U.S. D EPARTMENT OF A GRICULTURE N ATURAL R ESOURCES C ONSERVATION S ERVICE Kris Graham Chavez Assistant State Conservationist for Programs NRCS New Mexico

The Soil Conservation Service (SCS) resulted from troubled times – the Dust Bowl days of the 1930s. Dust storms ravaged the Nation’s farmland, stripping away millions of tons of topsoil Origin of NRCS

Hugh Hammond Bennett was the first Chief of the SCS Created in 1933 as Soil Erosion Service and in April 1935 became Soil Conservation Service Began its relationship with farmers and ranchers more than 80 years ago In 1994, we became the Natural Resources Conservation Service (NRCS) Origin of NRCS

Our Mission & Purpose We help America’s farmers and ranchers conserve the Nation’s soil, water, air and other natural resources. We are skilled professionals with a passion for conservation All programs are voluntary and offer science-based solutions that benefit both the landowner and the environment

70% of the U.S. land base is privately owned Offices in almost every county of the United States The majority of our 11,000+ employees live and work in America’s rural communities Budget of more than $4.5 billion in 2014 Overview

NRCS Field Offices

Soil Science Soil Conservation Agronomy Biology Range Science Forestry Engineering Geology Hydrology Cultural Resources Geographic Information Science Economics Who We Are NRCS employs professionals to provide technical assistance in the following disciplines

What We Do Participation in programs and services is voluntary Provide technical assistance to landowners Provide financial assistance for many conservation practices Administer conservation programs Work closely with partners for maximum assistance to customers

Farmers and ranchers are the majority of our customers Over 70% of U.S. land is privately owned – even higher with state- and trust-owned lands. Small landowners are a growing customer focus Conservation on any private land provides public benefits Our Customers

All Program Assistance Starts with Conservation Technical Assistance (CTA) Conservation Technical Assistance (CTA)

Field-based scientific inventory of soil resources Developed for people to consider soil behavior and capacity when making ag, urban, or industrial decisions Soil Survey

Since 1935, NRCS has conducted snow surveys and issued regular water supply forecasts NRCS installs, operates and maintains its SNOTEL system to collect snowpack & climatic data in the Western U.S. & Alaska. Snow Survey & Water Supply Forecast

Plant Materials Centers Plant Materials Centers (PMCs) around the Nation have developed over 600 conservation plant types of grasses, legumes, forbs, shrubs, and trees.

Emergency Watershed Protection (EWP) Wildfire has its own “season” in New Mexico – immediate impacts include loss of homes – devastation of wildlife habitat – loss of vegetation – change in the landscape The Natural Resources Conservation Service (NRCS) is prepared to mobilize resources to protect the land and people from the aftermath of fires The process used is called Emergency Watershed Protection (EWP) Program

Emergency Watershed Protection (EWP) EWP provides technical and financial assistance to relieve imminent hazards to life and property caused by floods, fires, windstorms, and other natural occurrences EWP is designed to resolve imminent hazards to life and property caused by fires and other natural disasters NRCS may follow the assessment with EWP construction cost sharing depending upon a number of circumstances, including the availability of funds

Emergency Watershed Protection (EWP) All EWP work must reduce threats to life and property Must be economically and environmentally defensible and sound from an engineering standpoint All work must present the least expensive, and generally restore the area to pre-disaster conditions

Emergency Watershed Protection (EWP) EWP work is not limited to any one set of prescribed measures Following a case-by-case investigation of the work needed, EWP funds may be used to: – remove debris from stream channels – stabilize road culverts and bridges if life or property is threatened – reshape and protect eroded banks – correct damaged drainage facilities – stabilize levees and structures – re-vegetate damaged areas (if needed), and – purchase floodplain easements on lands subject to frequent flooding

Emergency Watershed Protection (EWP) Our first task is to assess the damage to the watershed: – Immediate threat of flooding is real – Determine if vegetative cover is burned and not present unable to hold back torrential monsoon rains – Assess the size of watershed to determine its capacity to generate large volumes of water – Evaluate soil permeability and depth

Emergency Watershed Protection (EWP) The intensity of the burn is assessed – low intensity fires generally regenerate vegetation without special treatment – high intensity burns often respond more quickly when reseeded and mulched The Slope Factor – the steeper and longer the slope, the greater the risk from soil erosion and drainage problems – local climate and the potential for "gully- washers“ must be considered

Emergency Watershed Protection (EWP) EWP work must be sponsored by a public agency of the state, tribal, county, or city government Conservation or other special districts may sponsor the work Public and private landowners are eligible for assistance but this work must be part of the project proposed by the sponsor

Emergency Watershed Protection (EWP) Through EWP, NRCS reduces the imminent threat to life and property by providing assistance to prevent further damage from flooding, runoff, and erosion This assistance protects homes, businesses, and other properties from further damage during subsequent storms NRCS can typically pay up to 75 percent of construction costs of eligible emergency treatments – The remaining 25 percent must come from local sources in the form of cash or in-kind services

