California Receives Nearly $1 Million for Conservation Partnership Projects

DAVIS, Calif., June 10, 2011 /PRNewswire-USNewswire/ -- The USDA Natural Resources Conservation Service (NRCS) California State Office received nearly $1 million to fund three projects through the Cooperative Conservation Partnership Initiative (CCPI).  The projects will assist farmers and ranchers achieve natural resource benefits such as clean water, forest health and abundant wildlife.

"We are excited that these funds will now be available to Butte and Sutter County growers to implement conservation practices that will benefit the Lower Feather River/Honcut Creek Watershed.  We deeply value our close partnership with the NRCS and will continue to look for ways to strengthen that relationship for even more effective resource conservation," said Steve Troester, Butte County Resource Conservation District (BCRCD) manager.

The BCRCD was selected to receive $500,000 to help producers implement proven conservation practices that will maximize water savings and reduce offsite runoff of pesticides, water-borne sediment, and nutrients that can impair water quality.  

The South Coast Resource Conservation and Development Council (SCRC&D) was selected to receive $194,000 to reduce the risk of catastrophic wildfire, and improve burn area restoration and brush management in forested areas and the wild urban interface in Southern California.

"A direct benefit of this work will be endangered habitat that will be enhanced and protected. We are positive that this will be an investment in our future," said Scott Murphy, president of SCRC&D.

In addition, the Lomakatsi Restoration Project was selected to receive $446,000 to provide financial benefits to producers who install conservation practices that protect, enhance and restore declining oak habitats in the Central Umpqua-Mid Klamath regions.  This funding will be shared between NRCS California and Oregon.

CCPI works through three existing NRCS programs - the Environmental Quality Incentives Program (EQIP), the Conservation Stewardship Program (CSP) and the Wildlife Habitat Incentive Program (WHIP) - to leverage additional services and resources from non-federal partners.

Interested farmers and ranchers, within the approved CCPI project locations, may begin to contact their local NRCS office to apply for conservation practices covered by these projects.  For more information on the project goals and boundaries, contact your local NRCS field office. For a listing of offices statewide see http://offices.sc.egov.usda.gov/locator/app?state=CA.

The Natural Resources Conservation Service provides leadership in a partnership effort to help

people conserve, maintain and improve our natural resources and environment.

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SOURCE USDA Natural Resources Conservation Service