DAVIS, Calif., Feb. 12, 2016 /PRNewswire-USNewswire/
-- USDA's Natural Resource Conservation Service (NRCS) today
announced $220 million in funding for
84 partnership projects nationwide. California captured
funding for six projects—five completely within the state and one
shared with Oregon. Funding comes
through the Regional Conservation Partnership Program (RCPP), new
in the 2014 Farm Bill.
"We are excited and energized by these new projects that bring
together a diverse mix of partners to improve California's ecosystems and landscape," said
NRCS State Conservationist Carlos Suarez. "It is very
powerful to be able to engage in partnerships that embrace both
agricultural and environmental interests and perspectives—and find
collaborative ways of making progress on critical
issues."
Each project has its own set of conservation benefits, specific
goals and management practices and can extend up to five years.
Over the coming weeks, NRCS California staff will work with
representatives from the selected projects to establish the scope
and financial investment amounts for each individual project.
California-Specific Project Overviews:
- Sierra Valley Conservation Partnership Project. Lead
partner: Feather River Land Trust. Project will help to protect and
enhance mountain meadow ecosystems in Sierra Valley, promote
compatibility between wildlife habitat and agricultural landscapes,
improve water quality and foster drought resiliency.
- Sonoma County Venture Conservation. Lead
partner: Sonoma County Agricultural Preservation and Open
Space District. Project will focus on water supply, water quality,
soil quality and wildlife habitat in Sonoma County using cutting edge science and
technology.
- Yurok Traditional Landscape Management Plan. Lead
partner: Yurok Tribe. Project will address cultural resource
priorities, forest management plans, aquatic habitat conservation,
carbon sequestration goals and watershed restoration on their
tribal land.
- Salton Sea Agricultural Wetlands Habitat Program. Lead
partner: Salton Sea Authority. Project will help producers and
partners improve Salton Sea water
quality, Imperial and Coachella valley air quality, and restore
wildlife habitat and wetlands.
- North Coast Oak Woodland Conservation Project. Lead
partner: University of California
Cooperative Extension. Project will increase wildlife habitat,
restore structural integrity of oak woodland habitat, reduce
wildfire risks, increase plant communities, and improve forage and
shelter for livestock.
Multi-State Project Overview:
- Southern Oregon-Northeastern California Working Wet Meadows
Initiative. Lead partner: Intermountain
West Joint Venture. Project will address at risk wildlife
habitat and water quality by conserving 25,000 acres of wet meadow
habitats and improving the resiliency of working ranchlands.
In 2015, the first year of RCPP, NRCS selected six projects that
focused on bird habitat, climate change, forest health, and a
number of other conservation resources to ensure the health and
sustainability of California's
agricultural landscape.
RCPP selected competitive conservation projects, designed by
local partners specifically for their state or region. Eligible
partners included private companies, universities, non-profit
organizations, local and tribal governments and others joining with
agricultural and conservation organizations and producers to invest
money, manpower and materials to their proposed initiatives.
To view the original version on PR Newswire,
visit:http://www.prnewswire.com/news-releases/for-second-year-new-partnership-driven-projects-boost-conservation-in-california-300219687.html
SOURCE USDA's Natural Resources Conservation Service