails
- 6,709 miles of scenic and historic trails
Sites, Facilities, and Services
- 277,000 heritage properties
- 4,300 campgrounds
- 23,000 developed recreation sites
- 135 Alpine ski areas
- 1,496 picnic sites
- 1,222 boating sites
- 140 swimming areas
- 18,000 recreation facilities
- 14,900 recreation residences
- 480 resorts
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National Forest System Inventory, Assessment, and Planning
Sustainable and effective management of National Forest System lands is
dependent upon scientifically credible information and collaborative planning.
Sustainable management includes the continued existence and use of resources to
meet human physical, economic, and social needs; the desire to preserve the
health of ecosystems in perpetuity; and the ethical choice of preserving
options for future generations while meeting the needs of the present.
National Forest System planning consists of four basic activities
that constitute a continuous planning framework: Inventory, Assessment, Land
Management Planning, and Monitoring.
Key Facts about Inventory, Assessment, and Planning:
- Inventories of National Forest System resources are
currently being conducted at a refreshment rate of 15-18 years and total
10,432,000 acres/year.
- A total of 130 watersheds and 18 broad-scale assessments
were completed.
- Land and Resource Management Plans have been prepared for
126 administrative units and include all national forests and grasslands.
Revisions were initiated or completed on 11 units.
- Annual reports of monitoring results were prepared for
126 administrative units.
- Each year the Forest Service produces:
- 10,000 decision memorandums
- 5,000 environmental assessments
- 250 environmental impact statements
- Over 1,200 projects, plans, and permit decisions were
administratively appealed.
- On average, the Forest Service had over 200 lawsuits
pending at any given time challenging resource management decisions.
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Forest Vegetation Management Approximately 73percent of
the 192 million acres of national forests is considered forested. Of the
forested land, 29 percent is available for regularly scheduled timber harvest
and less than 1 percent is subject to some form of timber harvest treatment in
any given year. The remaining 71 percent of the forested land is protected as
wilderness, used for recreation, or cannot be harvested due to environmental or
economic conditions such as steep slopes, fragile soils, and lack of feasible
access.
Stewardship Demonstration Projects Experience has shown
that the agency's traditional tools for managing vegetation, i.e., the standard
timber sale and service contracts, are oftentimes not well suited to addressing
many of today's most pressing vegetative management needs, onto implementing
truly integrated resource management projects. The standard timber sale
contract was designed to dispose of commercially valuable timber, but many of
today's most important treatment needs-e.g., reducing excessive fuel
loadings-often involve managing wood of little or no commercial value. The
standard service contract can be a flexible and powerful tool, but funding
frequently limits the amount of work that can be accomplished in this manner.
Recognizing the problems associated with its traditional
vegetative management tools; Congress gave the Forest Service the authority to
test an array of new processes and procedures through a series of 28
stewardship contracting end-results demonstration projects. The projects that
are undertaken are to address one or more of the following resource management
objectives: road and trail maintenance or obliteration to restore or maintain
water quality; soil productivity, habitat for wildlife and fisheries, or other
resource values; setting of prescribed fires to improve the composition,
structure, condition, and health of stands or improve wildlife habitat;
noncommercial cutting or removing of trees or other activities to promote
healthy forest stands, reduce fire hazards, or achieve other noncommercial
objectives; watershed restoration and maintenance; restoration and maintenance
of wildlife and fish habitat; and control of noxious weeds and reestablishing
native plant species. The new processes and procedures the agency may test
include the following: award of contracts on the basis of best value, service
contracts of up to 10years' duration, exchange of goods for services, retention
of receipts, offer of sales valued at over $10,000 without advertisement,
designation of timber to be cut by description, and use of State foresters as
Federal agents in helping to prepare and administer national forest timber
sales.
Passport in Time Through the Passport in Time program,
the Forest Service offers unique, nontraditional recreation opportunities such
as archaeological excavation, historic structure restoration, and wilderness
surveys. These experiences foster environmental stewardship while providing the
public with unusual, educational experiences.
Passport in Time has over 13,000 volunteers contributing over $5.2
million worth of time and effort to preserve our Nation's history by restoring
historic structures, stabilizing National Register eligible sites, evaluating
sites for inclusion in the National Register of Historic Places, working on
projects in wilderness, and developing heritage interpretive sites. Every
activity is aimed at making our Nation's unique history accessible to the
public and preserving it for future generations.
State and Private Forestry-Providing Assistance to No
industrial Private Landowners The State and Private Forestry programs
represent important tools for the monitoring, management, protection, and
better use of America's forests, with emphasis onion-Federal forestland
stewardship. These programs connect forestry to all land managers-whether
small, urban woodlot owners, tribal foresters, State agencies, or Federal-in
efficient, no regulatory ways. Through coordinated effort in management,
protection, and better use, the programs of State and Private Forestry help
facilitate sound forestry across ownerships on a landscape scale.
About 70 percent of Americas forests are in State and
private ownership, and 80 percent of the wood fiber potential comes from these
lands. These lands are also critical to watershed conditions, fish and wildlife
habitat, and the aesthetic quality of the Nation's landscape; and they
represent one of the best sources of carbon sequestration. Since these
non-Federal forests represent most of the forests in our country, keeping these
lands healthy, productive, and sustainable in the rural and urban areas on a
cumulative basis is especially important to the Nation. With increasing
fragmentation and development pressure, the unique Federal role in maintaining
the value and functions of these lands across ownership divisions has never
been greater or more important.
