Continuous CRP CCRP

1
Continuous CRP (CCRP)

• NRCS Technical Guidance Conservation Plan and
  Practice Criteria

Ecological Sciences Section March 2007
2
CCRP Technical Assistance

• Like every other program, practices planned must
• address a resource concern
• be feasible for the site,
• designed to meet NRCS technical
  standards (FOTG)
• meet CRP program requirements
• gt FSA - program policy, size, CS policy
• gt NRCS purpose, (size?, CS?)
• NRCS makes the final practice eligibility
  decision

3
CCRP Technical Assistance

• Additional Guidance for Marginal Pasture
• cannot have both marginal pasture andcropland
  in the same contract
• 2CRP indicates -
  if land is suited to trees, then CP22 is the
  practice to use.- if land not suited to trees,
  use CP29 or CP30.- In NC, this is a client
  choice, unless there are technical water quality
  reasons to require a 391 (CP-22).
• - if excluding livestock from existing tree
  cover would fully address resource concern, then
  not eligible for CCRP ie. there should be some
  change to vegetation as part of CCRP plan.

4
CCRP Technical Assistance

• Program size policy CAN (WILL?) influence
  practice design
• Minimum Criteria is a technical issue (will the
  practice function properly to accomplish CCRP
  purposes?)
• Maximum Criteria is a program issue (CRP allow
  wider width and will often pay for more than the
  minimum needed to meet NRCS standard?)

5
Conservation Plan Development

• Coordinating with NCDFR Other Agencies
• NRCS insures that specific practice requirements
  are communicated to other agencies (use the Tech
  Request/other written documentation)
• NRCS checks other agencys plan to insure that
  prescription meets NRCS practice standards and
  CRP requirements. Your plan must be specific!
• All elements of the other agency plan must be
  incorporated in overall conservation plan and
  contract support document (ex. release
  treatments, etc.)

6
PLAN and CPO REQUIREMENTS

• Prepared using in Toolkit (plan and contract).
• Has a good Conservation Plan Mapuse ArcGIS and
  FSA CLU layer when available. Otherwise generate
  your own map using GIS or FSA map provided with
  CRP-1. Tabular toolkit ok.
• Conservation Plan Map shows CCRP field
  boundaries, qualifying water if applicable,
  practice location (structural practices, planned
  riparian buffer zones, wildlife openings, natural
  regeneration, etc.)
• Includes all eligible acresuse field numbers and
  acres from CRP-1. (Ineligible acres may be
  required in plan.)
• Includes a soils map and legend

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PLAN and CPO REQUIREMENTS - more

• Contains practices and narratives needed for
  successful establishment and OM. Refer to Job
  Sheets (which should have incorporated all
  requirements of other agency plan),
  designs/specifications.
• Use CCRP Plan Matrix (Dec. 2006).
• Contains required management practices (Also in
  CCRP Plan Matrix)

8
PLAN and CPO REQUIREMENTS - more

• Plan should cover the standard CRP boilerplate
  stuff!
• Prohibits harvesting or grazing
• Contains control of weeds, insects, pests
• Encourages best maintenance (management) of
  approved cover (prescribed burning)
• Ensures that cover is not disturbed in nesting or
  brood season
• Is reviewed (signed) by SWCD
• Incorporates requirements for permits (if needed)
• Is signed by all parties to the CRP-1
• Schedule to establish cover in 1st 12 months (1st
  24 months if approved by COC, NRCS, up to 3 years
  for certain hardwood situations)

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Aids, helps, enhancements to improve
plan/contract quality and consistency

• Sign-up 35 CCRP Plan Matrix other
  helps www.nc.nrcs.usda.gov/programs/CRP/CRPrules.h
  tml
• CP33 Upland Bird Habitat Buffer Jobsheet
• CP36 Longleaf Pine fact sheet
• Conservation Plan Checklist ? NEW (handout)
• www.nc.nrcs.usda.gov/technical/TechRef/CPGuidance
  .html
• Forestry Tech. Request Worksheet (not for CCRP
  yet)
• Guidance on using TSPs for CRP
• Updated Cost List
• www.nc.nrcs.usda.gov/programs/CRP/CRPrules.html

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Other Plan/CPO Issues

• FSA is the contact for cost share questions.
• Mowing and chemical spraying can be done at any
  time, including primary nesting season if
  required for establishment.
• Plan 666 for release years after establishment.
• Only 2 CS chemical sprayings are allowed by FSA
  policy, 1 pre-plant and 1 post plant
• Provide a full copy of plan to FSA (including
  AD1155, job sheets, Other Agency Plan)

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OTHER CRP Technical Assistance

• Reconstitutions and Change of Ownership
• NRCS/TSP There is a difference!

