From the 2022 NACD Annual Meeting.
Partnerships are incredibly important in putting conservation on the ground. In this session, you’ll learn about the Ohio Agriculture Conservation Initiative (OACI), a partnership between agriculture, conservation, environmental and research communities that provides the resources and education that farmers need to proactively employ modern, science-based practices on their farms and better demonstrate how those efforts are improving water quality over time. You’ll also hear from the Sublette County Conservation District on how they’ve built a bridge between various stakeholders to restore a degraded watershed.
Building Blocks for Climate Change:
Tools for Assessment & Planning
Sea Level Rise Exposure Assessment Update
North Kingstown Community Center September 19, 2013
Teresa Crean, AICP
URI Coastal Resources Center / RI Sea Grant
1) The Middle Cedar Partnership Project (MCPP) is a collaboration between 16 partners seeking to implement best management practices (BMPs) on agricultural lands in the Cedar River basin to improve water quality and reduce flooding downstream in Cedar Rapids.
2) Through cost-share funding and technical assistance, the MCPP aims to establish over 16,000 acres of cover crops, 9,000 acres of no-till practices, and various nutrient management plans by 2020.
3) Early results of the project show increases in cover crops and other practices, and the partners hope future success will include improved soil health, water quality, and economic benefits for both upstream agricultural producers and downstream entities in Cedar
1) The Middle Cedar Partnership Project (MCPP) is a collaboration between 16 partners seeking to implement best management practices (BMPs) on agricultural lands in the Cedar River basin to improve water quality and reduce flooding downstream in Cedar Rapids.
2) Through cost-share funding and technical assistance, the MCPP aims to establish over 16,000 acres of cover crops, 9,000 acres of no-till practices, and various nutrient management plans by 2020.
3) Early results of the project show increases in cover crops and other practices, and the partners hope future success will include improved soil health, water quality, and economic benefits for both upstream agricultural producers and downstream entities in Cedar
The document summarizes planning and implementation considerations for controlling western juniper through mechanical removal and chipping. It discusses assessing management objectives and site conditions, including the stage of juniper invasion. Soil type and understory vegetation composition influence control costs and restoration success. Proper stump and green limb treatment, skidding, and post-treatment monitoring are also reviewed. The document provides guidance on achieving resource objectives like improving wildlife habitat and restoring sagebrush grasslands.
Long Branch Central Watershed Management Area Project Overview October 26, 2020Fairfax County
Information about development in Fairfax County, major stormwater management project drivers, a functions-based approach to stream restoration and more information about the project is included in the presentation.
USCID conference in San Diego May 17-20, 2016_GrD Salton Sea update presentat...Graeme Donaldson
This document summarizes updates on Salton Sea restoration programs and projects presented at a USCID conference. It describes the status of legislative actions and state agencies involved in restoration efforts. Near-term habitat and pilot projects being implemented by IID and state agencies are outlined, including Red Hill Bay, Species Conservation Habitat, and a marine habitat pilot project. IID's Salton Sea Backbone Infrastructure Project is introduced, which aims to develop infrastructure to manage drainage water for restoration uses over time. Salinity increases in the shrinking sea pose risks to public health from dust emissions if restoration is not accelerated.
Building Blocks for Climate Change:
Tools for Assessment & Planning
Sea Level Rise Exposure Assessment Update
North Kingstown Community Center September 19, 2013
Teresa Crean, AICP
URI Coastal Resources Center / RI Sea Grant
1) The Middle Cedar Partnership Project (MCPP) is a collaboration between 16 partners seeking to implement best management practices (BMPs) on agricultural lands in the Cedar River basin to improve water quality and reduce flooding downstream in Cedar Rapids.
2) Through cost-share funding and technical assistance, the MCPP aims to establish over 16,000 acres of cover crops, 9,000 acres of no-till practices, and various nutrient management plans by 2020.
3) Early results of the project show increases in cover crops and other practices, and the partners hope future success will include improved soil health, water quality, and economic benefits for both upstream agricultural producers and downstream entities in Cedar
1) The Middle Cedar Partnership Project (MCPP) is a collaboration between 16 partners seeking to implement best management practices (BMPs) on agricultural lands in the Cedar River basin to improve water quality and reduce flooding downstream in Cedar Rapids.
2) Through cost-share funding and technical assistance, the MCPP aims to establish over 16,000 acres of cover crops, 9,000 acres of no-till practices, and various nutrient management plans by 2020.
3) Early results of the project show increases in cover crops and other practices, and the partners hope future success will include improved soil health, water quality, and economic benefits for both upstream agricultural producers and downstream entities in Cedar
The document summarizes planning and implementation considerations for controlling western juniper through mechanical removal and chipping. It discusses assessing management objectives and site conditions, including the stage of juniper invasion. Soil type and understory vegetation composition influence control costs and restoration success. Proper stump and green limb treatment, skidding, and post-treatment monitoring are also reviewed. The document provides guidance on achieving resource objectives like improving wildlife habitat and restoring sagebrush grasslands.
Long Branch Central Watershed Management Area Project Overview October 26, 2020Fairfax County
Information about development in Fairfax County, major stormwater management project drivers, a functions-based approach to stream restoration and more information about the project is included in the presentation.
USCID conference in San Diego May 17-20, 2016_GrD Salton Sea update presentat...Graeme Donaldson
This document summarizes updates on Salton Sea restoration programs and projects presented at a USCID conference. It describes the status of legislative actions and state agencies involved in restoration efforts. Near-term habitat and pilot projects being implemented by IID and state agencies are outlined, including Red Hill Bay, Species Conservation Habitat, and a marine habitat pilot project. IID's Salton Sea Backbone Infrastructure Project is introduced, which aims to develop infrastructure to manage drainage water for restoration uses over time. Salinity increases in the shrinking sea pose risks to public health from dust emissions if restoration is not accelerated.
From the 2020 NACD Annual Meeting.
Learn about the impacts of rural roads, as well as projects in Pennsylvania that are aimed at improving rural roads.
This document provides an overview of several collaborative flood risk reduction projects in the Greater Sacramento Region, including:
1) The American River Common Features project which involved installing cutoff walls along levees to provide 200-year flood protection for over 500,000 people.
2) The South Sacramento Streams project which includes flood walls, levee improvements, and ecosystem restoration to increase flood protection to 100-years for South Sacramento.
3) The Folsom Dam Raise project which modified the dam to allow for earlier releases and achieve over 200-year flood protection downstream, and involved massive excavation and construction work.