Forest Health Protection The Forest Service provides
technical and financial assistance to Federal agencies, tribal governments,
States, and (through State foresters) private landowners. The Forest Service
and State foresters participate in a forest health-monitoring program. With
USDA's Animal and Plant Health Inspection Service, the Forest Service works to
protect the Nation's forests from exotic insects, diseases, and plants. The
Forest Service provides technical assistance in the safe and effective use of
pesticides, shares the cost of insect and disease prevention and suppression
projects with States, and funds prevention and suppression projects on Federal
lands. The agency also evaluates and applies new, efficient and environmentally
sensitive technologies for forest health protection.
Cooperative Forestry-Providing Assistance to No industrial
Private Landowners (NIPF) and Community Areas Cooperative Forestry
supports the Forest Service mission in two important ways. First, it helps meet
the needs of present and future generations by "connecting people to resources
and ideas" and by assisting them to "sustain their communities. Second,
it helps to sustain the health, diversity, and productivity of the
Nations forests and grasslands by helping people care for the land and
its resources.
The Forest Stewardship Program promotes sustainable
management of America's non-Federal forests by enabling 9.9 million NIPF
landowners-who own 48 percent of the Nation's forests-to better manage,
protect, and use their natural resources. In cooperation with State resource
management agencies, the program assists forest landowners with planning and
implementation of riparian restoration, wildlife habitat enhancement, forest
stand improvement, and other aspects of sustainable forest management. The
program also assists NIPF landowners, on a voluntary, nonregulatory basis by
providing technical and financial assistance, in cooperation with States; to
develop long-term forest stewardship plans for the management of their forests
and related sources.
The Forest Legacy Program is designed to effectively
protect and conserve environmentally important forest areas that are threatened
by conversion to non-forest uses. These lands can be protected through
conservation easements and other mechanisms. This program is based on the
concept of "willing seller and willing buyer" and incompletely no regulatory in
its approach. No eminent domain authority or adverse condemnation is
authorized.
Economic Action Programs Economic Action Programs (EAP)
stimulates and assists natural resource dependent rural communities and natural
resource-based businesses to pursue self-sufficiency and sustainability.
Special focus includes helping build rural business infrastructures to utilize
and market Products from ecosystem management operations.
Key Facts about Cooperative Forestry Programs:
The Economic Action Programs as a whole and the funds
from the National Fire Plan designated for rural communities used over 1,700
activities to build local capacity to address their needs and create
opportunities. More than 650 projects included funded activities aimed at
maintaining local community businesses. About 25 projects in FY 2001
specifically included activities associated with natural resource-based
business startups. Communities and organizations used nearly 30 activities in
FY 2001 associated with biomass or energy.
During FY 2001 the Rural Community Assistance Program
provided technical or financial assistance to nearly 800 rural communities and
organizations. This total includes 81 tribes/tribal organizations, 99 minority
communities/organizations, and 133 underserved communities. Wildfire
protection, prevention, and hazardous fuels management were incorporated
into180 rural community strategic action plans.
In FY 2001 the Forest Products and Conservation Recycling
Program provided technical and financial assistance to 1,456 individual
businesses that employed 10 or less people, 967 businesses that employed 11 to
99 people, 193 individual businesses that employed 100 or more people, and 596
assists were made to communities and nonprofit organizations.
The Wood in Transportation Program in FY2001 funded six
projects which were completed and closed. Those projects were six designed and
constructed timber bridges. These projects not only resulted in a wooden timber
bridge but also assisted in providing technical assistance to engineers,
highway officials, and others.
The Forest Stewardship Program was responsible for
facilitating the development of more than 50,000 forest management plans
covering just over 4 million no industrial private forestland acres in FY 2000
and FY 2001.
Forest Legacy Program since 1992 has assisted in the
protection of over 209,000 acres from development. These lands have a value of
roughly $124million. Thirty-one States are participating in the program.
Conservation Education "Through education, we connect
people with the land so they take informed actions to sustain natural and
cultural resources." This is the mission of Forest Service Conservation
Education (CE).
The Forest Service brings unique strengths to the field of
conservation education. The agency is a leader in providing scientific
knowledge through its research programs and outstanding opportunities for
place-based learning about natural resources on more than 192 million acres of
forests and grasslands within the National Forest System. It also provides an
extensive delivery network for CE through more than 700 offices and 30,000
employees, as well as with partners such as State foresters. The Forest Service
emphasizes delivery of CE to youth, urban populations, and forest visitors.
In 2001, the CE program reached nearly 4 million Americans, nearly
100,000 of those in face-to-face educational experiences. Nearly 1 1/2 million
people participating in Forest Services CE programs and activities were
students, and another 90,000were teachers. Over 1/2 million Forest visitors
participated in these programs along with nearly 1 1/2 million members of the
general public.
The National Symbols Program: The National Symbols Program,
a part of the Conservation Education Staff, provides leadership for the Smokey
Bear, Woodsy Owl, and Junior Forest Ranger programs.
Each of these programs is designed to increase awareness and
educate the general public about natural resource conservation and fire
prevention.
