Pilot program seeks to enhance wildlife
NRC commits $1 million for plan
Elizabeth Larson
Capital Press Staff Writer
Jan 19, 2007
SACRAMENTO - The Natural Resources Conservation Service says it is committing $1 million in funds for a pilot program to help enhance wildlife on the state's rangelands.
NRCS's California state conservation, Ed Burton, announced the program at the second annual California Rangeland Conservation Coalition Summit in Sacramento Jan. 9.
The California Rangeland Conservation Coalition is a partnership of California's ranching community and environmental organizations united by the concern over the state's disappearing grassland.
The groups have joined with state and federal agencies to enhance the environment and preserve private ranches. Today, the coalition consists of 58 organizations actively pursuing mutual conservation goals.
Tracy Schohr, the coalition's director of rangeland conservation, said NRCS has been a partner in the coalition since its inception in 2005 and that members of its staff serve on every one of the coalition's committees.
"They've been very dedicated to our work," she said, adding that coalition partners worked with NRCS to establish the initiative.
Anita Brown of NRCS explained that the agency is setting aside the money, which comes from Environmental Quality Incentives Program funds, for purposes that support the rangeland coalition's aims of preserving rangelands and working ranches.
"We've been talking to people for the last year considering this option," she said. "Everyone we talked to thought it was a good idea."
NRCS' website explains that EQIP was reauthorized in the Farm Security and Rural Investment Act of 2002 (farm bill) to "provide a voluntary conservation program for farmers and ranchers that promotes agricultural production and environmental quality as compatible national goals. EQIP offers financial and technical help to assist eligible participants install or implement structural and management practices on eligible agricultural land."
Funds can be used to restore and enhance wildlife habitats for at-risk species and reduce impacts of invasive species, according to EQIP guidelines.
Brown said EQIP provides a cost-share program that covers a broad range of conservation and ranch management practices. In the past few years, the program's funding has grown from $5 million-$6 million to $48 million today, she said.
NRCS will decide which projects to fund, giving wildlife enhancement special focus, Brown said, and watch the results to see if the program should continue.
Bruce Hafenfeld, president of the California Cattlemen's Association, which helped found the rangeland coalition, said focus on wildlife will make a difference.
"Even through rangeland is home to an abundance of wildlife and many native plants, historically, projects to enhance wildlife on rangelands did not score high enough in the criteria to receive funding from EQIP," he said.
Schohr said potential projects funded by the program could include stock pond restoration, watering facilities that have been found to benefit wildlife and harbor endangered species like the California tiger salamander and grazing management programs that have been found to benefit wildlife.
Schohr said the commitment is a major step in helping the coalition complete rangeland projects in the year ahead.
"This is just the beginning of what we're going to achieve together," said Schohr.
Elizabeth Larson is based in Lucerne. Her e-mail address is elarson@capitalpress.com.
SACRAMENTO - The Natural Resources Conservation Service says it is committing $1 million in funds for a pilot program to help enhance wildlife on the state's rangelands.
NRCS's California state conservation, Ed Burton, announced the program at the second annual California Rangeland Conservation Coalition Summit in Sacramento Jan. 9.
The California Rangeland Conservation Coalition is a partnership of California's ranching community and environmental organizations united by the concern over the state's disappearing grassland.
The groups have joined with state and federal agencies to enhance the environment and preserve private ranches. Today, the coalition consists of 58 organizations actively pursuing mutual conservation goals.
Tracy Schohr, the coalition's director of rangeland conservation, said NRCS has been a partner in the coalition since its inception in 2005 and that members of its staff serve on every one of the coalition's committees.
"They've been very dedicated to our work," she said, adding that coalition partners worked with NRCS to establish the initiative.
Anita Brown of NRCS explained that the agency is setting aside the money, which comes from Environmental Quality Incentives Program funds, for purposes that support the rangeland coalition's aims of preserving rangelands and working ranches.
"We've been talking to people for the last year considering this option," she said. "Everyone we talked to thought it was a good idea."
NRCS' website explains that EQIP was reauthorized in the Farm Security and Rural Investment Act of 2002 (farm bill) to "provide a voluntary conservation program for farmers and ranchers that promotes agricultural production and environmental quality as compatible national goals. EQIP offers financial and technical help to assist eligible participants install or implement structural and management practices on eligible agricultural land."
Funds can be used to restore and enhance wildlife habitats for at-risk species and reduce impacts of invasive species, according to EQIP guidelines.
Brown said EQIP provides a cost-share program that covers a broad range of conservation and ranch management practices. In the past few years, the program's funding has grown from $5 million-$6 million to $48 million today, she said.
NRCS will decide which projects to fund, giving wildlife enhancement special focus, Brown said, and watch the results to see if the program should continue.
Bruce Hafenfeld, president of the California Cattlemen's Association, which helped found the rangeland coalition, said focus on wildlife will make a difference.
"Even through rangeland is home to an abundance of wildlife and many native plants, historically, projects to enhance wildlife on rangelands did not score high enough in the criteria to receive funding from EQIP," he said.
Schohr said potential projects funded by the program could include stock pond restoration, watering facilities that have been found to benefit wildlife and harbor endangered species like the California tiger salamander and grazing management programs that have been found to benefit wildlife.
Schohr said the commitment is a major step in helping the coalition complete rangeland projects in the year ahead.
"This is just the beginning of what we're going to achieve together," said Schohr.
Elizabeth Larson is based in Lucerne. Her e-mail address is elarson@capitalpress.com.