4) Ongoing projects that SAFCA is involved in like the American River G
The Utah Division of Forestry, Fire and State Lands is requesting appropriations for FY20. In 2018, Utah saw its most expensive and active fire season on record, with over 486,000 acres burned at an estimated cost of $42 million to the state. The Division is requesting $19.8 million in supplemental funding for 2018 fire suppression and rehabilitation costs. The Division also manages over 1.5 million acres of sovereign lands and provides forestry assistance. The document outlines several ongoing and one-time funding requests to support phragmites control on Great Salt Lake, management plans for Bear Lake and Dalton Wells, a land lease database, and the Catastrophic Wildfire Reduction Strategy.
This document summarizes a collaboration between 15 local, state, federal, non-profit, corporate, agriculture, and private partners to reconstruct a stream through the Metz Lateral Conservation Project. The partners worked together to benefit both agricultural production and conservation by implementing a two-stage ditch design that provides stable banks, minimal maintenance, increased capacity, and nutrient reduction while balancing increased initial costs and loss of tillable land. Communication between all involved parties was key to the ultimate success of the large-scale project.
The document summarizes an advisory committee meeting of the Chattanooga-Hamilton County Regional Planning Agency. It discusses trends in population growth, land consumption, household changes, and declining transportation funding. It also reviews transportation issues like congestion, multimodal connections, and integrating land use and transportation planning. Finally, it analyzes natural resources in the area like floodplains, impaired streams, steep slopes, and additional resources needing analysis to inform conservation and development goals.
This document summarizes a panel discussion on regional planning for development, preservation, and infrastructure in Massachusetts. The panelists discussed how the state works with regional planning agencies to identify priority areas for growth and preservation through processes like creating maps of concentrated development centers and protected lands. They described how these regional plans aim to balance jobs, housing, transportation, and the environment by directing new growth to suitable locations while protecting important resources. The panel also discussed customizing these regional planning processes to meet different regional needs.
This document discusses how GIS and web-based tools can streamline transmission line routing. It provides background on resource planning versus routing and initiatives like WECC and WGA. The emergence of HVDC is also noted. Opportunities for routing include paralleling existing infrastructure and utilizing undeveloped corridors. Constraints include sensitive species habitat, populated areas, and cultural/water resources. A hypothetical GIS website is demonstrated for a Wyoming project, featuring constraint layers, measurement tools, and an address search. Benefits of private GIS websites include ease of use, early issue identification, and facilitating public involvement and agency consultation.
This document provides an overview and update on Salton Sea restoration activities from a presentation given to the Quechan Indian Tribe. It discusses the legislative and state agency status, various restoration proposals, and near-term projects being implemented. It focuses on describing the proposed Salton Sea Backbone Infrastructure Project, which aims to develop infrastructure to manage drainage water and support future restoration uses. The project objectives are outlined, and initial project scope and activities are presented. Maps and diagrams illustrate current conditions and the infrastructure concept.
Pasig River Rehabilitation ADB-Evaluation-Study V Loan 1746.pdfABLoveria
The Pasig River Environmental Management and Rehabilitation Sector Development Program was a large program implemented through the Pasig River Rehabilitation Commission with loans from the Asian Development Bank to rehabilitate the polluted Pasig River in the Philippines. The program aimed to relocate informal settler families, upgrade infrastructure, and reduce wastewater discharge into the river. However, it faced challenges in implementation including a complex institutional structure, broad scope, and changing politics. While the program supported national development plans, it did not fully achieve its targets, with many relocated families lacking adequate facilities and utilities and the river's water quality goals unmet even 10 years later.
Recent presentation on assessing how U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service Hurricane Sandy Resilience projects will improve community and ecosystem resilience to sea level rise, storm events and other threats. Presentation highlights development of ecological and socio-economic metrics and provides project examples, marsh restoration, beach restoration, living shorelines and aquatic connectivity (dam removal) of metrics being used to evaluate project performance.
Rocky Run Tributary at Dulles Access Road Stream Restoration ProjectFairfax County
Restore up to 1,200 feet of stream within the wooded dry pond footprint.
Stabilize streambed and banks
Reduce sediment and nutrient inputs into stream
Improve habitat
Reduce long-term maintenance of pond
Consider water quality enhancements and a litter collection system in the open pond area
Maintain close coordination with stakeholders
1) The document discusses the Hypoxia Task Force (HTF), which was formed in the late 1990s to address hypoxia (low oxygen levels) in the Gulf of Mexico.
2) The HTF has set a goal of reducing the size of the hypoxic zone to less than 5,000 square kilometers by 2035 through reducing the amounts of nitrogen and phosphorus entering the Gulf from the Mississippi River Basin.
3) The document outlines the HTF's efforts to track progress towards this goal through measuring and modeling the size of the hypoxic zone, measuring nutrient loads from point and nonpoint sources, and monitoring water quality trends.
Restore ~4,000 feet by returning the form and function of the channel to dynamic equilibrium and improve the ecological processes of the riparian corridor.
On 17 and 18 June 2020 the EPA held its National Water Event as an online conference.
This presentation was by Con McLaughlin, Donegal County Council and Andy Griggs, Armagh City, Banbridge and Craigavon District Council.
This year's theme was 'Restoring our waters'.
This years event was free to attend. It was the EPA's largest water event ever, with over 1250 attending.
To everyone who joined us: thanks for attending; thanks for your probing questions; thanks for your passion; thanks for caring about our waters. We can achieve more working together.
Special thanks to all our presenters and the team who worked behind the scenes to make sure this years conference happened.
For science and stories about water quality in Ireland, check out www.catchments.ie
The document summarizes dredging and remediation efforts on the Buffalo River through collaboration between the US Army Corps of Engineers, EPA, NYSDEC, Honeywell, and other stakeholders. Under the Great Lakes Legacy Act and Great Lakes Restoration Initiative, over 625,000 cubic yards of contaminated sediment have been dredged from 2011-2012. Future dredging from 2013-2014 will target remaining risk-based contamination. Long term goals are to contain dredged materials, monitor remedy performance for 10 years, delist beneficial use impairments, and plan beneficial reuse of clean dredged materials for projects like habitat restoration in 5-7 years.
This presentation was shown at workshops on August 18 and 22, 2016.
http://www.countyplanning.us/services/grant-programs/clean-ohio-conservation-greenspace-program/
Priority Conservation Workshop
Priority Conservation Areas (PCAs)
- Laura Thompson, Bay Trail Project Manager, Association of Bay Area Governments
- Adam Garcia, Planning and Research Manager, Greenbelt Alliance
This presentation was given during a workshop at the Bay Area Greenprint Launch Event on June 21, 2017 at the David Brower Center in Berkeley, CA. More info on the Bay Area Open Space Council's blog: http://openspacecouncil.org/the-bay-area-greenprint-has-launched/
The City of Gloucester has developed a vulnerability assessment and adaptation plan to address climate change risks. This builds on past efforts including a 2010 hazard mitigation plan and 2011-2012 LIDAR and GIS data collection. Key aspects of the plan include identifying critical infrastructure and assets, modeling sea level rise and storm surge flooding for 2030 and 2070, assessing risks, and developing adaptation strategies. High risk areas were prioritized and include the waste water treatment plant and certain pump stations. Long term recommendations include installing lock gates and strategically raising roads to protect low-lying areas including the treatment plant and schools. Funding was provided through various state and federal grants totaling over $500,000.
