Conservation Programs in Arizona

Updated 3/28/2008

The Natural Resources Conservation Service (NRCS) in Arizona administers a broad range of programs to assist landowners, communities, and tribal nations with conserving and protecting natural resources while promoting sustainable economic development.  All conservation programs are voluntary and provide such incentives as technical and cost-sharing assistance for planning and implementing conservation systems.  Some programs provide rental payments for placing eligible lands into conservation easements.

The links below provide a brief description of each conservation program and a state contact. You may also wish to visit the National NRCS Programs page to obtain additional information.

Program List

• Conservation Innovation Grants
• Conservation Reserve Program
• Conservation Security Program
• Conservation Technical Assistance
• Cooperative Conservation Partnership Initiative
• Emergency Watershed Protection Program
• Environmental Quality Incentives Program
• Farm and Ranch Land Protection Program
• National Resources Inventory
• Plant Materials Program
• Resource Conservation and Development Program
• Snow Survey and Water Supply Forecasting Program
• Soil Survey Program
• Watershed Protection and Flood Preventing Program
• Watershed Rehabilitation Program
• Wetlands Reserve Program
• Wildlife Habitat Incentives Program

Conservation Innovation Grants

Conservation Innovation Grants (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. Under CIG, Environmental Quality Incentives Program funds are used to award competitive grants to non-Federal governmental or non-governmental organizations, Tribes, or individuals. CIG will benefit agricultural producers by providing more options for environmental enhancement and compliance with Federal, State, and local regulations.

Conservation Innovation Grants
Conservation Innovation Grants Awarded in Arizona

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Conservation Reserve Program

The Conservation Reserve Program (CRP) provides assistance to

• reduce soil erosion

• protect the Nation's ability to produce food and fiber

• reduce sedimentation in streams and lakes

• improve water quality, establish wildlife habitat

• enhance forest and wetland resources.

The program encourages farmers to convert highly erodible cropland or other environmentally sensitive acreage to vegetative cover (i.e., native grasses, wildlife plantings, trees, filterstrips, or riparian buffers). Farmers receive an annual rental payment for the term of the multi-year contract. Cost sharing is provided to establish vegetative cover practices.

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Conservation Security Program

The Conservation Security Program (CSP) provides financial and technical assistance for the conservation, protection, and improvement of our natural resources on Tribal and private lands. The program provides payments for producers who practice good stewardship on their agricultural lands and incentives for those who want to do more.

Arizona CSP Information
   2008 CSP Watershed - Agua Fria River Watershed
   2008 CSP Payment Schedule
   Application Package information
National CSP Information
 

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Conservation Technical Assistance

The Conservation Technical Assistance program provides technical assistance to landowners, communities, units of state and local government, tribal nations, and other federal agencies in planning and implementing conservation systems. This assistance helps people voluntarily conserve, improve and sustain natural resources on cropland, rangeland, wildlife land, urban areas, and other land uses.

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Cooperative Conservation Partnership Initiative

Cooperative Conservation Partnership Initiative (CCPI) is a voluntary program established to foster conservation partnerships that focus technical and financial resources on conservation priorities in watersheds and airsheds of special significance. Under CCPI, funds are awarded to State and local governments and agencies; Indian tribes; and non-governmental organizations with a history of working with agricultural producers.

Cooperative Conservation Partnership Initiative

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Emergency Watershed Protection Program

Following a natural disaster (flood, wildfire, drought), the Emergency Watershed Protection (EWP) program helps remove remaining erosion and flooding threats to life and property. NRCS evaluates each request for assistance on a case-by-case basis to determine eligibility.

EWP recovery consists of conservation measures to retard runoff, prevent flooding, or reduce soil erosion. The work can include such measures as:

• removing debris from stream channels and bridges

• reshaping and protecting eroded banks

• repairing levees and structures, reseeding damaged areas

• purchasing floodplain easements.

NRCS provides up to 75 percent of the cost of construction. Sponsors pay the remaining costs.

EWP Emergency Recovery Plan and

EWP Project Status and Success Stories.

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Environmental Quality Incentives Program

The Environmental Quality Incentives Program (EQIP) addresses locally identified natural resource problems. High priority is given to assistance where agricultural improvements will help meet National objectives. EQIP enables NRCS to offer contracts that provide incentive payments and cost sharing for conservation practices, such as:

• water conservation

• animal waste management systems

• erosion control

• other practices to improve and maintain the health of natural resources and the environment.

2008 EQIP Sign-up and Application Information.

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Farm and Ranchland Protection Program

The Farm and Ranchland Protection Program provides up to 50% of the funds necessary to purchase development rights in order to keep productive farmland in use. NRCS partners with the State, Tribes, local government entities, or non-governmental organizations to acquire conservation easements from landowners. Eligible land includes cropland, rangeland, grassland, pastureland, and forestland that is part of an agricultural operation AND has:

• land with prime, unique, or other productive soil or,

• land designated by State, local, or Tribal governments to be state or locally important farmland (with State Conservationist and Secretary concurrence) or,

• land that contains historical or archaeological resources.

