Alexandria, July 13, 2010 – Farmers and ranchers in portions of
Acadia, Calcasieu, Cameron, Iberia, Jefferson Davis, St. Landry, St. Martin, and
St. Mary Parishes, as well as all of Lafayette and Vermilion Parishes will
benefit from a recently funded initiative to improve the habitat for wetland
dependant wildlife in Louisiana’s coastal wetlands.
Louisiana’s “Working Wetlands” Cooperative Conservation Partnership Initiative (CCPI)
was recently funded, along with 25 other CCPI projects in 15 states. The Working
Wetlands CCPI project offers opportunities for landowners to implement various
enhancement activities that fit within their working operation, and at the same
time, provide multiple habitat types for a variety of wetland dependent wildlife
species.
Farmers and ranchers located in the ten-parish Working Wetland CCPI area may now
apply through their local NRCS office for financial and technical assistance.
These farmers and ranchers can use this assistance to address conservation
priorities; meet federal, state, and local regulatory requirements related to
production; cooperate to install and maintain conservation practices; and
develop and demonstrate innovative conservation practices and delivery methods.
Working Wetlands-CCPI Timeline and Eligibility
|
Timeline:
July 9 - August 13 |
Application Cut-off |
August 13 - August 20 |
Applications Processed in CMT |
August 23 |
State
Office Notification of Pre-Approval |
August 23 - August 30 |
Field
Verification, Contract Development, and Obligation |
Eligibility:
In addition to normal CSP eligibility requirements, to
be eligible for the “Working Wetland” CSP CCPI, applicants must enroll
in at least one of the following enhancements:
-
ANM01 – Drainage Water Management for seasonal
wildlife habitat
-
ANM02 – Defer crop production on temporary and
seasonal wetlands
-
ANM12 -Shallow water habitat
In addition to one or more of the above enhancements,
all other enhancements offered in 2010 CSP are also eligible. |
Click on map for full screen version in PDF format which requires Adobe Acrobat.
![Map of Project Area (PDF; 178 KB)](LA_Location_12_Digit_HUC_Web.jpg) |
Through this initiative, a partnership of federal, state, and non-government
organizations will provide assistance to rice and crawfish producers within the
project area to encourage management of fields as necessary to promote habitat
for migrating and resident birds.
“Rice and crawfish farms are a major part of Louisiana’s coastal landscape,”
said Kevin Norton, State Conservationist for the Natural Resources Conservation
Service. “The same fields used to produce crops also support migrant and
resident water birds. The Working Wetlands CCPI will help landowners improve
their fields to meet life cycle requirements of these birds.”
Dr. Steve Linscombe, Director of the LSU AgCenter Rice Research Station, said
the initiative has been under development for at least two years, and the
development of the proposal was spearheaded by Dr. Johnny Saichuk, LSU AgCenter
Rice Specialist, and Dr. Ernest Girouard, Director of the LSU AgCenter Master
Farmer Program. He said the Louisiana Rice Growers Association approached the
LSU AgCenter for help with working out details to present to the Natural
Resources Conservation Service.
"This initiative would not have come about without the diligence and
perseverance of many people including, but not limited to, Johnny Saichuk, Ernest
Girouard, and Jeff Durand, former chairman of the Louisiana Rice Producers
Association," Linscombe said.
Working Wetlands CCPI partners include the USDA Natural Resources Conservation
Service, LSU AgCenter, Louisiana Department of Wildlife and Fisheries, Louisiana
Master Farmer Program, and the Gulf Coast Joint Venture. These partners will
implement the Working Wetlands CCPI using the existing Conservation Stewardship
Program (CSP).
This week’s Working Wetlands CCPI announcement comes on the heels of a roll-out
of another partnership effort to enhance habitat for migratory birds—the
Migratory Bird Habitat Initiative. While the initiatives are similar in that
both programs develop habitat for migrating birds, there are differences in the
initiatives. Differences include participating geographic regions, payment
rates, and length of projects.
Watershed Map for the Working Wetlands
CCPI Area
|
Click on map for full screen version in PDF format which requires Adobe Acrobat. |
![Watershed Map (PDF; 815 KB)](Selected_12_Digit_Watersheds_Web.jpg) |
Additional information about specific CCPI projects and NRCS
programs is available at
www.nrcs.usda.gov/programs or a
local USDA NRCS
office.
NRCS is celebrating 75 years of helping people help the land. Since 1935, the
NRCS conservation delivery system has advanced a unique partnership with state
and local governments and private landowners delivering conservation based on
specific, local conservation needs, while accommodating state and national
interests.
Last Modified:
08/15/2012
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