Agricultural defense of Sao Paulo: twelve years of soil preservation and reha...ExternalEvents
Mr Oswaldo Julio Vischi Filho, Secretariat of Agriculture of the State of São Paulo, Brazil. Global Symposium on Soil Erosion (GSER19), 15 - 17 May 2019 at FAO HQ.
The document contains multiple repetitions of the phrase "Share your photos with #NACD2024" tagged with various organizations and individuals such as the Nebraska's Natural Resources District, North Carolina Association of SWCDs, Association of Illinois SWCDs, Georgia Association of CDs, Kentucky Association of CDs, Oklahoma County Conservation District, and Bill & Becky Dunn. It appears to be promoting sharing photos from an event using the hashtag #NACD2024.
Symposium Session Slides
Putting Farmers at the Center of Regenerative Agriculture Engagement Planning – Deborah Carter McCoy, Rebecca Bartels, and Suzy Friedman with the Midwest Row Crop Collaborative, Trust In Food, and the WWF will lead a planning process based on insights from their behavior change research to accelerate regenerative agriculture acceptance by producers. The panelists will be Deborah Carter McCoy from Environmental Initiative, Rebecca Bartels from Trust In Food, and Suzy Friedman from the World Wildlife Fund.
Wednesday, February 14, 8:30 - 11:00 a.m.
More Related Content
Similar to Breakout Session Presentation: Partnering to Implement Conservation.pptx
From the 2020 NACD Annual Meeting.
Learn about the impacts of rural roads, as well as projects in Pennsylvania that are aimed at improving rural roads.
This document provides an overview of several collaborative flood risk reduction projects in the Greater Sacramento Region, including:
1) The American River Common Features project which involved installing cutoff walls along levees to provide 200-year flood protection for over 500,000 people.
2) The South Sacramento Streams project which includes flood walls, levee improvements, and ecosystem restoration to increase flood protection to 100-years for South Sacramento.
3) The Folsom Dam Raise project which modified the dam to allow for earlier releases and achieve over 200-year flood protection downstream, and involved massive excavation and construction work.
4) Ongoing projects that SAFCA is involved in like the American River G
The Utah Division of Forestry, Fire and State Lands is requesting appropriations for FY20. In 2018, Utah saw its most expensive and active fire season on record, with over 486,000 acres burned at an estimated cost of $42 million to the state. The Division is requesting $19.8 million in supplemental funding for 2018 fire suppression and rehabilitation costs. The Division also manages over 1.5 million acres of sovereign lands and provides forestry assistance. The document outlines several ongoing and one-time funding requests to support phragmites control on Great Salt Lake, management plans for Bear Lake and Dalton Wells, a land lease database, and the Catastrophic Wildfire Reduction Strategy.
This document summarizes a collaboration between 15 local, state, federal, non-profit, corporate, agriculture, and private partners to reconstruct a stream through the Metz Lateral Conservation Project. The partners worked together to benefit both agricultural production and conservation by implementing a two-stage ditch design that provides stable banks, minimal maintenance, increased capacity, and nutrient reduction while balancing increased initial costs and loss of tillable land. Communication between all involved parties was key to the ultimate success of the large-scale project.
The document summarizes an advisory committee meeting of the Chattanooga-Hamilton County Regional Planning Agency. It discusses trends in population growth, land consumption, household changes, and declining transportation funding. It also reviews transportation issues like congestion, multimodal connections, and integrating land use and transportation planning. Finally, it analyzes natural resources in the area like floodplains, impaired streams, steep slopes, and additional resources needing analysis to inform conservation and development goals.
This document summarizes a panel discussion on regional planning for development, preservation, and infrastructure in Massachusetts. The panelists discussed how the state works with regional planning agencies to identify priority areas for growth and preservation through processes like creating maps of concentrated development centers and protected lands. They described how these regional plans aim to balance jobs, housing, transportation, and the environment by directing new growth to suitable locations while protecting important resources. The panel also discussed customizing these regional planning processes to meet different regional needs.
This document discusses how GIS and web-based tools can streamline transmission line routing. It provides background on resource planning versus routing and initiatives like WECC and WGA. The emergence of HVDC is also noted. Opportunities for routing include paralleling existing infrastructure and utilizing undeveloped corridors. Constraints include sensitive species habitat, populated areas, and cultural/water resources. A hypothetical GIS website is demonstrated for a Wyoming project, featuring constraint layers, measurement tools, and an address search. Benefits of private GIS websites include ease of use, early issue identification, and facilitating public involvement and agency consultation.
This document provides an overview and update on Salton Sea restoration activities from a presentation given to the Quechan Indian Tribe. It discusses the legislative and state agency status, various restoration proposals, and near-term projects being implemented. It focuses on describing the proposed Salton Sea Backbone Infrastructure Project, which aims to develop infrastructure to manage drainage water and support future restoration uses. The project objectives are outlined, and initial project scope and activities are presented. Maps and diagrams illustrate current conditions and the infrastructure concept.
Pasig River Rehabilitation ADB-Evaluation-Study V Loan 1746.pdfABLoveria
The Pasig River Environmental Management and Rehabilitation Sector Development Program was a large program implemented through the Pasig River Rehabilitation Commission with loans from the Asian Development Bank to rehabilitate the polluted Pasig River in the Philippines. The program aimed to relocate informal settler families, upgrade infrastructure, and reduce wastewater discharge into the river. However, it faced challenges in implementation including a complex institutional structure, broad scope, and changing politics. While the program supported national development plans, it did not fully achieve its targets, with many relocated families lacking adequate facilities and utilities and the river's water quality goals unmet even 10 years later.
Recent presentation on assessing how U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service Hurricane Sandy Resilience projects will improve community and ecosystem resilience to sea level rise, storm events and other threats. Presentation highlights development of ecological and socio-economic metrics and provides project examples, marsh restoration, beach restoration, living shorelines and aquatic connectivity (dam removal) of metrics being used to evaluate project performance.
Rocky Run Tributary at Dulles Access Road Stream Restoration ProjectFairfax County
Restore up to 1,200 feet of stream within the wooded dry pond footprint.
Stabilize streambed and banks
Reduce sediment and nutrient inputs into stream
Improve habitat
Reduce long-term maintenance of pond
Consider water quality enhancements and a litter collection system in the open pond area
Maintain close coordination with stakeholders
1) The document discusses the Hypoxia Task Force (HTF), which was formed in the late 1990s to address hypoxia (low oxygen levels) in the Gulf of Mexico.