Smokey Bear: The Smokey Bear fire prevention campaign has
been managed in partnership with the Advertising Council and the National
Association of State Foresters for over 50 years. The Smokey Bear program is
the cornerstone of the Forest Service's fire prevention program. Annual
campaigns have contributed to Smokeys popularity both nationally and
internationally, and several other countries have adopted Smokey as their
symbol for fire prevention.
In addition to speaking to elementary-school-age children,
Smokey's message and image are also used to generate awareness among adults
about the real cause of fire: forest fires caused by the people who would least
expect to be the cause of a fire, people like you. In 2001, Smokey's message
was changed to "Only you can prevent wildfires!" The change helps to include
non-forested areas such as grasslands, prairies, and rangelands in Smokey's
fire prevention campaign.
Junior Forest Ranger: In 1952, a Smokey Bare stuffed toy
sold in stores included an application to become a Junior Forest Ranger. The
response was overwhelming. More than 1/2 million children enrolled in the
program within the first 3 years. As a result, the Junior Forest Ranger program
was established to augment and complement a fire prevention classroom program
that included hands-on activities led by teachers. Response to the program was
so enthusiastic that by 1960 Smokey was given his own zip code to help the
postal service sort the mail generated by Smokey Bear and the Junior Forest
Ranger programs.
Youth who participate in the Junior Forest Ranger program receive
a packet including a plastic badge, wallet card, letter, and certificate.
Junior Forest Ranger is still a popular program, and over the next few years,
the program will be refocused to support education about fire ecology as well
as fire prevention.
Woodsy Owl: Woodsy Owl is Americas symbol for
environmental quality, established by an Act of Congress in June 1974, to
promote wise use of the environment and programs that foster maintenance and
improvement of environmental quality. Woodsy goals and objectives and his
look have been updated to reflect todays needs. Woodsy's primary audience
is children from pre-kindergarten to third grade with special emphasis on
outreach to nontraditional groups, such as: Hispanics, Native Americans, and
inner city children. An innovative program called Junior Snow Ranger has been
developed as part of the Woodsy Program to promote conservation ethics and an
understanding of winter ecology. Junior Snow Ranger was piloted at the 2002
Winter Olympic Games.
New Century of Service The Forest Service will
celebrate 100 years of service to the American public in 2005. Through New
Century of Service, the Forest Service is commemorating the many contributions
that people of the Forest Service have made to the United States over the
past100 years, taking the lessons the agency has learned and applying them to
continue to provide world-class public service for the next 100 years. New
Century of Service is about the people of the agency, celebrating service,
excellence, relationships and innovation. Activities taking place nationally,
regionally, and locally include participation in the Smithsonian
Institutions Folk life Festival in 2005; teaching natural resource
conservation through visual and performing arts; nurturing our commitment to
communities through a forest fire lookout project and other activities.
Research and Development Forestry research in the U.S.
Department of Agriculture goes back a long way. In 1876, Congress appropriated
$2,000 to the Department of Agriculture to gather forestry information, and
thus the Federal forestry research program was born. In 1908,Gifford Pinchot
established the first research station within the newly formed Forest Service
in Fort Valley, AZ. The Forest Products Laboratory, which was established in
Madison, WI, in 1910, distinguished itself in meeting the Nations demands
during two World Wars and the housing needs of the booming economy after that
time period.
Key Facts About Research and Development:
- Research and Development develops and maintains key
databases for enhancing forest health, productivity, and conservation,
including an extensive portfolio of long-term research databases with many more
than 60 years old.
- About 525 permanent full-time scientists are working on
the productivity, health, and diversity of the temperate, boreal, and tropical
forests.
- Research and Development scientists are held to high
standards of scientific ethics and many are recognized worldwide for the
quality of their work. All four of the U.S. scientists who received the
prestigious Marcus Wallenberg Award (the forestry equivalent of the Nobel
prize) are research and development scientists.
- Research and Development manages 73experimental forests
and ranges and 452 researches natural areas devoted to long-term research.
- Research and Development works with the National Forest
System and university partners on a network of 62 long-term soil productivity
sites across the United States and Canada with the goal of monitoring
management effects on sustainability and productivity.
- The Forest Service provides leadership in tropical
forestry through collaborative research programs at the International Institute
of Tropical Forestry in Puerto Rico and the Institute of Pacific Islands
Forestry in Hawaii.
- Scientific products in 2001included more than 5,678
publications, including patents, computer models, videos and books, that
address the questions and needs of natural resource managers, other scientists,
and the public.
- Collaboration with research partners through 794 domestic
grants, agreements, and contracts total about $52million of extramural funding.
- In 2001, the Forest Inventory and Analysis program,
including forest health detection monitoring conducted inventory on 75 percent
of the Nation's forest land across all ownerships in 35 States and reported
status and trends in 115 inventory and monitoring reports.
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Currently, Forest Service Research and Development has 132
laboratories in 70 locations across the country. They are organized within 6
research stations, the national Forest Products Laboratory, and the
International Institute of Tropical Forestry in Puerto Rico. Of the 192 million
acres of forest and rangeland managed by the Forest Service, 408,600 acres are
officially designated as Experimental Forests.
Senior, Youth, and Volunteer Programs Senior, Youth,
and Volunteer Programs provide job opportunities, training, and education for
the unemployed, underemployed, elderly, young, and others with special needs,
while benefiting high-priority conservation work. In FY 2001, these programs
included more than 108,700 participants and accomplished over $115 million in
conservation work on Forest Service lands.