12
CP5A Field Windbreak, noneasement

• POLICY apply to eligible cropland needing
  protection against serious wind erosion and
  enhance wildlife.
• PURPOSE establish windbreaks to improve the
  environmental benefits on a farm or ranch to
  reduce cropland erosion below soil loss tolerance
  enhance the wildlife habitat on the designated
  area.
• SIZE (width) design standard in FOTG,
  established to reduce cropland erosion regardless
  of the purpose of the field windbreak. The
  maximum width of a field windbreak shall not
  exceed the design standard established to reduce
  cropland erosion.
• OTHER must bring soil loss to less than T,
  wildlife is not a major option here even though
  in the purpose cannot exceed size needed to
  bring soil loss to T (wildlife opportunity in
  species selection)
• Management activities - None
• 10 to 15 year CRP contract

13
CP8A Grassed Waterway, noneasement

• POLICY apply to eligible cropland
• PURPOSE purpose of this practice is to
  convey runoff from terraces, diversions, or other
  water concentrations without causing erosion or
  flooding improve water quality.
• SIZE (width)
• Minimum meet FOTG requirements
• Maximum up to 2 times the minimum, if
  requested, not to exceed 100ft.
• OTHER improve environmental benefits to less
  than T, prevent recurring degradation, wildlife
  is secondary (vegetation choice)
• Management activities - None
• 10 year CRP contract

14
CP9 Shallow Water Areas for Wildlife

• POLICY Apply this practice to eligible
  cropland that is suitably located and adapted to
  the development or restoration of a shallow water
  area for wildlife that will provide a source of
  water for the majority of the year.
• PURPOSE develop or restore shallow water
  areas to an average depth of 6 to 18 inches for
  wildlife. The shallow water area must provide a
  source of water for wildlife for the majority of
  the year. must include an adequate buffer
  area of perennial vegetation to protect the water
  quality and provide wildlife habitat
• SIZE whole practice (including buffer) cannot
  exceed 10 acres.
• Minimum buffer width 20 ft. (filter strip std)
• Maximum buffer width 120 ft. average
• Management activities 647/light disking
  rotation or 338/prescribed burning rotation
• 10 year CRP contract

15
CP16A Shelterbelt, noneasement

• POLICY Apply this practice to eligible
  cropland to protect farmsteads or livestock areas
  against serious wind and to save energy. (Not
  the same as field windbreak)
• PURPOSE to establish shelterbelts on a farm or
  ranch to enhance the wildlife
  habitat on the designated area
• save energy
• protect farmsteads or livestock areas.
• SIZE (width)
• Minimum meet FOTG requirements to protect
  farmsteads or livestock
• Maximum up to 2 times the minimum if requested
  (wording muddy, assume we can go up to 2 times
  minimum)
• OTHER wildlife seems to be lowly though
  mentioned in purpose (wildlife opportunity in
  species selection)
• Management activities - None
• 10 to 15 year CRP contract

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CP21 Filter Strips

• POLICY must be adjacent to and parallel to
  stream or water body (over a page of
  explanation in 2-CRP) NRCS determines
  cropland is suitable to be devoted to a filter
  strip the filter strip is needed and feasible
  to solve the resource concern the cropland is
  capable, after the filter strip is established,
  of substantially reducing pollutants in the
  nearby eligible stream or other water body.
• PURPOSE water quality
• SIZE (width)
• Minimum meet FOTG requirements, not less than
  20 ft.
• Maximum 120 ft (wider if needed for WQ and
  justified in writing), up to 50 of drainage
  area.
• OTHER Sheet flow required wildlife mentioned
  in environmental concerns
• Management activities 647/light disking
  rotation or 338/prescribed burning rotation
• 10 to 15 year CRP contract