2) The HTF has set a goal of reducing the size of the hypoxic zone to less than 5,000 square kilometers by 2035 through reducing the amounts of nitrogen and phosphorus entering the Gulf from the Mississippi River Basin.
3) The document outlines the HTF's efforts to track progress towards this goal through measuring and modeling the size of the hypoxic zone, measuring nutrient loads from point and nonpoint sources, and monitoring water quality trends.
Restore ~4,000 feet by returning the form and function of the channel to dynamic equilibrium and improve the ecological processes of the riparian corridor.
On 17 and 18 June 2020 the EPA held its National Water Event as an online conference.
This presentation was by Con McLaughlin, Donegal County Council and Andy Griggs, Armagh City, Banbridge and Craigavon District Council.
This year's theme was 'Restoring our waters'.
This years event was free to attend. It was the EPA's largest water event ever, with over 1250 attending.
To everyone who joined us: thanks for attending; thanks for your probing questions; thanks for your passion; thanks for caring about our waters. We can achieve more working together.
Special thanks to all our presenters and the team who worked behind the scenes to make sure this years conference happened.
For science and stories about water quality in Ireland, check out www.catchments.ie
The document summarizes dredging and remediation efforts on the Buffalo River through collaboration between the US Army Corps of Engineers, EPA, NYSDEC, Honeywell, and other stakeholders. Under the Great Lakes Legacy Act and Great Lakes Restoration Initiative, over 625,000 cubic yards of contaminated sediment have been dredged from 2011-2012. Future dredging from 2013-2014 will target remaining risk-based contamination. Long term goals are to contain dredged materials, monitor remedy performance for 10 years, delist beneficial use impairments, and plan beneficial reuse of clean dredged materials for projects like habitat restoration in 5-7 years.
This presentation was shown at workshops on August 18 and 22, 2016.
http://www.countyplanning.us/services/grant-programs/clean-ohio-conservation-greenspace-program/
Priority Conservation Workshop
Priority Conservation Areas (PCAs)
- Laura Thompson, Bay Trail Project Manager, Association of Bay Area Governments
- Adam Garcia, Planning and Research Manager, Greenbelt Alliance
This presentation was given during a workshop at the Bay Area Greenprint Launch Event on June 21, 2017 at the David Brower Center in Berkeley, CA. More info on the Bay Area Open Space Council's blog: http://openspacecouncil.org/the-bay-area-greenprint-has-launched/
The City of Gloucester has developed a vulnerability assessment and adaptation plan to address climate change risks. This builds on past efforts including a 2010 hazard mitigation plan and 2011-2012 LIDAR and GIS data collection. Key aspects of the plan include identifying critical infrastructure and assets, modeling sea level rise and storm surge flooding for 2030 and 2070, assessing risks, and developing adaptation strategies. High risk areas were prioritized and include the waste water treatment plant and certain pump stations. Long term recommendations include installing lock gates and strategically raising roads to protect low-lying areas including the treatment plant and schools. Funding was provided through various state and federal grants totaling over $500,000.
Agricultural defense of Sao Paulo: twelve years of soil preservation and reha...ExternalEvents
Mr Oswaldo Julio Vischi Filho, Secretariat of Agriculture of the State of São Paulo, Brazil. Global Symposium on Soil Erosion (GSER19), 15 - 17 May 2019 at FAO HQ.
Similar to Breakout Session Presentation: Partnering to Implement Conservation.pptx (20)
The document contains multiple repetitions of the phrase "Share your photos with #NACD2024" tagged with various organizations and individuals such as the Nebraska's Natural Resources District, North Carolina Association of SWCDs, Association of Illinois SWCDs, Georgia Association of CDs, Kentucky Association of CDs, Oklahoma County Conservation District, and Bill & Becky Dunn. It appears to be promoting sharing photos from an event using the hashtag #NACD2024.
Symposium Session Slides
Putting Farmers at the Center of Regenerative Agriculture Engagement Planning – Deborah Carter McCoy, Rebecca Bartels, and Suzy Friedman with the Midwest Row Crop Collaborative, Trust In Food, and the WWF will lead a planning process based on insights from their behavior change research to accelerate regenerative agriculture acceptance by producers. The panelists will be Deborah Carter McCoy from Environmental Initiative, Rebecca Bartels from Trust In Food, and Suzy Friedman from the World Wildlife Fund.
Wednesday, February 14, 8:30 - 11:00 a.m.
Breakout Session Slides
Conservation Delivery in Pacific Island Communities – Mae Nakahata discusses experiences with building support capacity and technologies that are scaled/adapted to serve the non-traditional agriculture systems of Pacific Islands will be shared. CNMI, GU & HI – led presentation.
Monday, February 12, 4:00 - 4:25 p.m.
Breakout Session Slide Pt. 2
Advancing Producer Engagement and MMRV in Ecosystem Services Markets: Lessons Learned from Three Years Conducting Projects – Alana Pacheco and Lars Dyrud will highlight three years of lessons learned from ESMC’s Eco-Harvest market projects and discuss program specifics, opportunities for participation, and private sector advancement of reduced soil sampling costs through the latest in MMRV.
Tuesday, February 13, 2:20 - 3:00 p.m.
Breakout Session Slide Pt. 1
Advancing Producer Engagement and MMRV in Ecosystem Services Markets: Lessons Learned from Three Years Conducting Projects – Alana Pacheco and Lars Dyrud will highlight three years of lessons learned from ESMC’s Eco-Harvest market projects and discuss program specifics, opportunities for participation, and private sector advancement of reduced soil sampling costs through the latest in MMRV.
Tuesday, February 13, 2:20 - 3:00 p.m.
Breakout Session Slides Pt. 3
Converging Ag Drainage with Water Quality – Mike Libben discusses how the Ottawa SWCD (Ohio) has blended the need for agricultural drainage and increased water quality for Lake Erie by integrating projects that accomplish both goals and brings partners together.
Tuesday, February 13, 1:30 - 2:10 p.m.
*Due to the size of the powerpoint, this was uploaded as three separate powerpoints. This is the third one, please continue to the other two for the full presentation*
Breakout Session Slides Pt. 2
Converging Ag Drainage with Water Quality – Mike Libben discusses how the Ottawa SWCD (Ohio) has blended the need for agricultural drainage and increased water quality for Lake Erie by integrating projects that accomplish both goals and brings partners together.
Tuesday, February 13, 1:30 - 2:10 p.m.
*Due to the size of the powerpoint, this was uploaded as three separate powerpoints. This is the second one, please continue to the other two for the full presentation*
Breakout Session Slides Pt. 1
Converging Ag Drainage with Water Quality – Mike Libben discusses how the Ottawa SWCD (Ohio) has blended the need for agricultural drainage and increased water quality for Lake Erie by integrating projects that accomplish both goals and brings partners together.
