Mississippi River Basin Initiative Overview

Mississippi River BasinHealthy Watersheds

Initiative (MRBI)

OVERVIEW

Thomas W. ChristensenRegional Conservationist

USDA Natural Resources Conservation Service

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MRBI Goal

• Improve the health of the Mississippi River Basin by:– Working with producers to help

them voluntarily implement conservation practices which:

• Avoid, control and trap nutrient runoff

• Restore/enhance wildlife habitat• Maintain agricultural productivity

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MRBI Funding - NRCS• NRCS will offer this Initiative

for 4 fiscal years: 2010, 2011, 2012, and 2013.

• NRCS will dedicate at least $80 million in each of these fiscal years.

• Funding is above regular program funding levels in these 12 States.

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MRBI Funding - NRCSDedicated additional financial assistance funding, by Program

• $50 million for Cooperative Conservation Partnership Initiative (CCPI)

• $25 million for Wetlands Reserve Enhancement Program (WREP)

• $5 million for Conservation Innovation Grants (CIG)

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Watersheds Focus Areas

Watershed Selection• State Technical

Committee input• Information to

consider:– CEAP data/results– SPARROW data– State-level water

quality data– Nitrogen/Phosphorus

monitoring/modeling– State-level nutrient

strategies/priorities

FocusArea

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Watershed Selection

• Requests for Proposals issued will target 12-digit HUCs within identified Focus Areas

• Leverage non-federal resources

• Conservation applied to improve water quality, wildlife habitat, and other natural resource concerns

• Ability to document results

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Summary – What is different about the MRBI?• Dedicated funding in addition to base program =

acceleration;• Focus: Resource concerns, watersheds, and

conservation practices;• Use of wetlands to complement working lands

conservation;• Partner involvement in initiative design;• Competition through RFP’s in selecting watershed

focus;• Significant partner contributions;• Additional flexibilities in CCPI not available through

ongoing programs (for EQIP, WHIP, and CSP);• Payment schedule: income forgone, acquisition of

technical knowledge, and producer training; and,• Accountability and assessment, including some funding

for edge of field monitoring.

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Request for Proposals for MRBI

• Cooperative Conservation Partnership Initiative (CCPI)

• Wetlands Reserve Enhancement Program (WREP)

• Conservation Innovation Grants (CIG)

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• The purpose of CCPI, as a part of MRBI, is to target and leverage resources to address water quality resource concerns by reducing the downstream nutrient loading of Phosphorous and Nitrogen in the Mississippi River Basin.

• Individual agricultural producers may not submit a CCPI MRBI proposal, but may apply for program benefits through EQIP, WHIP, or CSP after the NRCS Chief selects and announces a partner’s proposed project area.

Cooperative Conservation Partnership Initiative (CCPI)

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• Through CCPI-MRBI the following financial assistance amounts will be targeted in the region:– $40 million – EQIP – $5 million – WHIP – ~278,000 acres – CSP

• Projects will be implemented through existing program authorities and procedures- Partners can recommend flexibilities needed for EQIP, WHIP and CSP through project proposals.

• Potential partners must submit complete proposals to the NRCS Chief for evaluation

– The NRCS Chief will consult with the appropriate State Conservationist(s) prior to final selection and approval


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• Financial assistance for monitoring and evaluation will be piloted– 10% maximum of total financial

assistance funds in a proposal may be designated for edge-of-field monitoring through producer contracts.

– New NRCS interim practice standard for monitoring and evaluation is being developed.

– A payment schedule will be developed for cost-sharing on the monitoring and evaluation practice.

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Cooperative Conservation Partnership Initiative (CCPI)• Higher priority will be given to proposals that:

– Integrate multiple program objectives– Provide evidence of a watershed planning process– Include an effective monitoring component– Demonstrate the partner’s financial commitment and

capability to accomplish water quality monitoring– Deliver high percentages of applied conservation

practices to address water quality– Include multiple core and supporting practices from

each practice category (i.e. avoiding, controlling, and trapping)

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Wetlands Reserve Enhancement Program

(WREP)

• Under MRBI, $25 million of financial assistance funds from the WRP is targeted each fiscal year through the WREP.

• Projects will be selected through a competitive process based on applications submitted by partners.

• Projects will be implemented through existing program authorities and procedures. Wetland restoration will be designed to maximize wildlife habitat values and water quality in accordance with WRP regulations and policy.