17
CP22 Riparian Buffer

• POLICY must be adjacent to and parallel to
  stream or water body (over a page of
  explanation in 3-CRP) NRCS determines the
  cropland/marginal past. is suitable to be devoted
  to a riparian buffer the riparian buffer is
  needed and feasible to solve the resource concern
  the cropland/marginal past. is capable, after
  the riparian buffer is established, of meeting
  the purposes Zone 1 of the riparian buffer is
  devoted (planted or natural regeneration) to
  trees.
• PURPOSE basically water quality, aquatic
  organisms, lower temperature, other wildlife
  habitat
• SIZE (width) there is a new NRCS - NC 391
  Riparian Forest Buffer std. width of buffer
  measured from top of streambank, existing trees
  must be considered.
• Zone1 15 ft min. (deciduous)
• Zone 2 20 ft min. (deciduous, conifer, mixed
  depending upon purpose) per 391 std.
• Per 2-CRP, minimum width of Zone 1 2 is lesser
  of 100 ft or 30 floodplain
• Zone 3 of native vegetation may be needed for
  concentrated flow (lt 20ft. for marginal past.)
• Maximum CP-22 width 180 ft (wider if needed for
  WQ and justified in writing) up to 50 of
  drainage area.
• OTHER Sheet flow. Consider hydrology
  restoration and filter strips on bisecting
  ditches. Can C/S for fencing, watering facility,
  pipelines, etc (total CS for water dev. 3000)
• Management activities If wildlife openings
  planned, 647 (to maintain openings) or 645 for
  plantings in openings.
• 10 to 15 year CRP contract

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CP23 Wetland Restoration

• POLICY APPLICATION Apply this practice to
  eligible wetlands and associated acreage that are
  suitably located and adapted to the restoration
  of wetland functions and values. The restoration
  of wetland hydrology is only required to the
  extent specified by the producer. (Must be 51
  hydric soils not including buffers)
• PURPOSE restore the functions and values of
  wetland ecosystems that have been devoted to
  agricultural use. The level of restoration of the
  wetland ecosystem shall be determined by the
  producer in consultation with NRCS or TSP.
• SIZE determined by NRCS must be in 100yr
  floodplain and meet 51 hydric.
• Maximum buffer adjacent buffer to protect
  wetland and improve wildlife cannot exceed 31
• OTHER incentive for restoring hydrology (25)
  veg. suited to wetland type to be restored (based
  on site)
• Management activities 644 Wetland WL Habitat
  Mgt / water table control
• 10 to 15 year CRP contract

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CP23A Wetland Restoration, non
floodplain

• POLICY APPLICATION Apply this practice to
  eligible wetlands and associated acreage that are
  any of the following located outside the
  100-year floodplain The land must be suitable
  and adapted to the restoration of wetland
  functions and values. The restoration of wetland
  hydrology is only required to the extent
  specified by the producer.
• PURPOSE restore the functions and values of
  wetland ecosystems that have been devoted to
  agricultural use. The level of restoration of the
  wetland ecosystem shall be determined by the
  producer in consultation with NRCS or TSP.
• SIZE determined by NRCS.
• Maximum buffer adjacent buffer to protect
  wetland and improve wildlife cannot exceed 41
• OTHER incentive for restoring hydrology (25)
  veg. suited to wetland type to be restored (based
  on site)
• Management activities 644 Wetland WL Habitat
  Mgt / water table control
• 10 to 15 year CRP contract