Tuesday, February 13, 1:30 - 2:10 p.m.
*Due to the size of the powerpoint, this was uploaded as three separate powerpoints. This is the first one, please continue to the next two for the full presentation*
Breakout Session Slides
OpTIS: New National Baseline Data for Climate-Smart Ag – David Gustafson discusses how no-till and cover crops are leading climate-smart practices, which OpTIS tracks using satellite data. This session will feature the latest OpTIS release, which includes data for all lower 48 states.
Tuesday, February 13, 1:30 - 2:10 p.m.
Breakout Session Slides
Carbon Sequestration and Soil Health – Andrea Kreiner and Jan Lee discuss the website OACD prepared on soil health & carbon sequestration with researched information, links to tools and articles; and an accompanying guidebook for district use in working with sequestration.
Monday, February 12, 4:00 - 4:25 p.m.
Breakout Session Slides
Dirty Water Bugs Us! Pesticide Education for Urban Communities – Lynn Pilewski discusses how the GCSWCD has modified PuttSkee, an interactive game, to educate urban citizens on safe use of insecticides and herbicides. The activity, paired with simple messaging, has been effective and engaging.
Tuesday, February 13 3:30 - 4:10 p.m.
Breakout Session Slides
Climate Adapted Native Plant Materials Project: Practical Innovation for an Uncertain Future – Mike Conroy will discuss how the Tualatin SWCD is evaluating assisted migration to augment the genetic fitness of native plants used in restoration projects. The core of this project is a long-term common garden experiment.
Monday, February 12 3:05 - 3:30 p.m.
Breakout Session Slides
Scaling Agroforestry in US Agriculture – Maya Glicksman will define agroforestry, discuss new opportunities to support agroforestry adoption, and highlight areas for continued advocacy administratively and legislatively.
Monday, February 12, 3:05 - 3:30 p.m.
Breakout Session Slides
Maximum Partnerships: Building Partnership between National Programs and Local Implementation – Jessia McGuire and Drew Larsen discussed how PF and QF partnership staff (Precision Ag Conservation Specialist, Farm Bill / Coordinating Biologist, Habitat Specialist, Range Conservationist, & Outreach Coordinator) provide needed capacity in many areas of the country to address resource needs. The session focused on sharing the many opportunities for partnering to impact agriculture and local resource concerns and better serve cooperators as well as maximize the value of existing partnerships.
Tuesday, February 13 4:20 - 5:00 p.m.
Breakout Session Slides
Encouraging Urban Green Infrastructure Practices for Climate Resiliency – Jennifer Fish will discuss how Green Infrastructure above the minimum stormwater standards is important to community sustainability. This includes designing for future storm events and better using existing environmental services.
Monday, February 12, 2:30 - 2:55 p.m.
Breakout Session Slides
Community Outreach Through Nontraditional Ag Farmer to Farmer Coffee Talks – Sharon Autry will discuss Nontraditional Ag Farmer to Farmer Coffee Talks, which cover topics that are relevant to small/medium scale producers and offer an opportunity to build community and collaboration.
Monday, February 12 3:05 - 3:30 p.m.
Breakout Session Slides
Bridging the Gap: A Partnership Between an Ag Retailer and Local Government – Kolby Beehler discusses how the Morrison SWCD partnered with a local agricultural retailer on a joint conservation agronomist position. Two years later they have had achievements and challenges and want to share their experiences.
Tuesday, February 13, 3:30 - 4:10 p.m.
Breakout Session Slides
Unconventional Partnering – The Voluntary Stewardship Program, CDs, and Counties – Bill Eller discusses conservation district partners with non-traditional regulatory partners (counties) to replace critical area protection regulations with voluntary, incentive-based practices.
Monday, February 12 4:35 - 5:00 p.m.
Breakout Session Slides
Water Quality of Life – Jim Hess discusses how the Elkhart County SWCD has taken conservation to the next level and is offering property tax incentives for the “Good Stewards of the Land”. Please read the 2022 NACD Annual Report page 39-40.
Monday, February 12 4:00 - 4:25 p.m.
Breakout Session Slides
Making Connections Maximizes Watershed Restoration Project – Lynn Pilewski and Kirsten Robertson will discuss how one group assembled a wide array of non-profit, governmental, and private companies to work together to fund and implement a multi-faceted watershed plan in South Carolina.
Monday, February 12, 3:05 - 3:30 p.m.
More from National Association of Conservation Districts (20)
Emerging Earth Observation methods for monitoring sustainable food productionCIFOR-ICRAF
Presented by Daniela Requena Suarez, Helmholtz GeoResearch Center Potsdam (GFZ) at "Side event 60th sessions of the UNFCCC Subsidiary Bodies - Sustainable Bites: Innovating Low Emission Food Systems One Country at a Time" on 13 June 2024
Exploring low emissions development opportunities in food systemsCIFOR-ICRAF
Presented by Christopher Martius (CIFOR-ICRAF) at "Side event 60th sessions of the UNFCCC Subsidiary Bodies - Sustainable Bites: Innovating Low Emission Food Systems One Country at a Time" on 13 June 2024
Trichogramma spp. is an efficient egg parasitoids that potentially assist to manage the insect-pests from the field condition by parasiting the host eggs. To mass culture this egg parasitoids effectively, we need to culture another stored grain pest- Rice Meal Moth (Corcyra Cephalonica). After rearing this pest, the eggs of Corcyra will carry the potential Trichogramma spp., which is an Hymenopteran Wasp. The detailed Methodologies of rearing both Corcyra Cephalonica and Trichogramma spp. have described on this ppt.
Breakout Session Presentation: Partnering to Implement Conservation.pptx
1. Collaboration to Restoration
in Sublette County, WY
A Conservation District's Role in Helping
Find Balance between Multiple Use,
Multiple Ownership, Multiple Interest in
Western Wyoming
Shari Meeks * Range Program Manager * Pinedale, WY
2. The Road to
Restoration
• Inception of the Range Program
• Attributes of the La Barge
Landscape
• Project-level collaboration
• Insights from partners along the
way
6. What does our
Range Program
do?
The Range Program provides technical
assistance to private landowners and
land management agencies (both federal
and state) throughout the year. Team
members strive to meet the needs of a
community which relies on a multiple use
and a predominantly federally managed
landscape, while also promoting private
property rights. Range staff strive to
create positive, long term, cooperative
relationships between the Conservation
District, Sublette County landowners, and
land management agency personnel.
7.
8. What makes
the area so
unique?