Through an agreement with the U.S. Department of Labor, the Forest
Service operates 18co-educational Job Corps Civilian Conservation Centers on
Forest Service lands. The Forest Service has been operating Job Corps Centers
since 1965. The Job Corps program is the only Federal residential
education/training program for the Nations disadvantaged youth.
Key Facts About Job Corps Civilian Conservation Centers:
- 18 Job Corps Centers (co-educational)
- 9,528 enrolled, ages 16-24
- $114.6 million budget (PAY 2000)
- $18.3 million work accomplishment
- 91 percent students placed (based on participants
enrolled)
- $8.42 average starting hourly wage
- 48 percent minorities
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The Senior Community Service Employment Program (SCSEP) is
designed to provide useful part-time employment, work experience, training, and
transition to public and private unsubsidized employment for persons age 55 and
over. A 30thanniversary celebration is being planned for PAY 2001.
Key Facts About the Senior Community Service Employment
Program:
- 5,537 older workers participated
- $28.4million budget (PAY 2000)
- $39.4million work accomplishment
- Only Federal agency among 10 national sponsors
- 44 percent females
- 29 percent placed in unsubsidized employment (1,160
seniors)
- $1.39 return on dollar invested
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In the Youth Conservation Corps (YCC) summer employment program,
persons aged 15-18accomplish projects that further the development and
conservation of the United States' natural resources. The agency was directed
to use not less than$2 million of agency appropriations for high-priority
projects to be carried out by the Youth Conservation Corps program.
Key Facts About the Youth Conservation Corps:
- 891enrollees, ages 15-18
- $2.2million operating costs
- $2.6million work accomplishment
- $1.18return on dollar invested
- 42percent females
- 30thanniversary of operating program
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The Volunteers in the National Forests program allows
organizations and individuals to donate their talents and services to help
manage the Nation's natural resources.
Key Facts About Volunteers in the National Forests:
- 84,508volunteers has participated (including 80
international volunteers)
- $38.6million work accomplishment
- 36percent females
- Over 1.6million volunteers served since the 1972
legislation
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Hosted programs provide conservation training and work
opportunities on national forests or in conjunction with Federal programs.
Programs are administered through agreements with State and county agencies,
colleges, universities, Indian tribes, and private and nonprofit organizations.
Key Facts About Hosted Programs:
- 8,333participants
- $16.3million work accomplishment
- 23percent females
- 29percent minorities
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Civil Rights The Forest Service encourages a variety of
recruitment and community capacity-building efforts aimed at recruiting for
permanent professional positions and conducting program public outreach/
technical assistance to underserved communities through Forest Service
programs, academic institutions, and partners.
Office of International Programs The Forest Service
promotes technical cooperation and develops support for sustainable forest
management practices worldwide. In addition, many individual research
relationships exist between Forest Service researchers and managers and their
counterparts around the world.
Key Facts About the Impact of International Programs:
- Through involvement with industry, State foresters, and
major nongovernmental organizations, 12 countries forged a consensus on a set
of criteria and indicators for assessing progress towards sustainable forest
management.
- International collaboration on research and monitoring
help to reduce the impact of invasive pests such as the Asian gypsy moth and
hemlock woolly adelgid, which have severe impacts on timber resources.
- Partnerships with organizations such as Ducks Unlimited
to restore waterfowl habitat will increase the populations of waterfowl that
migrate to the Western and Southwestern United States from Mexico and further
south.
- A program with the Federal Forest Service of Russia, the
State of Alaska, and U.S. companies and nongovernmental organizations will help
to ensure that Russians have access to the best environmental technology as
petroleum resources on Sakhalin Island are developed. This will promote
increased employment in Alaska and preserve salmon fisheries around Sakhalin
Island and Alaska.
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Law Enforcement and Investigations The Forest Service
Law Enforcement and Investigations (LEI) program is charged with providing a
safe environment for the public and our employees on National Forest System
(NFS) lands and protecting natural resources and other property under the
agencys jurisdiction. Law Enforcement and Investigations cooperates with
Federal, State and local law enforcement agencies and other Forest Service
programs to achieve these goals. The LEI staff provide high-visibility
uniformed patrol presence and prompt response to public and employee safety
incidents and violations of law and regulation. They conduct criminal
investigations and maintain strong relationships with cooperating law
enforcement agencies. While the FS does not have immigration authority, our
drug enforcement authorities and other responsibilities on the hundreds of
miles of contiguous NFS lands along both the Southwest and Northern Border
require FS and LEI personnel to maintain a steadfast vigilance and presence in
these areas.
In addition, they reduce the production of domestic cannabis and
other controlled substances and smuggling of illegal drugs through NFS lands.
The National Forest System Drug Control Act of 1986, amended in 1988, placed
primary responsibility on the Forest Service for Federal drug enforcement on
NFS lands. Three primary drug enforcement issues affect NFS lands: (1)
marijuana cultivation, (2) metamphetamine production, and (3) smuggling across
the U.S./Mexico and U.S./Canada borders.
Key Facts About Law Enforcement and Investigations-Calendar
Year 2001
- LEI has approximately 490 uniformed officers patrolling
NFS lands nationwide and 120 criminal investigators.
