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Conservation Security Program (CSP)
Sign Up Extension
The Missisquoi Watershed has been selected for 2008 Conservation Security
Program (CSP) sign up. Sign up begins on Friday, April 18
and has been extended to end on Friday, May 30. The sign up deadline for CSP was
originally scheduled to end on May 16, however, the NRCS recognizes the
inopportune timing of this year's sign-up and that farmers and ranchers are busy
in their fields. The extension has been given to allow producers adequate time
to gather natural resource information and complete the required self-assessment
and application interview. This two-week extension represents the fullest
accommodation NRCS can make and deliver a program this year.
The Missisquoi Watershed in Vermont includes
land in Franklin County, western Orleans County, and portions of northern towns
in Lamoille County. The Missisquoi Watershed covers approximately 445,701 acres,
71% of which is in Franklin County. 28% of the watershed is located in western
Orleans County, and the remaining 1% is located in a few of the northern towns
in Lamoille County. Dairy is the predominant agricultural operation in the
Missisquoi Watershed, where land in farms makes up approximately 39% of the
watershed. Maple syrup operations are also widely found throughout the
watershed. Most of these operations are managed in conjunction with a dairy or
other livestock or cropping operation.
Land Cover / Use
| Land Use |
Missisquoi Watershed Acres |
| Total Land in Farms |
175,565 |
| Cropland |
73,886 |
| Pasture Land |
11,827 |
| Orchards |
54 |
| Christmas Trees |
291 |
| Maple Syrup |
499,721 (represents number of tapped trees) |
| Woodland |
65,140 |
| Woodland Pastured |
11,378 |
| Land to Raise Certified Organic Crops |
776 |
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CSP is a voluntary
conservation program and has a unique role among USDA programs. It
identifies and rewards those farmers and ranchers who meet the highest
standards of conservation and environmental management on their
operations. It creates powerful incentives for other producers to meet
those same standards of conservation performance on their operations,
and provides public benefits for generations to come.
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CSP in Vermont, A History
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The Conservation Security
Program first came to the State of Vermont in 2005. Nationally, about 12,700
CSP contracts were awarded in 2005 with payments to exceed $1 billion
over 10 years. The contracts cover 9 million acres of private land in
220 watersheds. Vermont received a total of 10 contracts in two
watersheds, the Otter Creek Watershed located in Addison and Rutland
Counties and the West River Watershed located in Windham County and into
parts of southwestern New Hampshire. On average, approximately $8,000 is
paid out to CSP participants in Vermont on an annual basis.
In 2006, small portions
of the Hudson-Hoosic watershed were selected for sign-up. One
application was received out of approximately 9 potentially eligible
farms in the watershed, however, this application was not nationally
selected for funding. |
Related Web Pages
National CSP
Website
Hudson - Hoosic Watershed 2006
Vermont 2005 CSP, Otter Creek and West River
Watersheds
Map of CSP Designated Watersheds in Vermont
These documents require Adobe
Reader
CSP
Map of 2008 Vermont Watersheds (PDF, 289 KB)
CSP Map of 2006 Vermont Watersheds
(PDF, 89 KB)
CSP Map of 2005 Vermont Watersheds
(PDF, 868 KB)
CSP Self Assessment
This document requires Adobe
Reader
Self-Assessment Workbook
(PDF, 2,198 KB)
Applicants are required to complete the self assessment workbook in full,
including the agricultural operation delineation and benchmark inventories. This
information is required to be completed and submitted to NRCS by the end of the
sign up period.
Benchmark
Inventory Sheets (extras)
CSP Contract Information
The following document requires Microsoft
Excell
2008
CSP Cost List (xls, 44 KB) (HTML)
All Enhancements have an associated job
sheet, which explains in detail, the purpose of the enhancement and requirements
of the participant, including records, that must be completed and maintained in
order to receive payment. Click on JOB SHEETS for a list of each enhancement
with a link to its applicable job sheet.
CSP Rules, Notices and Supporting Documents
These documents require Adobe
Reader
CSP 2008 Sign-up Announcement & Enrollment Categories (PDF,
1.67 MB), (March
2008)
CSP
2008 Sign-up Announcement Correction (PDF, 162 KB), (April 2008)
Vermont 2008 CSP Sign Up Announcement
Vermont
2008 CSP Sign Up Extension Announcement
Related Program Information
Missisquoi Watershed Contact Information
| County |
Contact Person |
Telephone Number |
Address |
E-mail |
| Franklin |
Kathy Hakey |
802-527-1296 |
27 Fisher Pond Rd., Suite 1, St. Albans, VT 05478 |
kathryn.hakey@vt.usda.gov |
| Orleans |
Dave Blodgett |
802-334-6090 |
59 Waterfront Plaza, Suite 11, Newport, VT 05855-4877 |
david.blodgett@vt.usda.gov |
| State Office |
Heather Wetzstein |
802-951-6796 |
356 Mountain View Dr., Suite 105, Colchester, VT 05446 |
heather.wetzstein@vt.usda.gov |
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