• Natural Resources
• Multiple Use
• Multiple Ownership
• Multiple Interest
15. Federal Regulations
that Impact
Management
• Federal Land Policy & Management Act
• BLM Pinedale Field Office Resource
Management Plan
• BLM Pinedale Field Office Coordinating Activity
Plan
• USFS Land Resource Management Plan
• Sage Grouse Amendments
• Taylor Grazing Act
• WDEQ Water Requirements
• Frail Lands Policy
• Colorado River Basin Salinity Control Act of 1974
• Wyoming Office of State Lands & Investments
Policies
18. Unraveling of a Frail Landscape
1700’s
Land
Acquisition
1860’s
Homesteadi
ng the West
1907
First
Drilling
in La
Barge
Area
1920
Mineral
Leasing
Act
1935
Taylor
Grazing
Act
1950’s
Sagebrush
Spraying
1960’s
Range
Surveys
– 1961-
62
NEPA -
1969
1967-72
Grazing
Authorizations
AUM reductions
1976
FLPMA
1988
RMP
1991
Big
Piney-La
Barge
CAP
2008
Update
d RMP
19. The way to
get started is to
quit talking and
begin doing.
Walt Disney
20. Restoration of an Unraveling Landscape
2006
Highway Dept
Replace Culverts
Mule Deer Project
2008
Riparian
Assessments &
Rangeland Health
2009
Grazing NEPA -
remanded
2016
Big
Erosion
Events
2016
Rangeland
Health
Assessment
Grant –
Phase I
2017
Culvert
Inventor
y
Initiated
2018
Ecological
Site
Inventory
2018
Rangeland
Health
Assessment
Grant –
Phase II
2020
Decommissionin
g Wells and
Reclamation
2021
Disturbanc
e Inventory
21. Collaboration = Restoration
Wildlife Habitat
Habitat Inventory (2006)
Wyoming Range Mule Deer Project
Development
Habitat Improvement Projects
(2013-present)
Livestock Grazing
On the landscape since the 1900’s
A lengthy history of management
RHAP Phase I (2016-2018)
RHAP Phase 2 (2019-2021)
Project Implementation and
Adaptive Management (2021 to
future)
Excessive Erosion
C&D Livestock (Spring 2016)
Highway Department Culvert Issues
(Spring 2006, 2016)
BLM & SCCD Culvert Inventory
(2017-2019)
Engineering (2018-2021)
Restoration Project Implementation
(2021-future)
La Barge Platform
Oldest oil and gas field in Wyoming
BLM & SCCD Culvert Inventory
(2017-2019)
Reclamation and Infrastructure
Improvements
Rangeland Health
ID Team Assessed Rangeland
Health for Permit Renewal (2009)
Stream Dynamics Tour (2020)
Ecological Site Inventory (2018-
2021)
Disturbance Inventory (2021-2022)
2006 2022 Present Day
22. Erosion Concerns in the La Barge Platform
Wildlife Habitat
Habitat Inventory (2006?)
Wyoming Range Mule Deer Project
Development (YR)
Habitat Improvement Projects
(2013-present)
Livestock Grazing
On the landscape since the 1900’s
A lengthy history of management
RHAP Phase I (2016-2018)
RHAP Phase 2 (2019-2021)
Project Implementation and
Adaptive Management (2021 to
future)
Excessive Erosion
C&D Livestock (Spring 2016)
Highway Department Culvert Issues
(Spring 2006, 2016)
BLM & SCCD Culvert Inventory
(2017-2019)
Engineering (2018-2021)
Restoration Project Implementation
(2021-future)
La Barge Platform
Oldest oil and gas field in Wyoming
BLM & SCCD Culvert Inventory
(2017-2019)
Reclamation and Infrastructure
Improvements
Rangeland Health
ID Team Assessed Rangeland
Health for Permit Renewal (2009)
Stream Dynamics Tour (2020)
Ecological Site Inventory (2018-
2021)
Disturbance Inventory (2021-2022)
2009 (or whatever early date) 2022 Present Day
30. Big Piney – La
Barge Watershed
Restoration Project
>3000 Culverts
Inventoried
13% Functioning
50% Contributing to
incised channels below
culverts.
31. Erosion Concerns in the La Barge Platform
Partners
• Bureau of Land
Management
• Oil & Gas Operators
• Grazing Permittees
SCCD’S Role
• Resource Expertise
• Assist with Implementation
• ID Team Member
• Grant Acquisition & Management
32. Wildlife Habitat
Wildlife Habitat
Habitat Inventory (2006)
Wyoming Range Mule Deer Project
Development
Habitat Improvement Projects
(2013-present)
Livestock Grazing
On the landscape since the 1900’s
A lengthy history of management
RHAP Phase I (2016-2018)
RHAP Phase 2 (2019-2021)
Project Implementation and
Adaptive Management (2021 to
future)
Excessive Erosion
C&D Livestock (Spring 2016)
Highway Department Culvert Issues
(Spring 2006, 2016)
BLM & SCCD Culvert Inventory
(2017-2019)
Engineering (2018-2021)
Restoration Project Implementation
(2021-future)
La Barge Platform
Oldest oil and gas field in Wyoming
BLM & SCCD Culvert Inventory
(2017-2019)
Reclamation and Infrastructure
Improvements
Rangeland Health
ID Team Assessed Rangeland
Health for Permit Renewal (2009)
Stream Dynamics Tour (2020)
Ecological Site Inventory (2018-
2021)
Disturbance Inventory (2021-2022)
2006 2022 Present Day
36. Wyoming Range Mule Deer Project
Partners
• Teton Science School
• Bureau of Land
Management
• Wyoming Game and Fish
Department
• Natural Resources
Conservation Service
• Livestock Grazing
Permittees
SCCD’S Role
• Resource Expertise
• Manage funds
• Contract riders for project success
• Assist with implementation
37. Rangeland Health
Wildlife Habitat
Habitat Inventory (2006?)
Wyoming Range Mule Deer Project
Development (YR)
Habitat Improvement Projects
(2013-present)
Livestock Grazing
On the landscape since the 1900’s
A lengthy history of management
RHAP Phase I (2016-2018)
RHAP Phase 2 (2019-2021)
Project Implementation and
Adaptive Management (2021 to
future)
Excessive Erosion
C&D Livestock (Spring 2016)
Highway Department Culvert Issues
(Spring 2006, 2016)
BLM & SCCD Culvert Inventory
(2017-2019)
Engineering (2018-2021)
Restoration Project Implementation
(2021-future)
La Barge Platform
Oldest oil and gas field in Wyoming
BLM & SCCD Culvert Inventory
(2017-2019)
Reclamation and Infrastructure
Improvements
Rangeland Health
ID Team Assessed Rangeland
Health for Permit Renewal (2009)
Stream Dynamics Tour (2020)
Ecological Site Inventory (2018-
2021)
Disturbance Inventory (2021-2022)
2009 (or whatever early date) 2022 Present Day
42. Ecological
Site
Inventory
SCCD’S Role
• Hire & Supervise inventory crew
• Collaboration with BLM, NRCS, WGFD,
Permittees
• Manage the finances
• Collect, Compile and QC the data
• Write and Distribute the Final Report
46. Disturbance
Inventory
SCCD’S Role
• Hire & Supervise inventory crew
• Collaboration with BLM, NRCS,
O&G Operators
• Manage the finances
• Collect, Compile and QC the data
• Write and Distribute the Final
Report
47. Livestock Grazing
Wildlife Habitat
Habitat Inventory (2006?)