- LEI made more than a million public contacts for a
variety of reasons, such as providing general information, obtaining
information on criminal matters, and assisting with visitors' problems.
- LEI personnel responded to 215,593 incidents of violation
including on- and off-road vehicles, wilderness, fire and forest products,
damage to government property and natural resources, as well as emergency
responses such as search and rescue.
- LEI conducted 1,908 serious misdemeanor and felony
investigations for timber and other forest product theft, archeological
violations, wild land fire, controlled substances, employee threats, assaults,
and other resource and property-related crimes.
- LEI had oversight of 172 internal and hotline complaints
against agency employees and programs.
- LEI entered into 527 cooperative agreements with State
and local law enforcement agencies to provide reimbursement for enforcement of
State and local laws on NFS lands in regular patrol functions, and 61
cooperative agreements for drug enforcement activities.
- LEI eradicated 719,985 marijuana plants from NFS
lands.
- LEI seized nearly 90,000 pounds of processed marijuana
being smuggled into the United States across the southwest border.
- LEI located 102 metamphetamine labs and 242 chemical
dumpsites on NFS lands and seized 153.5 pounds of metamphetamine
- Through a partnership with the Office of National Drug
Control Policy, LEI received $500,000 for the National Marijuana Public Lands
Initiative.
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Introduction As the Nations lead Federal agency
addressing private lands conservation, the Natural Resources Conservation
Service (NRCS) provides technical assistance and administers a wide range of
programs to help solve this country's natural resource problems.
Our well being depends on healthy, productive natural resources
and their sustainable use. Justas soil, water, and habitat are interrelated,
the programs that address these resources are interrelated, and programs that
help one resource also benefit others. Protecting the soil from erosion, for
example, also enhances soil productivity and protects water and air quality.
Improving the environment enhances the economic future of communities
throughout the United States.
The mission of NRCS is to provide national leadership, in a
partnership effort, to help people conserve, improve, and sustain the Nation's
natural resources and environment. NRCS' authorizing legislation directs the
agency to assist resource owners, operators, and managers in conserving soil,
water, and related resources. Conservation of natural resources is necessary to
ensure that the Nation's people enjoy the benefits of:
- A productive resource base supporting a strong
agricultural sector
- A high-quality natural environment
- Watersheds and water supplies that are
protected against risks imposed by weather and climate
- A healthy economy and high quality of life in
rural communities
A Partnership Approach to Resource Conservation For
nearly seven decades, NRCS employees have worked side by side with landowners,
conservation districts, resource conservation and development councils, tribes,
State and local governments, and urban and rural partners to restore and
enhance the American landscape. The agency helps landowners and communities
take a comprehensive approach in conservation planning, working toward an
understanding of how all natural resources-soil, water, air, plants, and
animals-relate to each other and to humans. The agency works to solve the
natural resource challenges on the Nation's private lands-reducing soil
erosion, improving soil and rangeland health, protecting water quality and
supply, conserving wetlands, and providing fish and wildlife habitat.
Most NRCS employees serve in USDA's network of local, county-based
offices, including those in Puerto Rico and the Pacific Basin. The rest are at
State, regional, and national offices, providing technology, policy, and
administrative support. They serve all people who live and work on the land.
Nearly three-fourths of the agency's technical assistance goes to helping
farmers and ranchers develop conservation systems uniquely suited to their land
and their ways of doing business.
The agency helps rural and urban communities curb erosion,
conserve and protect water, and solve other resource problems. American Indian
tribes, Alaska Natives, Pacific Islanders, and other native groups work with
NRCS on a variety of initiatives that include resource inventories and the
adaptation of conservation programs to fit the special needs of their people
and their land. Also, countries around the globe seek NRCS' advice on building
their own conservation delivery systems and in coping with severe natural
resource problems.
NRCS provides locally based conservation assistance in cooperation
with conservation districts through a nationwide network of local field
offices. Locally based NRCS technical staff work directly with individual
farmers, ranchers, local and State officials and employees, and community
groups, providing them technical, financial, and information assistance. In
fiscal year 2001, NRCS provided assistance to 2.4 million farmers, ranchers,
and other customers.
Erosion and Sediment Control While NRCS has cut erosion
on cropland by 38 percent between 1982 and 1997, soil erosion continues to
threaten agricultural productivity on about one-third of our Nations
cropland. During fiscal year 2001, NRCS helped landowners plan and apply
resource management systems on 9.5 million acres of cropland. The agency
protected 3.5 million acres of cropland from excessive wind and water erosion
and applied erosion control measures on 9.3 million acres of land, resulting in
reducing soil loss by 257 million tons.
Important Farmlands Farmland, one of Americas
greatest treasures, continues to be converted to nonagricultural uses. Between
1982 and 1997, every State lost some high-quality farmland to urban
development. According to the National Resources Inventory, on average, 666,000
acres of prime farmland are converted each year to non-agricultural uses. This
amounts to more than 70 acres per hour each day.
NRCS, working through State, tribal, or local government
partnerships, has been able to protect important farmland including prime,
unique, statewide or locally important soils. Since 1996, NRCS has entered into
agreements in 29 States to leverage funds to protect more than 100,000 acres of
agricultural lands from being converted to non-agricultural uses.
Wetlands, Fish and Wildlife Wetlands provide vital
wildlife habitat and help trap nutrients and sediment before they enter our
streams. Loss of wetlands is still a concern; however, landowners have begun to
restore, protect, and enhance this resource in a serious way. Since 1992,the
net loss of wetland acreage on agricultural land has decreased dramatically.
Continuing the reduction in net loss trend, in fiscal year 2001,wetlands were
created, restored, or enhanced on 362,000 acres with NRCS technical and
financial assistance.
NRCS Technical Assistance NRCS provides Conservation
Technical Assistance (CTA) to improve and conserve natural resources. This
assistance is based on voluntary local landowner cooperation. CTA is the
foundation upon which NRCS delivers its services, through local conservation
districts, to private landowners, communities, and others who care for natural
resources. CTA is the intellectual capital of the agency; experts in soils and
other physical and biological sciences, with knowledge of local conditions,
work with private landowners in the stewardship of our natural resources.
CTA provides the infrastructure through which the agency is able
to respond to a multitude of needs, from natural disaster recovery to complex
site-specific natural resource problems. CTA is the means by which this Nation
is able to voluntarily bring about land stewardship that improves our soil,
water, wildlife, and air resources while providing for sustainable agricultural
production. The investments in CTA return to the American public significant
benefits, ranging from an improved environment and quality of life to a safe
and abundant food supply.
NRCS provided assistance to 2.4 million farmers, ranchers, and
other customers. The agency earned an American Customer Satisfaction Index
rating of 81 from a sample of landowners who received conservation technical
assistance (CTA). The average score for all government agencies in the survey
was 71. Customers gave NRCS an extremely high rating of90 on trust, which is
measured by whether the customer will (1) become an advocate for CTA and (2)
request services or information from the agency in the future.
Wetlands Reserve Program The Wetlands Reserve Program
(WRP) is a voluntary program to restore wetlands. Participating landowners can
establish conservation easements of either permanent or 30-yearduration or can
enter into restoration cost-share agreements where no easement is involved. In
exchange for establishing a permanent easement, the landowner receives payment
up to the agricultural value of the land and 100 percent of the restoration
costs for restoring the wetland. The 30-year easement payment is 75 percent of
what would be provided for a permanent easement on the same site and 75 percent
of the restoration cost. The restoration cost-share agreements are for a
minimum 10-year duration and provide for 75 percent of the cost of restoring
the involved wetlands. At the end of fiscal year 2001,1,074,245 acres were
enrolled in WRP.
Environmental Quality Incentives Program The
Environmental Quality Incentives Program (EQIP) works primarily with locally
identified significant natural resource concerns, such as soil erosion, water
quality and quantity, wildlife habitat, wetlands, and forest and grazing lands.
Activities must be carried out according to a conservation plan. The program
offers financial, educational, and technical help to install or implement
structural, vegetative, and management practices called for in 1- to 10-year
contracts. Cost sharing may pay up to 75 percent of the costs of certain
conservation practices. Nationally, at least 60 percent of the funding for this
program is targeted to livestock-related natural resource concerns and the
remainder to other significant conservation priorities.
Wildlife Habitat Incentives Program The Wildlife
Habitat Incentives Program (WHIP) provides financial incentives to develop
habitat for fish and wildlife on private lands. Participants agree to implement
a wildlife habitat development plan and USDA agrees to provide cost-share
assistance for the initial implementation of wildlife habitat development
practices. USDA and program participants enter into 5- to10-year cost-share
agreements. Since WHIP began in 1998, nearly 11,000participants have enrolled
more than 1.6 million acres into the program. In fiscal year 2001, NRCS
utilized $12.5 million to enroll nearly 2,300 agreements on nearly 212,000
acres.
Conservation Security Program The Conservation Security
Program (CSP) is a voluntary program that provides financial and technical
assistance for the conservation, protection, and improvement of soil, water,
air, energy, plant and animal life, and other conservation purposes on tribal
and private working lands. The program provides payments for producers who
practice good stewardship on their agricultural lands and incentives for those
who want to do more. CSP assistance is authorized in the 2002 Farm Bill and the
program will be available in fiscal year 2003.
Eligible producers who own or control agricultural land may
participate by submitting a conservation security plan and entering into an
agreement with USDA. Participants must maintain or establish conservation
treatment to specific levels of natural resource conservation protection on
their land in exchange for an annual payment. Under certain conditions,
participants would be eligible for renewal of the agreement in subsequent
years. NRCS, or any other USDA-approved source, will provide technical
assistance to the participant on the required conservation measures. Innovation
and the use of new technologies are encouraged. Conservation achieved through
the CSP will help ensure the sustainability of farms and ranches and improve
the condition of natural resources on our Nations working lands.
Farmland Protection Program The Farmland Protection
Program (FPP) 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 farmland
protection programs to purchase conservation easements or other interests
inland. NRCS manages the program. In fiscal year 2001, NRCS entered into
57cooperative agreements with State and local governments and non-governmental
organizations to protect an estimated 34,900 acres of farmland from conversion
to nonagricultural uses through the program. Through 2001, more than 108,000
acres have been protected in 28 States.
