MN CREP 2019 Winter Updates

Transcription

1 MN CREP 2019 Winter Updates 1

2 Signage Importance All RIM easements are required to be properly signed If Farm Bill Assistance Staff worked on an easement, need to post a sign w/ Legacy Logo on the site If CREP Technician worked on an easement, need to also post an ENRTF sign on the site Contact Tabor Hoek, John Voz or Tim Fredbo if you need signs Buy posts and hardware, submit Reimbursement Request 2

3 Recap What s happened since August? Funded 12,000+ CREP acres Farm Bill Signed Dec. 20 th Federal Shutdown 3

4 Updates Farm Bill impacts to CREP FSA released a revised signup guide Next Batching Periods CREP Workbook, Uploading Addressing the Buffer Law & CREP Roundout examples Restoration Planning 4

5 Farm Bill impacts to CREP CREP Agreement is still valid, signup can continue New SRR s that come into effect will be for CREP, as well CREP still uses 160% of SRR SIP and PIP are still available 5

6 Farm Bill Impacts to CREP FSA released a revised signup guide Nov. 27 th Key Impacts: CRP-1 is signed by landowner later in the process (but still prior to sending the CREP application in through the app module) CPA-52 (Environmental Evaluation Worksheet, eg. Cultural Resources documentation). BWSR boundary review & BWSR letter Then State FSA second-party review (first 5 offers) Then NRCS & FSA portion completed CRP-1 Approval 6

7 Next Batching Periods First, FSA allows CRP-1 s to be generated for CREP Then, Batching periods determined and announced Batching period outlook Here s data from the latest batching period: Batch # Batching Period Date Practice Min. Score /20/2018 CP /20/2018 CP /20/2018 CP /20/2018 CP-23a 40 7

8 CREP Workbook Current version can still be uploaded New version to be released that includes the following updates: Eliminates Buffer Law waiver questions (Program Eligibility) Includes an additional field to reflect the Roundout acres that are existing CRP (CEFW) Local Staff won t need to revise current workbooks, or workbooks to be submitted the next batching period 8

9 Addressing the Buffer Law & CREP USDA Notice CRP-416 Land Not Enrolled in CRP Land that is not currently enrolled in CRP, and which is subject to Minnesota Statute 103F.48 is ineligible for enrollment in CRP beginning: November 1, 2018, for land adjacent to public drainage systems November 1, 2017, for land adjacent to public waters. Areas subject to Buffer Law can t be enrolled in CRP, UNLESS a reenroll into CRP or CREP. 9

10 Addressing the Buffer Law & CREP The following slides include the BWSR Proposal to address areas subject to the buffer law and their eligibility when tied to a CREP application. This is a heads up for now and will need to be integrated into program guidance buffer area? Exclude in 95%+ of cases. In some instances, we may want it included in the easement (e.g. ditch abandonment), but would need to be donated 10

11 Addressing the Buffer Law & CREP 50 buffer area? If cropped 2 out of 5 most recent years: paid for at RIM-Only Non-crop Rate (limited to adjacent area, no other caps) If no crop history, subject to the 20% limit Any excess excluded as a first choice, or donated as a second alternative 11

12 Addressing the Buffer Law & CREP Restoration As with any area included in our easement, we want as full restoration as possible. BWSR can pay up to 100% of cost (subject to practice limits) for wetland restoration, veg restoration or enhancement 12

13 Public Water Scenario Public Water (50ft) Buffer Area (All Cropland) 13

14 Public Water Scenario Public Water (50ft) Eligible for RIM-Only Non-Crop MN CREP Eligible Buffer Area 14

15 Public Water Scenario Public Water (50ft) Eligible for RIM-Only Non-Crop MN CREP Eligible Buffer Area 15

16 Public Ditch Scenario Public Ditch (16.5ft) 16.5 area should be excluded (even if it meets RIM Crop History) MN CREP Eligible Buffer Area 16

17 Roundout Examples June 2018: Roundout provisions updated (additional acreage beyond the CREP offer) Existing CRP (limited to 50% of MN CREP Ac.) Standard Roundout criteria (limited to 20% of MN CREP Ac., typically noncropland) Expansion from 4:1 limit of Upland:Wetland to allow for up to 8:1 limit of Upland:Wetland (only applies to CP-23a) Buffer Law Roundout Provision: Ability to pay noncrop rate for area within 50 that was cropped 2 of 5 past years 17

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19 MN CREP Cropland (100 Acres) 19

20 MN CREP Cropland (100 Acres) Existing CRP: RIM Only Cropland Rate (45 Acres) 20

21 MN CREP Cropland (100 Acres) RIM Only Non-Cropland Rate (10 Acres) Existing CRP: RIM Only Cropland Rate (45 Acres) 21

22 MN CREP Cropland (100 Acres) RIM Only Non-Cropland Rate (10 Acres) Existing CRP: RIM Only Cropland Rate (45 Acres) 4:1 8:1: RIM Only Cropland Rate (45 Acres) 22