Wyoming Range Mule Deer Project
Development (YR)
Habitat Improvement Projects
(2013-present)
Livestock Grazing
On the landscape since the 1900’s
A lengthy history of management
RHAP Phase I (2016-2018)
RHAP Phase 2 (2019-2021)
Project Implementation and
Adaptive Management (2021 to
future)
Excessive Erosion
C&D Livestock (Spring 2016)
Highway Department Culvert Issues
(Spring 2006, 2016)
BLM & SCCD Culvert Inventory
(2017-2019)
Engineering (2018-2021)
Restoration Project Implementation
(2021-future)
La Barge Platform
Oldest oil and gas field in Wyoming
BLM & SCCD Culvert Inventory
(2017-2019)
Reclamation and Infrastructure
Improvements
Rangeland Health
ID Team Assessed Rangeland
Health for Permit Renewal (2009)
Stream Dynamics Tour (2020)
Ecological Site Inventory (2018-
2021)
Disturbance Inventory (2021-2022)
2009 (or whatever early date) 2022 Present Day
55. NLBC RHAP – Phase 2
Building a Grazing Plan
• Education! Education! Education!
• Agenda’s and Note Pages
• Create a Folder for Everyone to Keep Documentation
• Distribute Meeting Notes
• Hold People Accountable
• Always Tie Back to the Common Goals and Objectives
• Homework
• “In Meeting” Group Projects
57. Meeting 1
(Establishing
Common
Ground)
Define Common
Values, Goals
and Objectives
among the group.
Make sure we all
understand what
the process is.
Meeting 2 (State
of the Range –
Trend and RIPS)
Review Session
1
Range
Improvement
Inventory
Vegetation Trend
Analysis
Homework
Meeting 3 (State
of the Range ESI
and Treatments)
Turn in
Homework,
Review Session
2
Wildlife Habitat
Resource
Information
Vegetation
Treatments
Ecological Site
Inventory Results
Homework
Meeting 4
(Putting It All
Together)
Turn in
Homework,
Review Session
3
Review
Ecological Site
Concepts
Identify Issues on
the Landscape
Together
A History Review
and
Recommendation
for Moving
Forward
Homework
Meeting 5
(Strategy
Building 1)
Answering
Common
Questions
Among
Stakeholders
Review of Most
Recent
Environmental
Assessment
Review of Most
Recent
Standards and
Guidelines
Review of
Existing AMP
Develop
Livestock
Rotations that
Meet Current
Mgmt. Concerns
Homework
Meeting 6
(Strategy
Building 2)
Review Rotations
Developed at
Last Meeting
Review
Slope/Distance to
Water Analysis
Create a List of
RIPS Needed to
Implement Each
Rotation
Meeting 7
(Strategy
Building 3)
Determine
Rotations and
RIPS that Fall in
Line with Initial
Goals
State Lands
RIPS Information
BLM RIPS
Information
Development
Strategy
(Funding &
Prioritization)
Mini Meetings to
ID Projects for
2021
Meeting 8 (Fall
Grazing Season
& Future
Strategy)
2021 Monitoring
Results &
Grazing Season
Discussion
Wildlife Projects
Update
RHAP Review
and Comments
Grazing Plan
Review
Implementation
Strategy
Next Steps –
Coordinate with
O&G
NLBC RHAP
– Phase 2
Building a
Grazing Plan
61. Livestock Grazing - RHAP
Partners
• 6 Permittees
• United States Forest Service
• Bureau of Land Management
• Natural Resources Conservation Service
• Wyoming Game and Fish Department
• University of Wyoming
• Wyoming Office of State Lands & Investments
SCCD’S Role
• Resource Expertise
• Facilitator
65. Cooperating Agency Status
Defining Cooperating
Agency
Any Federal, State, or Local
agency that has jurisdiction by
law or special expertise
(40CFR 1508.5). Jurisdiction
by law means the agency has
authority to approve a
proposal.
Federal Land
Management Planning
- BLM Resource Management
Plans
- USFS Forest Plans
- Travel Management Plans
- Permit Renewal (grazing,
recreation/special use, etc)
- Watershed Projects
- …and others such as Oil and
Gas Development
Pre- and Post-Decision
Involvement
• NEPA Process Support
through providing data
collection and/or
documentation
• Environmental Assessment
or Environmental Impact
Statement Scoping,
Review & Commenting
• Alternative or Preferred
Action Development
submitted to the Agency
• ID Team Member, Leader
involved in development of
NEPA document
• Protest/Appeal or
Objection of NEPA
document
66.
67. Wyoming Game and Fish Department
Troy Fieseler – Habitat Biologist
Luke Schultz – Fisheries Biologist
Bureau of Land Management
Mark Thonhoff– Wildlife Biologist
Janet Bellis – Hydrogeologist
Kelsey Smith – Natural Resource Specialist
Amber Robbins – Range Specialist
Doug Linn & Travis Chewning - Managers
68. United States Forest Service
Chad Hayward – BTNF Range Program Supervisor
Buck Draney – Range Technician
Natural Resources Conservation Service
Jennifer Hayward – District Conservationist
Karen Clause – Area Range Specialist
Dillon Gray – Soil Survey Lead
Bryan Christensen – Ecological Site Specialist
69. Oil & Gas Operators
Williams
EOG Resources Inc.
Hilcorp Energy Company
Wexpro Company
Exxon
Livestock Grazing
Permittees
Sims Ranch
Mosquito Creek Ranch
JF Ranch
Milleg Ranch
Rockin’ Chair Cattle Co.
C&D Livestock Wyoming State Lands
& Investments
A’Lisa Hoffman - Specialist
70. Project Contractors
DOWL
River Design Group
Jakola Engineering
Range Riders
Teton Science School
University of Wyoming – Facilitation
Mary Jones
Stream Dynamics
Wyoming Dept.
of Agriculture
Justin Caudill – District
Liaison
71. Funding Sources
Jonah Interagency Office – Mitigation Fund
Natural Resources Conservation Service – EQIP, SGI
Livestock Grazing Board
Wyoming State Lands & Investments
Bureau of Land Management
Wyoming Water Development Commission
Wyoming Wildlife Natural Resources Trust
Wyoming Game and Fish Department
Wyoming Landscape Conservation Initiative
Permittees
Oil & Gas Industry
72.