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National Resources Inventory

The National Resources Inventory (NRI) is a statistically-based sample of land use and natural resource conditions and trends on U.S. nonfederal lands. It is the most comprehensive database of its kind ever attempted anywhere in the world. The Natural Resources Conservation Service’s program for NRI serves as the Federal Government’s principal source of information on the status, condition, and trends of soil, water, and related resources in the United States.

Arizona data are collected at five-year intervals in a continual inventory process at more than 8,000 locations. The data are analyzed and made available through published reports.

NRI Website.

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Plant Materials Program

The Plant Materials Program provides native plants that can help solve natural resource problems. Beneficial uses for which plant material may be developed include:

• biomass production

• carbon sequestration

• erosion reduction

• wetland restoration

• water quality improvement

• streambank and riparian area protection

• coastal dune stabilization

• other special conservation treatment needs.

Scientists at the Plant Materials Centers seek out plants that show promise for meeting an identified conservation need and test the plant performance. After species are proven, they are released to the private sector for commercial production. Work is carried out cooperatively with state and federal agencies, commercial businesses, and seed and nursery associations.

Tucson Plant Materials Center

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Resource Conservation & Development Program

The Resource Conservation and Development (RC&D) program purpose is to:

• accelerate the conservation, development and use of natural resources

• improve the general level of economic activity

• enhance the environment and standard of living in designated RC&D areas.

The program:

• Improves the capability of state, tribal and local units of government and local nonprofit organizations in rural areas to plan, develop and carry out programs for resource conservation and development

• Establishes or improves coordination systems in rural areas

Current program objectives focus on improving quality of life achieved through natural resources conservation and community development, leading to sustainable communities, prudent use (development), and the management and conservation of natural resources. RC&D areas are locally sponsored areas designated by the Secretary of Agriculture for RC&D technical and financial assistance program funds.

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Snow Survey and Water Supply Forecasting Program

The Snow Survey and Water Supply Forecasting program provides western states with information on future water supplies. NRCS field staff collect and analyze data on depth and water equivalent of the snowpack at more than 1,200 mountain sites and estimate annual water availability, spring runoff, and summer streamflows. Individuals, organizations, and state and federal agencies use these forecasts for decisions relating to:

• agricultural production

• fish and wildlife management

• municipal and industrial water supply

• urban development

• flood control

• recreation power generation

• water quality management.

Snow Survey Website

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Soil Survey Program

The National Cooperative Soil Survey (NCSS) is a nationwide partnership of Federal, regional, State, Tribe, and local agencies and institutions. This partnership works together to cooperatively investigate, inventory, document, classify, and interpret soils and to disseminate, publish, and promote the use of soils information. The Natural Resources Conservation Service (NRCS) provides federal leadership and coordination of NCSS activities.

Soils Website

 

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Watershed Protection and Flood Prevention Program

The Watershed Protection and Flood Prevention program assists Federal, State, local agencies, local government sponsors, Tribal governments, and program participants in:

• protecting and restoring watersheds from damage caused by erosion, floodwater, and sediment

• conserving and developing water and land resources

• solving natural resource and related economic problems on a watershed basis.

Authorized by the Watershed Protection and Flood Prevention Act (P.L. 83-566), the program provides technical and financial assistance to project sponsors, builds partnerships, and requires local and state funding contribution.

In watersheds of 250,000 or fewer acres, resource concerns addressed include:

• watershed protection and flood prevention

• erosion and sediment control

• water supply, quality and conservation

• rural development

• fish and wildlife habitat enhancement

• wetland creation and restoration

• public recreation

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Watershed Rehabilitation Program

The Small Watershed Rehabilitation Amendments of 2000 (PL 106-472) authorizes the NRCS to work with watershed project sponsors to address public health and safety concerns and environmental impacts of aging dams. NRCS assists sponsors by providing technical and financial assistance for the assessment, planning and installation of improvements necessary to extend the service life of dams and meet applicable safety and performance standards.

Watershed Rehabilitation in Arizona
National Watershed Rehabilitation Website

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Wetlands Reserve Program

The Wetlands Reserve Program (WRP) provides assistance to restore wetlands. Participating landowners can voluntarily establish conservation easements of either permanent or 30-year duration, or can enter restoration cost-share agreements where no easement is involved. In exchange for establishing a permanent easement, the landowner receives payment up to the agricultural value of the land and 100 percent of the restoration costs for restoring the wetland.

Easements set limits on how the lands may be used in the future. Restoration cost-share agreements establish wetland protection and restoration as the primary land use for the duration of the agreement. In all instances, landowners continue to control access to their land.

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Wildlife Habitat Incentives Program

The Wildlife Habitat Incentives Program (WHIP) provides financial incentives, on a cost-share basis, to develop habitat for fish and wildlife on private lands. Participants agree to implement a wildlife habitat development plan and USDA agrees to provide cost-share assistance for the initial implementation of needed practices.

WHIP 2008 Sign Up Period:  A brief signup period began on January 15 and will close on January 25, 2008.

The documents require Adobe Acrobat
WHIP 2004-2007 Arizona State Plan   (482k)
Application (28k)

State Contact:  Steve Smarik, Environmental Specialist, (602) 280-8785

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