1. Regional Conservation Partnership Program (RCPP)

2. RCPP is a new regional program that: Furthers the conservation, restoration, and sustainable use of soil, water, and wildlife on a regional scale. Encourages partners to cooperate with producers. Provides assistance through: Partnership agreements Program contracts or easement agreements Combines and replaces the purposes and functions of: Agricultural Water Enhancement Program (AWEP) Chesapeake Bay Watershed Program (CBWP) Cooperative Conservation Partnership Initiative (CCPI) Great Lakes Basin Program for Erosion and Sediment Control 2 RCPP – Regional Conservation Partnership Program

3. RCPP program contracts and easement agreements with producers are implemented through covered programs: –Agricultural Conservation Easement Program (ACEP) –Environmental Quality Incentives Program (EQIP) –Conservation Stewardship Program (CStP) –Healthy Forests Reserve Program (HFRP) 3 RCPP

4. Eligible lands and partners for RCPP Eligible land includes: –cropland, grassland, rangeland, pastureland, nonindustrial forest land, other land incidental to agricultural production (wetlands, buffers etc.). Eligible partners may include: –agricultural producer associations, silvicultural producer associations, groups of producers, State or units of local governments, Indian tribes, farmer cooperatives, water districts, irrigation districts, rural water districts, municipal water or wastewater treatment entities, conservation-driven nongovernmental organizations, institutions of higher education. 4

5. 5 More Partners bring innovation, new ideas, resources and local expertise to solve problems

6. Examples of eligible conservation activities include: Water quality restoration or enhancement projects, including nutrient management and sediment reduction. Water quantity conservation, restoration or enhancement projects relating to surface or groundwater resources including; –the conversion of irrigated cropland to the production of less water-intensive commodities, dry land farming –irrigation system improvement Drought mitigation Flood prevention 6

7. Examples of eligible conservation activities include: Water retention; Air Quality improvement; Habitat conservation, restoration, and enhancement; Erosion control and sediment reduction; Forest restoration, and; Easement acquisition activities associated with wetland restoration and protection or the preservation of working agricultural lands. 7

8. NRCS may give higher priority to proposals that: Deliver high percentages of applied conservation to address conservation priorities or local, State, regional, or national conservation initiatives. Significantly leverage non-Federal financial and technical resources and coordinate with other local, State, regional, or national efforts. Provide innovation in conservation methods and delivery. Assist producers in meeting or avoiding the need for a natural resource regulatory requirement. 8

9. Agricultural Conservation Easement Program (ACEP) and Easement Provisions Under RCPP, both components of ACEP are available:  ACEP-Agricultural Land Easements (ALE), and  ACEP-Wetlands Reserve Easements (WRE) 9

10. ACEP-Agricultural Land Easements (ALE) For Agricultural Land Easements, RCPP offers the option for an eligible entity to submit a proposal to enter into a cooperative agreement for specific parcels to be considered for funding or for a partner to propose a partnership agreement that could lead to cooperative agreements and enrollments with other eligible entities. RCPP allows partners the flexibility to propose non-standard agreement and deed terms. These terms are subject to NRCS approval. 10 Agricultural Conservation Easement Program (ACEP) and Easement Provisions

11. ACEP-Wetlands Reserve Easements (WRE) The ACEP-WRE includes a Wetland Reserve Enhancement Option that is similar to Wetland Reserve Enhancement Program (WREP) previously available under the Wetlands Reserve Program (WRP). Under RCPP, partners may submit a proposal to enter into an agreement under the Wetland Reserve Enhancement Option of ACEP-WRE. 11 Agricultural Conservation Easement Program (ACEP) and Easement Provisions

12. Healthy Forest Reserve Program (HFRP) HFRP is a covered program under RCPP Proposals for HFRP projects are not limited to areas previously approved for HFRP. 12 Agricultural Conservation Easement Program (ACEP) and Easement Provisions

13. RCPP Vision RCPP offers new opportunities for NRCS to work with partners to encourage: Locally driven innovation; Create high-performing solutions; Harness innovation; Accelerate the conservation mission; Launch bold ideas, and; Demonstrate the value and efficacy of voluntary, private lands conservation. All projects will be equally evaluated, regardless of size. 13

14. Partnership Agreements NRCS will conduct a competitive process to select applications for partnership agreements. The criteria used in evaluating project proposals is listed in the APF and will be on the website. Multistate projects will have a lead state selected for each project to develop and enter into the partnership agreements, using a national template. 14