73. The Road to
Restoration
• Inception of the Range Program
• Attributes of the La Barge
Landscape
• Project-level collaboration
• Insights from partners along the
way
74. Thank you
Shari Meeks
Range Program Manager
Sublette County Conservation District
Pinedale, WY
smeeks@sublettecd.com
Editor's Notes
So, this is the story about how we got from here, to here.
As we started to look at the area further, we noticed sediment moving everywhere, not just in the alluvial fans, where you would expect it.
These are typical photos of our inventory
Using the BLM Technical Reference for Ecological Site Inventory, we developed Plan and Procedures for consistency. In 2018, SCCD hired 3 technicians and 1 project lead to collect vegetation data on 120 points over the course of 2 years. The points were stratified based on ecological site.
Second, the BLM obtained funding to better understand the ecological integrity of its reclaimed lands. In 2020, SCCD hired 1 technician for project support and completed the data collection on 35 sites. We were then responsible for compiling the data and writing the report.
We designed the project collaboratively with BLM, NRCS, and Oil & Gas companies while also communicating with Permittees. We completed a similar protocol as the Ecological Site Inventory so we could eventually develop relationships between datasets, if possible in the future.
We are still compiling the data and will have the report finalized by the end of this year.
Switching gears now to Livestock grazing. Livestock grazing on this landscape dates back to the early late 1800’s to the early 1900’s when homesteaders started moving out west on the likes of the Oregon Trail. As we learned earlier, settlement was encouraged throughout the West through various acts and provisions made by our young US government.
Over the years, folks have desired to complete permit renewal to improve flexibility of permit holders and to improve range condition. That said, during those processes, there have been many ideas on “how” to improve range condition under grazing. In 2009, SCCD was approached by the BLM to assist them with implementing riparian health assessments and rangeland health assessments, which were intended to inform a subsequent EA and grazing authorization.
Soon after, the EA was out for public comment. Permittees were not happy with the DRAFT EA and neither were the likes of non-profits that didn’t want livestock in the area. Period. This EA quickly got remanded due to the contention.
In 2016, a new Range Specialist for the area asked the SCCD to assist them with developing a monitoring plan and working with the permittees. And here is where our story starts with the graziers.
The State of Wyoming is fortunate to have a legislature that understands the importance of collaboration and rangeland health. Here we get the privilege fo hearing from Justin Caudill, about the Rangeland Health Assessment Program, which has enabled our Range Program to engage in the request from the BLM.
We were funded for what we call Phase 1. Of which we did a lot of inventory! Livestock grazing infrastructure were inventoried so we knew what was on the ground.
We created a monitoring plan – of which we create these “site books”. They indicate the site chosen, its background, correlation to ecological site, and the goals and objectives- and what method was agreed upon to inform those goals and objectives. Then we set up a schedule for monitoring.
On an annual basis, a monitoring report is then created for all partners to help inform them of the conditions that year, utilization on the landscape, and to see where we are in terms of meeting our goals and objectives.
Because resource concerns had been identified on the ladncsape prior to the RHAP- we had set aside some of the funds to bring in an outside opinion or a resource expert. We asked Van Clothier with Stream Dynamics to come and help us understand the landscape better and how we need to make changes to keep water on the landscape.
We then had a foundation built where we could then start developing a grazing plan that was agreeable to all partners. We met several times, I gave out homework and then we had group projects where we interacted at different meetings. They were meant to be dynamic, helpful, and to encourage the group to identify resource concerns and how to address them. Everyone had the opportunity to participate.
We started with identifying values on the landscape – and then the goals and objectives for each value. We kept coming back to this during every meeting, to maintain our trajectory.
We oftentimes had anywhere from 12-20 people engaged at our meetings.
The meetings were progressive. At every meeting there was an education component, a group project, and homework to reflect on what was learned. Each group project and homework assignment actively informed the writing of the final grazing plan.
The final result is a DRAFT grazing and implementation plan. In order to implement deferment or rest on the allotment, water must be reliable. Now we are applying for grants to help write the NEPA in order to drill several strategically placed wells to promote flexibility in livestock grazing for the future.
It took some poking and prodding, but we had two producers that were willing to reflect on the process.
As a non-regulatory agency, so, what was the key to SCCD’s involvement?
The SCCD has been a very pro-active district for many years. Much of that is due to the intertwined land ownership of public and private lands throughout Sublette County. We not only assist with private land management through Conservation Planning with our Sister Agency NRCS, but we have also found that there are many benefits to being involved in the federal NEPA processes with BLM and USFS.
These benefits do not only benefit the District and its mission, but it also has many direct benefits relating to our constituents as I will get to later.
What we have found over the years, and has really become apparent to me in my short time at SCCD, is that there are 2 things that really can catapult your Districts’ ability to be an effective participant in public land management.
Relationships – these can either be pre-existing or as developed through projects or even perhaps community involvement or other interaction –
As relationships are cultivated, it creates an atmosphere of respect where all partner inputs are valued
Relationships built on positive interactions are very helpful in collaboration and projects tend to make exponentially greater progress toward solutions and achievement of boots-on-the-ground
But what if those relationships don’t exist?
I would love to tell you just to go make friends with agency staff and you will be invited to everything they are ever doing…but that’s really not the case either…
Cooperating Agency Status- is the other key to unlocking the door for invitation into the NEPA process with federal agencies. Cooperating Agency Status provides the ability to get your foot in the door even if you don’t know a soul in the room.
Cooperating Agency Status is a benefit of being an entity of local government. The Code of Federal Regulations gives local agencies, such as Conservation Districts, the ability to be on the front lines of Federal land use planning.
Cooperating Agency Status gives you the ability to review documents and decisions before they go to the public comment period for any projects that require NEPA.
2) Districts can be involved at any level they want…from attending scoping meetings, to Cooperating Agency review of DRAFTS to attending more in depth planning meetings and having conversations to participation in alternative development…you may even have the opportunity to go as far as having a seat on the ID Team.
3) The limiting factor is just how much time you can commit to the planning of any one project or multiple projects.
As mentioned before, Cooperating Agency Status, is an opportunity that gives your District a seat at the table prior to any decisions going public. If you are interested, you have to request from the Agency, Status as Cooperating Agency on projects. You can do this on a project by project basis, as well as blanket MOU’s such as requesting Cooperating Agency Status on all grazing permit renewals for a certain field office.
A few parting words from our partners…
While the road is long, its honestly the relationships built along the way that matter the most when on the road to restoration.
Even building this presentation was collaborative! I would be remiss if I didn’t give credit to these ladies right here. The neighboring, Teton Conservation District provided filming equipment and expertise from Phoebe Coburn. Jessica Artz on the left, ensured recording success and provided for the editing of all interviews.