Emergency Watershed Protection (EWP) Up to 90% cost share is allowed in limited resource counties where: – (i) Housing values are less than 75 percent of the State housing value average (currently tied to the 2000 Census of Population and Housing value for New Mexico, $69,800); and – (ii) Per capita income is 75 percent or less than the National per capita income (currently tied to the 2000 Census of Population and Housing value of $21,587); and

Emergency Watershed Protection (EWP) – (iii) Unemployment is at least twice the U.S. average over the past 3 years based upon the annual unemployment figures (available from the US Department of Commerce, Bureau of Labor and Statistics, Local Area Unemployment Statistics (LAUS) program)

Emergency Watershed Protection (EWP) Can repair damages during/after an emergency such as floods, tornadoes, and fires Provides technical and financial assistance to communities for restoring watersheds damaged by natural or human-caused disasters after Before After

Emergency Watershed Protection (EWP) For additional information about EWP in New Mexico contact: – Kris Graham Chavez, NRCS New Mexico EWP Program Manager, at (505) , or or – Brian Schwebke, State Conservation Engineer, at (505) or

Major NRCS Conservation Programs Environmental Quality Incentives Program (EQIP ) Conservation Stewardship Program (CStP) Regional Conservation Partnership Program (RCPP) Agriculture Conservation Program (ACEP)

Environmental Quality Incentives Program (EQIP) Producers receive financial and technical assistance with conservation practices that improve soil, water, plant, animal, and air quality on agricultural land FY 2014 Total $964 million 20 million acres 45,557 farmers & ranchers

Every NRCS field office Receives EQIP funds Local work groups help establish local resource concerns Some funds are kept at the state-level for statewide funding Seasonal High Tunnels Organic & Transitioning Organic Animal Feeding Operations Watersheds How EQIP Funds are Used

Wildlife Habitat Incentives Program (WHIP) Develops, improves wildlife habitat on private, Tribal land 2014 Farm Bill moves WHIP under EQIP

Conservation Stewardship Program (CSP) A voluntary conservation program that encourages producers to address resource concerns in a comprehensive manner by: Undertaking additional conservation activities Improving, maintaining, and managing existing conservation activities

Total dollars: $780 million Total acres: 12 million Total participants: 45,540 FY 2014 Conservation Stewardship Program (CSP)

Easement Programs Protect land from development or other non-industrial uses Provide corridors for wildlife and improve environmental quality Help maintain agricultural community integrity

Easement Programs (FY14) Grassland Reserve Program (GRP) $858,645 59,184 acres 42 participants Farm & Ranch Lands Protection Program (FRPP) $328 million+ 116,011 acres 344 participants Wetlands Reserve Program (WRP) $575 million 96,087 acres 575 participants

Technical Service Providers (TSP) Using outside services to assist in the delivery of conservation programs Certified Technical Service Providers receive payment from USDA, or directly from the landowner for services provided The Farm Bill provides too much opportunity for NRCS to do all the work

NRCS Program Responsibilities ??? Water Quality Initiat Work Lands for WL Air Quality Initiative Energy InitiativeEnergy Audit High Tunnel InitHigh Tunnel Initiati Ogallala InitiativeWater Qual Initiative CStPLesser P ChickenAir Qual Init CSPCStPEnergy Initiative Sage GrouseCSPHigh Tunnel Init Organic InitSage GrouseOgallala Init CCPIOrganic InitLesser P Chicken AWEPCCPICStP ARRAAWEPCSP HFRPARRASage Grouse GRP HFRPOrganic Init CIG GRPCCPI TSP CIGAWEP SWCA TSPARRA AMA SWCACIG Dam Rehab AMATSP CWA Plan Dam RehabSWCA AFO/CAFO CWA PlanAMA FRPP AFO/CAFODam Rehab ACPWHIP FRPPCWA Plan Dam RehabEQIP WHIPAFO/CAFO CWA PlanCCRP EQIP WRP CCRP Tribal Lands WRPEasement Program CRP Tribal Lands Swampbuster CRP ACPSodbuster Swampbuster RC&D Sodbuster RAMP Soil Survey PMC Watersheds LTAECP CRBSCP Snow Survey EWP GPCP GLCI CTA 15,16713,61213,51911,83911,44312,34611,22711,93111,453 ???

T HANK Y OU The U.S. Department of Agriculture (USDA) prohibits discrimination in all its programs and activities on the basis of race, color, national origin, age, disability, and where applicable, sex, marital status, familial status, parental status, religion, sexual orientation, genetic information, political beliefs, reprisal, or because all or a part of an individual's income is derived from any public assistance program (not all prohibited bases apply to all programs). Persons with disabilities who require alternative means for communication of program information (Braille, large print, audiotape, etc.) should contact USDA's TARGET Center at (202) (voice and TDD). To file a complaint of discrimination write to USDA, Director, Office of Civil Rights, 1400 Independence Avenue, S.W., Washington, D.C or call (800) (voice) or (202) (TDD). USDA is an equal opportunity provider and employer. For more information: