The Future of the Watershed Approach Rapid Watershed Assessments. Jan Surface 3 rd National Conference on Ecosystem Restoration July 23, 2009

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1 The Future of the Watershed Approach Rapid Watershed Assessments Jan Surface 3 rd National Conference on Ecosystem Restoration July 23, 2009

2 NRCS Strategic Plan Overarching Strategies Cooperative Conservation Watershed Approach Market-based Approach

3 Authority Watershed Protection and Flood Prevention Act (P.L ) authorizes the Secretary of Agriculture through the Natural Resources Conservation Service (NRCS) to cooperate with other Federal, State, and local agencies to plan and carry out work of improvements for soil conservation and other purposes

4 Three Programs under PL Watershed Surveys and Planning (Planning) Watershed Operations (Implementation) Watershed Rehabilitation (Repair)

5 Watershed Surveys and Planning Program Addresses the following resource concerns: Urban and rural community development Drought/water storage Erosion control Farmland protection Floodplain management Wetlands, fish and wildlife habitat Water quality

6 Investigation & Study Types P.L. 566 Watershed Plans Floodplain Management Studies Flood Insurance Studies Cooperative River Basin Studies Watershed Inventory and Analyses

7 iscal Year Appropriation 2001 $10,868, $10,960, $11,197,000 $12,000, $10,562, $7,083,000 $10,000, $6,180, $6,056,000 $8,000, $0 $6,000, $0 Appropriation Chart Watershed Surveys and Planning Program Appropriation $4,000,000 $2,000,000 $ President s Budget: $ Fiscal Year

8 Another Option for Watershed Planning Rapid Watershed Assessments

9 Rapid Watershed Assessments Provide a general picture of resource concerns, an estimate of the conservation needs, and an estimate of funding needs as well as potential sources of funding.

10 Rapid Watershed Assessment Components 1. Watershed Resource Profile 2. Summary Assessment Matrix

11 RWA Watershed Resource Profile Typical Elements in a Profile Physical Description Land Use Map Precipitation Map Common Resource Areas Resource Concerns Census and Social Data 303d Impaired Waters Progress/Status References/Bibliography

12 RWA Summary Assessment Matrix Contains: Current Conditions Table detailing the current level of conservation in the watershed Future Conditions Table identifying appropriate suites of conservation practices needed to deal with the primary resource concerns for each major land use Summary Table summarizing the various costs associated with the Resource Management System

13 WATERSHED NAME AND HUC NACHES, WA LANDUSE ACRES 4,854 LANDUSE TYPE Pasture, Irrigated TYPICAL UNIT SIZE 450 Assessment Information EST. PARTICIPATION 42% Bench -mark Future Conditions Resource Concerns Conservation Systems by Treatment Level Total Units Existing Units New Treatment Units Total Units Water Quantity Water Quality RMS System Rating -> 5 4 Irrigation System, Sprinkler (ac.) , , Irrigation Water Conveyance, Pipeline (ft.) 430 1,079 4, , Irrigation Water Management (ac.) , , Nutrient Management (ac.) , , Pasture & Hayland Planting (ac.) Pest Management (ac.) Pipeline (ft.) Prescribed Grazing (ac.) , Pumping Plant (no.) Residue Management, Seasonal (ac.) Water Well (no.) Total Acreage at RMS Level

14 FY Number of RWAs funded by NHQ Internal- Nation External- Nation Total Total

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17 Rapid Watershed Assessment vs. PL-566 Planning Rapid Watershed Assessment Rapid, Flexible Provides a platform for delivery of Farm Bill programs Planning intensity is successive, based on resource need Provides a platform for Environmental Assessment PL-566 Planning Longer time to completion Must conform to Principles and Guidelines for Federal funding Pre-determined level of planning intensity Typically requires Environmental Assessment or Environmental Impact Statement

18 Benefits of Rapid Watershed Assessment 1. Identifies resource needs and set priorities 2. Provides transparency to stakeholders 3. Provides useful information for all aspects of planning 4. Increases partner and stakeholder participation in the planning process 5. Facilitates assessments of workload and costs 6. Provides a platform for Farm Bill delivery

19 Findings from 2006 Lessons Learned Questionnaire How are RWAs being used within each State? Setting Local Priorities for Farm Bill Programs 44% Prioritize Implementation of Conservation 68% Set Future Staffing Levels 20% Marketing Tool for Programs 44% Information Source for Grant Proposal 88% ID Partnerships to Leverage Funding 50% Platform for more extensive planning 76%

20 Findings from 2006 Lessons Learned Questionnaire Who s Using RWAs? NRCS 82% (Field 58%, Area 63%, State 79%, Multi-State 27%) Soil and Water Conservation Districts 68% State Technical Advisory Committee 18% Resource Conservation and Development 59% Local Work Groups 63% Federal Agencies 23% State Agencies 63% Non-profits 41%

21 Rapid Watershed Assessment Information on the Web

22 NRCS State RWA Info on the Web Arizona Colorado Delaware Idaho Indiana Iowa Kansas Louisiana Michigan Minnesota Missouri Nebraska North Dakota Ohio Oklahoma Oregon Pacific Islands Area Pennsylvania South Carolina Utah Virginia Washington Wisconsin

23 Questions/Comments Contact Jan M. Surface National Watershed Planner