20
CP29 Marginal Past. Wildlife Buffer

• POLICY must be adjacent to and parallel to
  stream or water body (over a page of
  explanation in 2-CRP) natural vegetation for
  site is primarily a mixture of grasses, shrubs,
  and forbs NRCS determines the marginal
  pastureland is suitable to be devoted to a
  wildlife habitat buffer the wildlife habitat
  buffer is needed and feasible to solve the
  resource concern the marginal pastureland is
  capable, after the wildlife habitat buffer is
  established, of substantially reducing pollutants
  in the nearby eligible stream or other water
  body.
• PURPOSE basically water quality (where trees
  not suited)
• SIZE (width) determined by NRCS from top of
  bank
• Minimum meet FOTG requirements for WQ, not less
  than 20 ft existing trees must be considered
• Maximum 120 ft, wider if needed for WQ and
  justified in writing
• OTHER though this is called a wildlife buffer
  most of language is WQ and not wildlife wildlife
  through natives watering facility, pipelines,
  fence, etc (total CS for water dev. 3000)
• Management activities 647/light disking
  rotation on 1/3 to ½ buffer each yr. and
  herbicide to control unwanted woody vegetation.
• 10 to 15 year CRP contract

21
CP30 Marginal Past. Wetland Buffer

• POLICY must be adjacent to and parallel to
  stream or water body (over a page of
  explanation in 2-CRP) and wetlands NRCS
  determines the marginal pastureland is
  suitable to be devoted to a wetland buffer the
  wetland buffer is needed and feasible to solve
  the resource concern the marginal pastureland
  is capable, after the wetland buffer is
  established, of substantially reducing pollutants
  in the nearby eligible stream or other water
  body.
• PURPOSE basically water quality and improve
  wildlife habitat
• SIZE (width) determined by NRCS (written a lot
  like CP29 from top of bank)
• Minimum meet FOTG requirements for WQ, not less
  than 20 ft existing trees must be considered
• Maximum 120 ft, wider if needed for WQ and
  justified in writing
• OTHER more specific for wildlife in purpose,
  etc. most of language is WQ watering,
  pipelines, fence, etc (total CS for water dev.
  3000)
• Management activities - 647/light disking
  rotation on 1/3 to ½ buffer each yr. and
  herbicide to control unwanted woody vegetation.
• 10 to 15 year CRP contract

22
CP31 Bottomland Timber
Establishment on Wetlands

• POLICY Apply this practice to eligible lands
  suitable for growing bottomland hardwood trees or
  adapted shrubs that will provide multipurpose
  forest and wildlife benefits. Eligibility
  section be within the recognized 100-year flood
  plain for a river or stream with permanent flow
• PURPOSE establish and provide for the long-term
  viability of a bottomland hardwood stand of trees
  that will control sheet, rill, scour, and
  other erosion reduce water, air, or land
  pollution restore and enhance the natural and
  beneficial functions of wetlands promote carbon
  sequestration restore and connect wildlife
  habitat.
• SIZE determined by NRCS (whole fields within
  100 yr. floodplain)
• OTHER CS policy requires (3 hardwood species),
  softwoods will not meet CS policy in NC natural
  regeneration by nuts/seed not allowed
• Management activities - None
• 10 to 15 year CRP contract

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CP33 Habitat Buffers for Upland Birds

• POLICY no section on this CP practice
• PURPOSE provide food and cover for quail and
  upland birds in cropland areas. Secondary
  benefits may include reducing soil erosion from
  wind and water, increasing soil and water
  quality, protecting and enhancing the on-farm
  ecosystem.
• SIZE determined by NRCS (field must be gt5ac)
• Minimum 30 ft
• Maximum 120 ft
• OTHER wildlife is main reasonearly
  successional veg. required not a whole field
  practice travelways required for access
• Management activities 647/light disking
  rotation on 1/3 to ½ buffer each yr. and
  herbicide spot treatment once year 6-8 to control
  unwanted woody vegetation. Opt 338/prescribed
  burning on 1/3 to ½ buffer each yr.
• 10 year CRP contract

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CP36 Longleaf Pine Initiative

• All from CRP-541 NOTICE not in 2-CRP yet
• PURPOSE reestablish longleaf pine stands at
  densities that benefit wildlife and protect water
  quality
• ELEGIBLE LAND cropland in Longleaf CPA FSA
  Soils database
• OTHER portions of fields w/ soils not suited to
  LL are ineligible, 400-500 trees per acre
  understory management required planting suitable
  native grass/forbs optional
• Management activities 338/prescribed burning
  and 394/firebreak per schedule in matrix
• 10 to 15 year CRP contract

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Continuous Conservation Reserve Program

• Spirited discussion and questions