Conservation Security Program (CSP)

CSP is a voluntary program that provides financial and technical assistance to promote the conservation and improvement of soil, water, air, energy, plant and animal life, and other conservation purposes on Tribal and private working lands. Working lands include cropland, grassland, prairie land, improved pasture, and range land, as well as forested land that is an incidental part of an agriculture operation. The program provides equitable access to benefits to all producers, regardless of size of operation, crops produced, or geographic location.

Farmers in one Georgia watershed are eligible to apply for the Conservation Security Program in 2008. The watershed is the Broad River Watershed in North Georgia. Sign-up begins April 18 and ends May 16, 2008.

Information Meetings Announced for 2008 Conservation Security Program April 15 - Elbert County April 17 - Oglethorpe County April 22 - Franklin County April 24 - Banks County  Click here to read the news release announcing the meeting dates. (32.3 KB)  Click here to read and download a fact sheet on the program complete with meeting dates, times, locations and contacts. (262 KB)  Click here for a more detailed map of the Broad River Watershed (184 KB)  Click here for a detailed fact sheet on the Broad River Watershed (436 KB) 2008 Conservation Security Program Sign-Up Announced: April 18 to May 16 in 11 Northeast Georgia Counties The Natural Resources Conservation Service has announced the 2008 sign-up date for the Broad River Watershed. Counties included are: Banks, Stephens, Oglethorpe, Clarke, Habersham, Madison, Elbert, Wilkes, Lincoln, Hart, and Franklin. Some counties only have partial acreage in the watershed area. Information meetings will be held in the Broad River Watershed area. Check back to see dates, locations, and times.  More detailed information will be available on the web site soon. Click here to read the national news release Click here to read the announcement in the Federal Register. (Note that the date is incorrect in the Federal Register. It will be updated soon.) Click here to download a copy of the CSP Self-Assessment Work Book to see if you qualify for the program.

How Do I get Started?

1.  All producers must complete a self-assessment to determine their eligibility. Workbooks are available at the local NRCS offices in the watershed and also available online. By going through the workbook, producers will get a good idea about whether they are eligible for CSP at this time.  If you are not eligible for CSP, you may be eligible for other conservation programs such as the Environmental Quality Incentives Program, the Wildlife Habitat Incentives Program, the Wetlands Reserve Program, etc. 

     Producers who may not be eligible can find out about programs that can help them achieve a higher level of conservation so that they may apply for CSP in the future.

To complete the Self-Assessment on-line, go to CSP Self-Assessment. 

The workbook will help you:
            1. Determine if you meet the basic eligibility requirements,
            2. Document your stewardship work--including conservation
                practices, and
            3. Prepare a benchmark inventory documenting conservation
                treatments you have implemented.

The workbook is also available for downloading.

2.  Next, you will submit the completed workbook and CSP application to the Service Center when the program is announced.
     You may want to meet with NRCS personnel to provide any additional information that may be needed. Personnel Directory

3.  You must also have a USDA identification number which you can get from the local NRCS office.

Conservation Security Program Watersheds in Georgia

These documents require Adobe Acrobat.

CSP2006 new practices.pdf (11 KB)
CSP2006 enhancement narrative.pdf (60 KB)
Georgia News Release Announcing Sign-up (123 KB)
National News Release Announcing Sign-up (105 KB)
2005 Initial Questionnaire (69 KB)
2005 List of Information Needed  (99 KB)
2005 Water Quality Checklist  (27 KB)
2005 Pastureland Criteria Checklist  (13 KB)
2005 Enhancements Cost List  (74 KB)
2005 Stewardship Payments  (44 KB)
2005 Categories (128 KB)

2005 Conservation Security Program Maps and Fact Sheets

2005 Georgia CSP Watersheds Map (124 KB)

Ichawaynochaway Watershed Fact Sheet  (200 KB)
        Ichawaynochaway Watershed Map  (529 KB)

Kinchafoonee-Muckalee Watershed Fact Sheet  (135 KB)
        Kinchafoonee-Muckalee Watershed Map  (538 KB)

Middle Flint Watershed Fact Sheet  (138 KB)
        Middle Flint Watershed Map  (441 KB)

Upper Ochlockonee Watershed Fact Sheet  (182 KB)
        Upper Ochlockonee Watershed Map  (427 KB)
       

Little Watershed Map (110 KB)
Little Watershed State Map (132 KB)
Little Watershed Detail Map (78 KB)

CSP Brochures