23 Restoration Planning Cost Share and PIP FSA C/S (50% reimbursement) + BWSR C/S (50% reimbursement) + Practice Incentive Payment Note: BWSR will not reimburse for establishment (clippings) or ongoing maintenance, but will reimburse for wetland restoration work, site prep, seed, and seeding. 23

24 Restoration Planning Requesting BWSR C/S 1. Determine $ eligible for CRP Reimb., submit request for CRP C/S 2. Submit a C/S Voucher to BWSR 24

25 What to do in anticipation of next Batching Period Continue to reach out to potential applicants Use the 2018 MN CREP & RIM-Only Rates Prepare applications using current workbook in preparation for CRP- 1 s to be generated Market the program in other ways (freedom to be creative) 25

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27 What to do in anticipation of next Batching Period If you currently have funded apps, try to wrap up as much as you can. That will free up time for additional marketing, as well as processing 2019 funded apps. 27

28 CREP Wetland Restoration Trainings This training will focus on wetland restoration planning and implementation on CREP Easements. We ll highlight important considerations when you re evaluating a site for restorability and scoring, as well as showcase opportunities where you can tag on some of the RIM-Only provisions to make for a better site or higher score. We ll also share information on the implementation side of these CREP Easements to see these sites through restoration. Be sure to attend to hear the latest CREP updates. Registration information forthcoming, but make sure to save one of these dates on your calendars now. MANKATO - March 5th (Tuesday) Mankato Armory 100 Martin Luther King Junior Drive, Mankato, MN MARSHALL - March 6th (Wednesday) Southwest West Central Service Cooperative (SWWC) 1420 East College Drive (Located in Marshall Mall - SW Backside)Marshall, MN ALEXANDRIA -March 7th (Thursday) Holiday Inn 5637 Highway 29 SouthAlexandria, MN

29 Wetland Repairs & Native Revegetation Wetland Repairs: Contact Terry Ragan. Sites prioritized by likelihood of structure failure and downstream concerns Native Reveg: $150,000 available. Contact Tabor or John Voz. Sites prioritized by proximity to other permanently protected lands, higher species diversity, pairing with other C/S, and likelihood of success PF has ENRTF funds currently available through mid-february. Take first shot at those funds prior to seeking these Native Reveg funds.

30 BWSR Easement Programs Dave Rickert & John Voz

31 Programs Northern Forest Protection Wild Rice Shoreland Mississippi Headwaters Protection ACUB Other RIM Programs Wild Rice WD Partnership RIM Grasslands Wetland Banking Healthy Waters Protection

32 Wild Rice Shoreland Protection

33 Mississippi Headwaters Protection

34 Army Compatible Use Buffers (ACUB)

35 Healthy Waters Protection Focused on protection in headwaters of the Mississippi Clean Water Funds (CWF)

36 Lower Wild Rice River Corridor Restoration Wild Rice Watershed District: 36

37 RIM Grassland Reserve $2.27 Million Approved by LSOHC for funding consideration to protect moderate quality native remnant prairies. Work in close coordination with established Prairie Conservation Plan Local Technical Teams (LTT s) Proposal will enroll 500 acres (approx. 6 easements) 37

38 RIM Grassland Reserve Proposal includes cost share for veg establishment, prescribed burning, Tree removal. Prescribed Grazing is encouraged as a management tool. Typical 90% cropland & 60% noncropland rates Buffers are encouraged around remnants 38

39 RIM Grassland Reserve Target is moderate quality remnants that can be improved and protected Sites listed as high quality should go to the DNR Prairie Bank Program for funding consideration Funding would be available July 1 st of Start thinking about sites now 39

40 Wetland Banking Another Option for Landowners

41 Good Sites for Wetland Banking Needs to have a restorable wetland Goal is to restore new wetlands. Existing wetlands aren t eligible for credit unless they involve a hydrology or vegetative restoration. One exception would be for wetlands previously restored through CRP. These may be eligible for wetland credits. All wetland types are desirable & treated equally in terms of generating credit Everything from small seasonal potholes to floodplain wetlands to a wetland flat that only saturated soils. Upland acres capped at restorable wetland acres While upland buffers are very important, regulations focus on wetlands and therefore the wetland to upland buffer ratio is limited to 1:1. High quality wetland restorations that are feasible to restore Undesirable characteristics: Restoring only part of a basin due to ownership, a large county ditch running through the basin would be problematic, etc. In general, a good wetland restoration for CREP would be a good restoration for wetland banking.

42 Wetland Banking Options The traditional wetland banking option Landowner (LO) proposes the project, develops the site, and LO gets credits to sell (see CREP vs. Wetland Banking comparison handout) This option is always available. Not dependent on funding, priority areas, etc. The easement purchase option (funding dependent) This option is very similar to doing straight RIM, including a per acre RIM-like payment. BWSR develops the site and BWSR gets the credits. There currently is funding for a few projects.

43 Initial Contact Dennis Rodacker Wetland Mitigation Project Manager MN Board of Water & Soil Resources Phone: (651)