• Projects will be implemented using wetland protection, restoration, and enhancement practices in the NRCS Field Office Technical Guide.

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(WREP) • WREP leverages resources of partners to:

– Protect, restore, and enhance high priority wetlands.– Improve wildlife habitat.– Reduce nutrient loading to achieve water quality

objectives.

• Partners encouraged to provide financial and/or technical resources for monitoring.

• Proposals that include additional partner resources, such as cost sharing for additional water quality practices, will be given greater consideration in the selection process.

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(WREP)

• Individual landowners may not submit a WREP proposal.

• Once project area has been approved and announced, eligible landowners may apply for WREP through their local NRCS office.

• WREP financial and technical assistance is delivered to eligible landowners in approved project areas through regular contracting processes.

• Approved partners may help facilitate submission of landowners’ applications.

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(WREP)• The Chief shall give a higher priority

to proposals that:– Have a high potential to achieve water

quality objectives through nutrient reduction.

– Have a high potential to significantly improve wildlife habitat.

– Significantly leverage non-Federal resources.

– Demonstrate the partner’s history of working cooperatively with landowners.

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to proposals that:– Utilize innovative methods and

outcome-based performance measures.

– Provide evidence that projects will be completed within 2 years.

– Demonstrate the partner’s financial commitment to monitoring.

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to proposals that:– Assist the participants in meeting

regulatory requirements.– Provide for evaluation of effectiveness

beyond water quality.– Provide for matching funds to assist

landowners’ implementation.– Facilitate the submission of landowner

applications.

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to proposals that:– Provide outreach to beginning,

limited resource, and socially disadvantaged farmers and ranchers and Indian Tribes.

– Integrate WREP activities with a MRBI Cooperative Conservation Partnership Initiative project area.

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CIG is a voluntary program intended to stimulate the development and adoption of innovative conservation approaches and technologies while leveraging Federal investment in environmental enhancement and protection, in conjunction with agricultural production.

Conservation Innovation Grants (CIG)

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Project EligibilityTo be eligible for CIG, projects must involve landowners who meet the EQIP eligibility requirements.

Matching FundsSelected applicants may receive CIG grants of up to 50 percent of the total project cost.


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CIG MRBI is a Component of the National CIG Request for Proposals.

For FY 2010, CIG is employing the following funding categories:

–National (up to $15 million),–Chesapeake Bay Watershed (up

to $5 million), and–Mississippi River Basin (up to $5 million).


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Awards

The maximum award amount for any project will not exceed $1 million in FY 2010. CIG will fund single- and multi-year projects, not to exceed 3 years.


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MRBI Funding Categories– Water Management– Vegetative Practices– Nutrient Management– Manure Management– Adaptive Management– Program Outreach


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Evaluation Criteria– Purpose, Approach and Goals– Innovative Technology or

Approach– Project Management– Transferability

Proposals that complement MRBI proposals under the CCPI or WREP will be given higher priority consideration in the selection process.


1) Purpose, Approach and Goals• Design and implementation of project based

on sound methodology and/or demonstrated technology.

• Promotes environmental enhancement and protection in conjunction with agricultural production.

• Project outcome is clearly measurable. • Potential for successful completion.• Both beneficial and adverse impacts are

considered and an acceptably significant level of improvement will be achieved.


2) Innovative Technology or Approach

• Project is innovative• Project conforms to the description

of innovative projects or activities in the Request for Proposal.


3) Project Management• Timeline and milestones are clear

and reasonable.• Project staff has technical expertise

needed.• Budget is adequately explained and

justified.• Experience and capacity to partner

with and gain the support of other organizations, institutions and agencies.


4) Transferability• Potential for producers and landowners to use the

innovative technology or technologies.• Potential to transfer the approach or technology

nationally or to a broader audience or other geographic or socio-economic areas, including limited resource, socially disadvantaged, and other historically underserved producers and communities.

• Potential for NRCS to successfully use the innovative approach or methods.

• Project will result in the development of technical or related technology transfer materials (technical standards, technical notes, guide sheets, handbooks, software, etc.)


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Additional Programs• Other Federal Programs

– Conservation Reserve Program (CRP)– Conservation Reserve Enhancement

Program (CREP)– EPA 319

• State and Other Partners’ Programs

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Conservation Systems Approach through Practices

• A conservation systems approach implements multiple practices and management techniques that work together to address water quality nutrient issues at the edge of farm fields.