Soil Surveys The National Cooperative Soil Survey
information constitutes one of the largest and most valuable natural resource
databases in the world. NRCS conducts soil surveys cooperatively with other
Federal agencies, land-grant universities, State agencies, and local units of
government. Soil surveys provide the public with local information on the uses
and capabilities of their soil resource. Soil surveys are based on scientific
analysis and classification of the soils and are used to determine land
capabilities and conservation treatment needs. The published soil survey for a
county or designated area includes maps and interpretations with explanatory
information that is the foundation of resource policy, planning, and decision
making for Federal, State, county, and local community programs. In fiscal year
2001, NRCS mapped or updated 24.4 million acres of soils and provided 139 soil
surveys in digital format. Soil survey mapping has been completed on more than
96 percent of the Nations private land, 78 percent of American Indian
lands, and 82 percent of public lands. In addition, more than 1,270 soil
surveys have been digitized and made available for resource assessments.
Snow Survey and Water Supply Forecasts NRCS field staff
collect snow information through a network of 660 Snow Telemetry (SNOTEL) sites
and 1,100 manual snow courses to provide 13 Western States with water supply
forecasts. The data are collected, assembled, and analyzed to make water supply
forecasts, which provide estimates of available seasonal yield, spring runoff,
and summer stream flow. In fiscal year 2001, 9,000 water supply forecasts for
Federal, State, and local water resource planning purposes were issued to
69,000 water users and managers. Snowmelt provides approximately 80 percent of
the stream flow in the West. Snow data and water supply forecasts are used by
individuals, organizations, and State and Federal agencies to make decisions
relating to agricultural production, fish and wildlife management, recreation,
power generation, water quality management, and emergency flood and snow safety
management. Current and historical data, water supply forecasts, and drought
risk assessments are available at: http://www.wcc.nrcs.usda.gov
Plant Materials Centers NRCS employees at 26Plant
Materials Centers assemble, test, and encourage increased plant propagation and
usefulness of plant species for biomass production, carbon sequestration,
erosion reduction, wetland restoration, water quality improvement, stream bank
and riparian area protection, coastal dune stabilization, and to meet other
special conservation treatment needs. The work is carried out cooperatively
with State and Federal agencies, universities, commercial businesses, and seed
and nursery associations. After species are proven effective for conservation
purposes, they are released to the private sector for commercial production.
NRCS has re-leased nearly 540 varieties of conservation plants to commercial
producers. Nearly 250 improved varieties are now in commercial production and
used in conservation programs. In fiscal year2001, NRCS released 24 new
conservation plants for commercial or private use and evaluated 424 plant
material studies. The agency also provided data to 1.2million customers through
the PLANTS database Web site. NRCS plant information is available on the Web
at: http://www.plant-materials.nrcs.usda.gov
Small Watershed Program The Small Watershed Program
works through local government sponsors and helps participants solve natural
resource problems of a specific watershed. Project purposes include watershed
protection, flood prevention, erosion and sediment control, water supply, water
quality, fish and wildlife habitat enhancement, wetlands creation and
restoration, and public recreation in watersheds of 250,000 acres or less. Both
technical and financial assistance are available. In fiscal year
2001,communities realized a total of $1.62 billion worth of benefits from small
watershed projects.
Emergency Watershed Protection The Emergency Watershed
Protection (EWP) Program is designed to reduce threats to life and property in
the wake of natural disasters. It provides technical and cost-sharing
assistance. Assistance includes establishing vegetative cover; installing
streambank protection devices; removing debris and sediment; and stabilizing
levees, channels, and gullies. In subsequent storms, EWP projects protect
homes, businesses, highways, and public facilities from further damage.
Floodplain easements under EWP may be purchased to help prevent future losses
due to natural disasters. In fiscal year 2001, nearly 2 million persons
benefited from EWP efforts.
Watershed Operations The Flood Control Act of 1944
authorized NRCS to administer watershed works of improvement. Flood prevention
operations include planning and installing improvements and land treatment
measures for flood prevention; for the conservation, development, utilization,
and disposal of water; and for the reduction of sedimentation and erosion
damages. This also may include the development of recreational facilities and
the improvement of fish and wildlife habitat. Activities are authorized in 11
specific flood prevention projects covering about 35 million acres in 11
States. In fiscal year 2001, $14 million was obligated to assist clients
impacted by flooding, and work plans were completed on 24 million acres. These
plans provide project implementation guidance to local sponsors.
Watershed Surveys and Planning NRCS cooperates with
other Federal, State, and local agencies in conducting river basin surveys and
investigations, flood hazard analysis, and flood plain management assistance to
aid in the development of coordinated water resource programs, including the
development of guiding principles and procedures. Cooperative river basin
studies are made up of agricultural, rural, and upstream water and land
resources to identify resource problems and determine corrective actions
needed. These surveys address a variety of natural resource concerns, including
water quality improvement; opportunities for water conservation; wetland and
water storage capacity; agricultural drought problems; rural development;
municipal and industrial water needs; upstream flood damages; and water needs
for fish, wildlife, and forest-based industries. Flood plain management
assistance includes the identification of flood hazards and the location and
use of wetlands. NRCS represents USDA on river basin regional entities and
river basin interagency committees for coordination among Federal Departments
and States. In fiscal year 2001, the total financial obligation to support
locally led watershed group actions was approximately $112 million.
Resource Conservation and Development Program The
Resource Conservation and Development (RC&D) Program provides a framework
for local people to join together to improve their community's economy,
environment, and living standards. RC&D areas are locally organized,
sponsored, and directed. USDA provides technical and financial assistance and
helps sponsors secure funding and services from Federal, State, and local
sources. The major emphasis is environmental conservation and rural
development. To date, 368 areas across the Nation (plus the Caribbean and
Pacific Basin) have been designated by the Secretary of Agriculture as RC&D
areas. They serve more than 85 percent of U.S. counties and more than 77percent
of the U.S. population.
