Mississippi River Basin Healthy Watersheds Initiative MRBI OVERVIEW Thomas W' Christensen Regional C

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Mississippi River BasinHealthy
WatershedsInitiative (MRBI)OVERVIEWThomas W.
ChristensenRegional ConservationistUSDA 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 - NRCS

• Dedicated 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
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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 RFPs 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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Cooperative Conservation Partnership Initiative
(CCPI)

• 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 partners
  proposed project area.

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Cooperative Conservation Partnership Initiative
(CCPI)

• 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 appropriate NRCS State Conservationist or,
  for multi-State proposals, to the NRCS Chief for
  evaluation
• The NRCS Chief will give final approval for all
  proposals

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Cooperative Conservation Partnership Initiative
(CCPI)

• Financial assistance for monitoring is a key
  component being piloted
• 10 maximum of total financial assistance funds
  in a proposal may be designated for edge of field
  monitoring through producer contracts.
• New NRCS practice standard for monitoring and
  evaluation is being developed.
• A payment schedule will be developed for
  monitoring practices

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Cooperative Conservation Partnership Initiative
(CCPI)

• Higher priority will be given to proposals that
• Integrate multiple program projects
• Provide evidence of a watershed planning process
• Demonstrate the partners financial commitment
  and capability to accomplish water quality
  monitoring
• Include an effective monitoring component
• 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 this initiative, 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 standard
  wetland protection, restoration, and enhancement
  practices in the Field Office Technical Guide.

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Wetlands Reserve Enhancement Program (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.
• Partner required to provide financial and/or
  technical resources for monitoring.
• Proposals which 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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Wetlands Reserve Enhancement Program (WREP)

• Individual landowners may not submit 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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Wetlands Reserve Enhancement Program (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 partners history of working
  cooperatively with landowners.

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Wetlands Reserve Enhancement Program (WREP)

• The Chief shall give a higher priority to
  proposals that
• Utilize innovative methods and outcome-based
  performance measures.
• Provide evidence that projects will be completed
  within 2 years.
• Demonstrate partners financial commitment to
  monitoring.

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Wetlands Reserve Enhancement Program (WREP)

• The Chief shall give a higher priority to
  proposals that
• Assist the participants meet regulatory
  requirements.
• Provide for evaluation of effectiveness beyond
  water quality.
• Provide for matching funds to assist landowners
  implement.
• Facilitate the submission of landowner
  applications.

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Wetlands Reserve Enhancement Program (WREP)

• The Chief shall give a higher priority 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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Conservation Innovation Grants (CIG)
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.
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Conservation Innovation Grants (CIG)

• Project Eligibility
• To be eligible for CIG, projects must involve
  landowners who meet the EQIP eligibility
  requirements.
• Matching Funds
• Selected applicants may receive CIG grants of up
  to 50 percent of the total project cost.

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Conservation Innovation Grants (CIG)

• CIG MRBI is a Component of the National CIG
  Request for Proposals.
• For FY 2010, CIG is considering 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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Conservation Innovation Grants (CIG)

• 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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Conservation Innovation Grants (CIG)

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

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Conservation Innovation Grants (CIG)

• 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.
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Conservation Innovation Grants (CIG)

• 1) Purpose, Approach and Goals
• Design and implementation of project based on
  sound methodology and/or demonstrated technology.
• Promotes environmental enhancement 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.

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Conservation Innovation Grants (CIG)

• 2) Innovative Technology or Approach
• Project is innovative
• Project conforms to the description of innovative
  projects or activities in the Request for
  Proposal.

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Conservation Innovation Grants (CIG)

• 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.

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Conservation Innovation Grants (CIG)

• 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 traditionally 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

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CORE CONSERVATION PRACTICES AVOIDING 328 -
Conservation Crop Rotation 340 - Cover Crop 528 -
Prescribed Grazing 590 - Nutrient Management 633
- Waste Utilization CONTROLLING 329 - Residue
Tillage Management - No Till/Strip Till 330 -
Contour Farming 345 - Residue Tillage
Management - Mulch Till 346 - Residue Tillage
Management - Ridge Till 412 - Grassed
Waterway 512 - Pasture Hayland Planting 554 -
Drainage Water Management 585 - Stripcropping 600
- Terrace 643 - Restoration Management of
Declining Habitats 645 - Upland Wildlife Habitat
Management TRAPPING 332 - Contour Buffer
Strips 656 - Constructed Wetland 390 - Riparian
Herbaceous Cover 657 - Wetland Restoration 391 -
Riparian Forest Buffer 658 - Wetland
Creation 393 - Filter Strip 659 - Wetland
Enhancement 601 - Vegetative Barriers 747 -
Denitrifying Bioreactor 635 - Vegetated Treatment
Area
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SUPPORTING CONSERVATION PRACTICES AVOIDING 313 -
Waste Storage Facility 317 - Composting
Facility 327 - Conservation Cover 381 -
Silvopasture Establishment 382 - Fence 472 -
Access Control 511 - Forage Harvest
Management 558 - Roof Runoff Structure 561 -
Heavy Use Area Protection 612 - Tree Shrub
Planting 632 - Solid/Liquid Waste Separation
Facility 634 - Waste Transfer
CONTROLLING 324 - Deep Tillage 342 - Critical
Area Planting 362 - Diversion 386 - Field
Border 410 - Grade Stabilization Structure 430 -
Irrigation Water Conveyance 447 - Tailwater
Recovery 449 - Irrigation Water Management 468
Lined Waterway or Outlet 484 - Mulching 533 -
Pumping Plant 587 - Structure for Water
Control 606 - Subsurface Drainage 607 - Surface
Drainage 620 - Underground Outlet 638 - Water
Sediment Control Basin
TRAPPING 342 - Critical Area Planting 533 -
Pumping Plant 350 - Sediment Basin 587 -
Structure for Water Control 356 - Dike 629 -
Waste Treatment 436 - Irrigation Storage
Reservoir 638 - Water Sediment Control
Basin 490 - Forest Site Preparation 646 - Shallow
Water Development Management
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Conservation Activity Plans

• Comprehensive Nutrient Management Plan (102)
• Irrigation Water Management Plan (118)
• Drainage Water Management Plan (130)

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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

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Projected Timeline

• November 23 2009 Selection of Watershed Focus
  Areas (8 digit HUCs)
• Late December 2009 Release of Requests for
  Proposals (CCPI, WREP, CIG)
• Late February 2010 Closure of Requests for
  Proposals
• (60 days after release)
• Late March 2010 Selection of Project Areas (12
  digit HUCs)
• April and June 2010 Enter into Agreements with
  Partners in Project Areas, and Conduct signup
  with Landowners/Producers
• June - September 2010 Obligate funds through
  Agreements and Contracts Begin Conservation
  Practice Implementation

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Questions?

• Follow-up questions can be sent to
• Aaron Lauster
• Acting MRBI coordinator
• aaron.lauster_at_mi.usda.gov or 202-690-0318

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EEO Statement

• The U.S. Department of Agriculture (USDA)
  prohibits discrimination in all its programs and
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