• Practices– Core– Supporting

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Avoiding, Controlling, Trapping(ACT)

• Avoiding– Nutrient

Management• Rate, Timing,

Form, Methods

• Controlling– Residue & Tillage

Management– Drainage Water

Management• Trapping

– Buffers– Wetland designed

for nutrient removal

Trapping Controlling

Avoiding

ACT

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CORE CONSERVATION PRACTICES

AVOIDING328 - Conservation Crop Rotation340 - Cover Crop528 - Prescribed Grazing590 - Nutrient Management633 - Waste Utilization

CONTROLLING329 - Residue & Tillage Management - No Till/Strip Till330 - Contour Farming345 - Residue & Tillage Management - Mulch Till346 - Residue & Tillage Management - Ridge Till412 - Grassed Waterway512 - Pasture & Hayland Planting554 - Drainage Water Management585 - Stripcropping600 - Terrace643 - Restoration & Management of Declining Habitats645 - Upland Wildlife Habitat Management

TRAPPING332 - Contour Buffer Strips 656 - Constructed Wetland390 - Riparian Herbaceous Cover 657 - Wetland Restoration391 - Riparian Forest Buffer 658 - Wetland Creation393 - Filter Strip 659 - Wetland Enhancement601 - Vegetative Barriers 747 - Denitrifying Bioreactor635 - Vegetated Treatment Area

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SUPPORTING CONSERVATION PRACTICES

AVOIDING313 - Waste Storage Facility317 - Composting Facility327 - Conservation Cover381 - Silvopasture Establishment382 - Fence472 - Access Control511 - Forage Harvest Management558 - Roof Runoff Structure561 - Heavy Use Area Protection612 - Tree & Shrub Planting632 - Solid/Liquid Waste Separation Facility634 - Waste Transfer

CONTROLLING324 - Deep Tillage342 - Critical Area Planting362 - Diversion386 - Field Border410 - Grade Stabilization Structure430 - Irrigation Water Conveyance447 - Tailwater Recovery449 - Irrigation Water Management468 – Lined Waterway or Outlet484 - Mulching533 - Pumping Plant587 - Structure for Water Control606 - Subsurface Drainage607 - Surface Drainage620 - Underground Outlet638 - Water & Sediment Control Basin

TRAPPING342 - Critical Area Planting 533 - Pumping Plant350 - Sediment Basin 587 - Structure for Water Control356 - Dike 629 - Waste Treatment436 - Irrigation Storage Reservoir 638 - Water & Sediment Control Basin490 - Forest Site Preparation 646 - Shallow Water Development &

Management

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EQIP Conservation Activity Plans

• Comprehensive Nutrient Management Plan

• Irrigation Water Management Plan

• Drainage Water Management Plan

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Monitoring and Evaluation

Three-Tiered Approach:• Field Scale• Small Watershed Scale

(12-digit HUC)• Large Watershed Scale

(8-digit HUC)

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Monitoring and Evaluation

• NRCS is focused on “Edge of Field” monitoring and evaluation, with the primary focus for MRBI on water quality.

• NRCS is developing a practice standard for monitoring and evaluation.

Partner Participation• Submitting proposals (or partner with

groups submitting proposals) for CCPI, CIG, and WREP

• Educating the public

• Conducting outreach activities

• Committing staff to provide technical

assistance and educational activities

Partner Participation• Assisting with monitoring,

evaluation, and assessment activities

• Targeting your organization’s programs in MRBI focus areas

• Designating a point of contact for coordination and collaboration

Mississippi River Basin Healthy Watersheds Initiative

Projected Timeline

November 23 2009 Selection of Watershed Focus Areas(8-digit HUC’s)

Release Date Release of Requests for Proposals (CCPI, WREP, CIG)

60 days after release Closure of Requests for Proposals

30 days after closure Selection of Project Areas (12-digit HUC’s)

Starting 30 days after Enter into Agreements with Partners in Selection Project Areas, and Conduct signup with

Landowners/Producers

All funds obligated by Obligate funds through Agreements and September 1 Contracts; Begin Conservation Practice

Implementation

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Questions?

Follow-up questions can be sent to

Aaron Lauster

Acting MRBI coordinator

[email protected] or 202-

690-0318

mailto:[email protected]

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EEO StatementThe 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) 720-2600 (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. 20250-9410 or

call (800) 795-3272 (voice) or (202) 720-6382 (TDD). USDA is an equal opportunity

provider and employer.