Each year, these locally organized and directed areas create
thousands of new jobs, protect thousands of miles of water bodies, conserve
hundreds of thousands of acres of land, and improve the quality of life in
hundreds of communities. RC&D areas are run by a council of volunteers who
serve without pay. More than 20,000 volunteers are serving on and with RC&D
councils. In fiscal year2001, RC&Ds completed more than 3,000 projects.
These resulted in 500businesses created and 1,800 businesses expanded; 7,500
jobs created; and 5,000miles of streams and 880,000 acres of wildlife habitat
improved. More than 283,000 people learned new job skills and nearly 780,000
economically and socially disadvantaged people were served.
National Resources Inventory NRCS conducts an inventory
on the condition and trends of natural resources on non-Federal land. From 1982
to 1997, the inventory was conducted every 5 years. Starting in 2000,NRCS began
collecting data each year. The National Resources Inventory (NRI) contains the
most comprehensive and statistically reliable data of its kind in the world. It
measures trends in soil erosion by water and wind; wetland losses; prime
farmland acreage; irrigation; and habitat and conservation treatment at
national, regional, State, and sub-State levels.
Conservation of Private Grazing Land Program The
Conservation of Private Grazing Land Program (CPGL) is a voluntary program that
provides technical assistance from NRCS to owners and managers of private
grazing land. Private grazing land, the largest agricultural land use,
constitutes nearly half of the non-Federal land of the United States. This vast
area contributes significantly to the quantity and quality of water available
for use and supports some of the most extensive wildlife habitats in the
Nation. NRCS provides technical assistance to owners and managers of private
grazing land for the long-term productivity and ecological health of grazing
land. In fiscal year 2001, through CPGL, NRCS helped landowners apply resource
management systems on 11.3 million acres of grazing land and prescribed grazing
on 18.6 million acres.
National Conservation Buffer Initiative In April 1997,
USDA launched a new public-private partnership called the National Conservation
Buffer Initiative to help landowners install 2 million miles of conservation
buffers by the year 2002. Agricultural producers and other landowners who
install buffers can improve soil, air, and water quality; enhance wildlife
habitat; restore biodiversity; and create scenic landscapes.
Conservation buffers are areas or strips of land maintained in
permanent vegetation and designed to intercept pollutants. Buffers can be
installed along streams or in uplands-within crop fields, at the edge of crop
fields, or outside the margins of a field.
The National Conservation Buffer Initiative is a multi-year effort
led by NRCS in cooperation with other USDA agencies, State conservation
agencies, conservation districts, agribusinesses, and agricultural and
environmental organizations.
To date, about 1.3million miles of buffers, or nearly 65 percent
of the national goal, have been established under the Conservation Reserve
Program, Environmental Quality Incentives Program, Wetlands Reserve Program,
and other USDA programs.
International Programs NRCS helps improve the
management and conservation of natural resources globally. Participation in
collaborative efforts with other countries results in benefits to the United
States and in accomplishment of the NRCS mission. During fiscal year2001, NRCS
specialists completed 188 assignments to nearly 40 countries. The objectives of
the assignments were to provide short- and long-term technical assistance and
leadership for the development of natural resource conservation programs and
projects and exchange conservation technology with countries that face soil and
water conservation issues similar to those in this country.
NRCS provided opportunities for approximately 250 foreign
nationals from more than 35countries to gain a better understanding of natural
resource conservation activities by observing and discussing conservation
programs in the United States.
Agricultural Air Quality The Task Force on Agricultural
Air Quality makes recommendations to the Secretary of Agriculture with regard
to the scientific basis for agriculture's impact on air quality. The task force
is charged with strengthening and coordinating USDA air quality research
efforts to determine the extent to which agricultural activities contribute to
air pollution and to identify cost-effective ways in which the agricultural
industry can improve air quality.
To date, the task force has submitted to the Secretary of
Agriculture recommendations and priorities for research emphasizing the need
for credible science on which to base regulation and subsequent conservation
practices for mitigation of emissions. The top three priorities recommended are
related to National Ambient Air Quality Standards for PM10, PM2.5 and ozone,
and animal waste odor.
Backyard Conservation Campaign In 1998, NRCS developed
a national Backyard Conservation Campaign to tell non-farm audiences about the
good conservation work being done by America's farmers and ranchers. The
campaign features 10 common conservation practices, such as composting,
mulching, tree planting, nutrient management, and water conservation, and shows
how miniature versions can work in just about any backyard-whether measured in
acres, feet, or flower pots.
Farmers and ranchers already have made progress in natural
resource conservation by protecting and restoring wetlands, enhancing wildlife
habitat, and reducing soil erosion. There are nearly 2 billion acres of land in
the United States. Most of that land, 1.4 billion acres, is managed by farmers
and ranchers. However, more than92 million acres are privately developed, and
much of this land is tended by homeowners. These homeowners can join the
conservation tradition right in their own backyards to curb water pollution and
improve wildlife habitat. For more information on this campaign or agency
programs, visit the NRCS Web site at http://www.nrcs.usda.gov |