15. Partnership Agreements: Partnership agreements may not exceed 5 years; however, NRCS may extend the agreement one time for up to 12 months. The partnership agreement defines the scope of the project, including: –Eligible activities to be implemented; –Potential agricultural or nonindustrial private forest operation affected; –Local, State, multi-State or other geographic area covered, and; –Planning, outreach, implementation and assessment to be conducted. 15

16. Partners are responsible for: Contributing a significant portion of the overall costs; Providing outreach and education to eligible producers for potential participation in the project. Acting on a landowner’s or producer’s behalf, if requested by the landowner or producer in applying for assistance. Leveraging financial or technical assistance provided by NRCS with additional funds to help achieve the project objectives. Conducting and providing an assessment of the project costs and conservation effects. 16

17. Applications Applicants must identify one specific funding pool in which to compete in accordance with the criteria established in the notice. Project areas may be defined by geo-political boundaries, watershed boundaries, agricultural land uses, or regional natural resource concerns. The project area does not need to be contiguous, but the geographic boundaries need to be described. The project must address at least one identified priority.

18. Measures of Success For this new flagship program, NRCS will specifically measure environmental successes through the following four criteria: 1. Solutions 2. Contributions 3. Innovation 4. Participation 18

19. 1. Solutions. NRCS will invest in projects that generate near-term results that are measurable from environmental, economic, and social perspectives. Both partners and NRCS staff will be involved with documenting the outcomes of these conservation investments. 19 Measures of Success

20. 2. Contributions. NRCS specifically will promote leveraging of other Federal and non-federal resources. The Agency’s goal is to at least double the total investment in conservation, including cash and in-kind contributions from both Federal and non-Federal sources. 20 Measures of Success

21. 3. Innovation. NRCS will select innovative projects that integrate multiple conservation approaches to deliver comprehensive and measurable solutions. 21 Measures of Success

22. 4. Participation. NRCS will seek to maximize the number of organizations that participate in and contribute to projects as compared with predecessor programs (such as the Cooperative Conservation Partnership Initiative). 22 Measures of Success

23. Ranking Ranking Criteria Weight Solutions25% Contributions30% Innovation20% Participation25% A ranking sheet with weighted criteria is being developed and will be used by states for the state reviews.

24. RCPP Funding: 24 $100 million each year directly from the Farm Bill Also, by reserving 7% of funds from the four covered programs (ACEP, CStP, EQIP, HFRP) reserved annually through April 1st Over five years, USDA plans to invest up to $1.2 billion with partners matching funding that could be as much as $2.4 billion for conservation

25. Allocates funding by: 40% for projects based on a national competitive process; 25% for a state competitive process administered by the State Conservationist, and; 35% for projects in critical conservation areas. 25

26. National Funding Pool Priority will be given to multistate projects. National priorities for FY 2014/2015: 1.Water quantity; 2.Water quality; 3.Soil health; 4.At risk species habitat, and; 5.Air quality. 26

27. State Funding Pool Applications must address at least one National or State identified priority resource concern Applications for State funding pool must be geographically located entirely within Nebraska. 27

28. Priority Resource Concerns for Nebraska Degraded Plant Condition –Undesirable plant productivity and health –Inadequate structure and composition –Excessive plant pest pressure –Wildfire hazard, excessive biomass accumulation Livestock Production Limitation –Inadequate water –Inadequate feed and forage –Inadequate shelter Fish and Wildlife – Inadequate Habitat –Inadequate cover/shelter –Inadequate food –Inadequate habitat continuity (space) –Inadequate water Excess/Insufficient Water –Inefficient use of irrigation water –Inefficient moisture management –Ponding, flooding, drifted snow Water Quality Degradation –Excessive sediment in surface water –Salts in surface and ground water –Pesticides & Nutrients in surface and ground water Soil Erosion –Sheet and rill erosion –Wind erosion –Classic and Ephemeral gully erosion 28

29. Priority Resource Concerns for Nebraska Soil Quality Degradation –Organic matter depletion –Compaction –Concentration of salts or other chemicals –Subsidence: Loss of volume and depth of organic soils Inefficient Energy Use –Equipment and Facilities –Farming/Ranching practices and field operations Air Quality Impacts –Emissions of Particulate Matter (dust & smoke) –Emissions of Greenhouse Gases –Emissions of Ozone Precursors –Objectionable Odors 29

30. Critical Conservation Areas Allows Secretary to select up to 8 critical conservation areas Priority consideration given to geographical areas which: –Include multiple States with significant ag production –Have an existing agreement or work plans –Benefit water quality improvement –Benefit water quantity improvement –Assist producers to meet natural resource regulatory requirements Allows for both Partnership Agreements and for assistance to producers and landowner outside selected partner project areas 30

31. Critical Conservation Areas 1.Great Lakes Region (IL, IN, MI, MN, NY, PA,OH, WI) 2.Chesapeake Bay Watershed (DE, MD, NY, PA, VA,WV) 3.Mississippi River Basin (AR, KY, IA, IL, IN, LA, MN, MS, OH, SD,TN, WI) 4.Longleaf Pine Range (AL, FL, GA, LA, MS, NC, SC, TX,VA) 5.Columbia River Basin (ID, OR, WA) 6.California Bay Delta (CA) 7.Prairie Grasslands Region (CO, KS, IA,MO, MN, MT, ND, NE, NM, OK, SD, TX, WY) 8.Colorado River Basin (AZ, CA,CO, NM, NV, UT, WY) 31

32. 32

33. Prairie Grasslands Region CCA Resource Concern Priorities – Degraded Plant Condition: Excessive Plant Pest Pressure –Insufficient Water: Inefficient use of irrigation water –Excess Water: Runoff, Flooding or Ponding –Inadequate Habitat for Fish and Wildlife: Habitat degradation 33

34. Additional Program Provisions Allows the Secretary to waive Average Gross Income (AGI) if needed to fulfill purposes of the program. Allows adjustments to discretionary rules of covered program with the Secretary’s approval, if requested by a partner. No funding may be used to cover partner administrative costs. 34 RCPP

35. NRCS is now accepting proposals for RCPP The announcement for program funding can be found on grants.gov. More information on the APF and the program can be found at nrcs.usda.gov 35

36. Announcement of Program Funding (APF) DEPARTMENT OF AGRICULTURE ANNOUNCEMENT TYPE: Announcement for Program Funding AGENCY: Natural Resources Conservation Service (NRCS) and Commodity Credit Corporation (CCC) Catalog of Federal Domestic Assistance (CFDA) Number: 10.930 The purpose of this notice is to announce the availability of nearly $400 million in CCC funding for RCPP and to solicit applications from potential partners who seek to enter into partnership agreements with NRCS under RCPP. 36

37. RCPP APF Timeline May 27, 2014: Announcement of Program Funding (APF) through grants.gov. July 14, 2014 : Pre-proposal applications are due July 28, 2014: Announcement of selected pre-proposals. Partners are notified of acceptance and need to submit full proposal September 26, 2014: Full proposal applications due. October 17, 2014: Announcement of selected full proposals. October 30, 2014: All project agreements are signed. Once agreements are signed, partnership activities and obligations may begin. 37

38. Additional Resources Provided on the USDA-NRCS website (www.nrcs.usda.gov)www.nrcs.usda.gov Information on Critical Conservation Areas –Maps, background, priority resource concerns, selection process Information on State priorities and processes and links to State websites. Agreement template (may be multiple types). Examples of high performing partner agreements from Cooperative Conservation Partnership Initiative (CCPI) and Agricultural Water Enhancement Program (AWEP). Information on watershed- and regional-scale conservation planning, cost-benefit analysis, and water quality monitoring. 38

39. Unique to RCPP Adjustments of Terms –The rules of a covered program that may be adjusted include non-statutory, regulatory rules or provisions. Alternative Funding Arrangements –with multistate water resource agencies or authorities to deliver technical assistance (TA) and financial assistance (FA). Direct Technical Assistance Funds to Partners –through alternative funding arrangements or in partnership agreements.

40. 40 Questions?

41. "The U.S. Department of Agriculture (USDA) prohibits discrimination in all of 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, political beliefs, genetic information, reprisal, or because all or 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) 720-2600 (voice and TDD)." To file a complaint of discrimination, write to USDA, Assistant Secretary for Civil Rights, Office of the Assistant Secretary for Civil Rights, 1400 Independence Avenue, S.W., Stop 9410, Washington, DC 20250-9410, or call toll-free at (866) 632-9992 (English) or (800) 877-8339 (TDD) or (866) 377-8642 (English Federal-relay) or (800) 845-6136 (Spanish Federal-relay). USDA is an equal opportunity provider and employer. 41