Gulf Hypoxia and the Mississippi River Basin Healthy Watershed Initiative Presented by: Mike Sullivan, Arkansas State Conservationist
Mississippi/Atchafalaya River Basin
2008 Action Plan Goals 4 1. Coastal Goal: Strive to reduce or make significant progress towards reducing the fiveyear running average areal extent of the hypoxic zone to less than 5,000 square kilometers by the year 2015 2. Within Basin Goal: To restore and protect the waters of the 31 States and Tribal lands within the Basin through implementation of nutrient and sediment reduction actions 3. Quality of Life Goal: To improve the communities of the MARB, in particular the agriculture, fisheries, and recreation sectors, through a cooperative, incentive-based approach
Key Actions from 2008 Plan Three Actions to Accelerate the Reduction of Nitrogen and Phosphorus will have the most direct effect on the size of the zone Utilize existing programs to enhance protection of Gulf and local water quality Focus on State nutrient strategies Introduce complementary Federal strategies 11
Arkansas Strategies Identify nutrient reduction activities and determine funding needs. Develop nutrient reduction strategies, including an analysis of implementation costs. Support federal programs - Environmental Quality Incentive Program (EQIP), CRP, CREP, Wetlands Reserve Program (WRP). Support writing on farm nutrient management plans within designated nutrient surplus watersheds. Complete modification of Illinois River CREP agreement to increase landowner participation.
Objective Federal Strategies Mississippi River Basin Healthy Watersheds Initiative Improve the overall health and water quality in small watersheds MRBI Priorities Reduce nutrient runoff Restore and enhance wildlife habitat and wetlands Maintain agricultural productivity MRBI Uses a Systems Approach Conservation practices are used in combination for greater effectiveness Examples of Conservation Practices Nutrient management Conservation tillage Cover crops Erosion control structures
Back to the Future Legacy Principles Assess the resources, problems, and opportunities Draw on various sciences and disciplines and integrate into a plan for the whole property Work closely with land users so that the plans for conservation reflect their objectives Through implementing conservation on individual properties, contribute to the overall quality in the watershed
CEAP: The Conservation Effects Assessment Project Original goals: Quantify and establish the scientific understanding of the effects of conservation practices at the watershed scale, and estimate conservation effects and benefits at regional and national scales. Vision for the future: Enhanced natural resources and healthier ecosystems through improved conservation effectiveness and better management of agricultural landscapes. 15
CEAP: Regional Cropland Assessment Reports 16
CEAP: Key Findings of the Regional Cropland Assessments The voluntary, incentives-based conservation approach is achieving results. Opportunities exist to further reduce sediment and nutrient losses from cropland. Comprehensive conservation planning and implementation are essential. Targeting enhances effectiveness and efficiency. Full treatment of the most vulnerable acres will require a suite of conservation practices, because no single practice is a universal solution. 17
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Avoiding, Controlling, Trapping (ACT) Avoiding Nutrient management Rate, Timing, Form, Method Avoiding Controlling Residue and tillage management Drainage Water Management ACT Trapping Buffers Controlling Wetlands designed for nutrient removal Trapping
MRBI vs General Conservation Programs MRBI Projects proposed and sponsored by conservation partners Partners choose ranking questions Partners choose conservation practices Funding is provided within a specific project area Water quality monitoring and evaluation is included in conservation practices General Programs Funding provided through NRCS without matching contributions from partners State Technical Committee chooses ranking questions Most available practices can be selected by farmers Funding is statewide Water quality monitoring and evaluation is not available
Small Watershed Focus Projects address one or more 12-digit HUC watersheds within a designated 8-digit HUC focus area. 12-digit HUCs list is available on the NRCS MRBI website http://www.nrcs.usda.gov/internet/fse_documents/stelprdb1045823.pdf 21
Geographic Area Arkansas-Illinois-Indiana-Iowa-Kentucky-Louisiana-Minnesota-Mississippi- Missouri-Ohio-South Dakota-Tennessee-Wisconsin # Participating States # Focus Areas # CCPI Projects # WREP Projects FY2010 FY2011 FY2012 12 13 13 41 43 54 58 95 23 18 2 5
123 partner agreements covering 640 twelve-digit watersheds More than 577,508 acres of targeted conservation under contract or agreement Average of 9.5 partners per watershed FY10 FY12 funding = $222 million FY13 funding = up to an additional $80 million anticipated 123 partner agreements covering 640 twelve-digit watersheds More than 577,508 acres of targeted conservation under contract or agreement Average of 9.5 partners per watershed FY10 FY12 funding = $222 million FY13 funding = up to an additional $80 million anticipated
Landscape Conservation Initiative Funding MRBI Program for 13 states CCPI WREP CIG Total over the life of agreements Funding $269 million $260 million $26.6 million $555.6 million
Top 5 Practices for the MRBI States Practice Code Count Planned Amount Payment Amount Cover Crop 340 478 54,052 $3,473,694 Irrigation Storage Reservoir 436 27 98,561 $3,362,277 Waste Storage Facility 313 39 59 $3,289,363 Terrace 600 363 1,705,319 $3,208,786 Underground Outlet 620 429 1,011,718 $2,360,685
Cover Crop Reduce runoff from water erosion Increase soil organic matter content reducing nutrient inputs. Capture and recycle or redistribute nutrients in the soil profile. Promote biological nitrogen fixation and reduce energy use. Increase water quantity and availability for plant uptake. Suppress Weeds. Manage soil moisture. Minimize and reduce soil compaction. Enhance nutrient use efficiency
Nutrient Management Injecting split applications of nitrogen emphasizes the four R s: Right Source of Nutrients, Right Time of Application, Right Rate, and Right Method of Application This practice lines up with the national nutrient management strategy.
Expected Water Quality Results Reduced nitrogen and phosphorus loading into waterways Reduced sediment from sheet & rill erosion Reduced sediment from irrigation-induced erosion
15 Focus Areas Arkansas Progress Active Projects Mike Sullivan Arkansas State Conservationist 24 Projects 19 CCPI 5 WREP > 70 partners $135 m Fed Funding $28 m from producers > $1 m from WREP partners > 1 m acres to be treated
Arkansas Project Funding 2010 CCPI Projects Obligated EQIP funds to date 10/01/12 Total EQIP funding for project 1 - Little River Ditches $1,688,280 $3,093,614 2 - Lower St. Francis River $1,333,009 $2,908,836 3 L Anguille River $1,779,175 $4,182,105 4 Outlet Larkin Creek $1,111,238 $1,320,000 5 Point Remove Wetlands $6,018,346 $6,345,000 2011 CCPI Projects 7 Cache River NLR $647,572 $1,054,000 8 Lower St. Francis NLR $1,915,590 $4,202,275 9 Middle Bayou Macon $4,600,725 $5,450,000 10 Bayou Boeuf $1,361,753 $4,047,000 (AR gets $1,666,317) 11 Lower Bayou Macon $1,181,867 $2,764,200 (AR gets $1,382,100) 20102 CCPI Projects 12 Bayou Meto Arkansas Co. $811,024 $6,962,861 13 Bayou Meto Middle $729,173 $9,880,017 14 Lower Arkansas Upper $601,120 $9,650,276 15 Grand Prairie $1,071,866 $9,730,220 16 Big $537,740 $3,232,510 17 EAEC (L Anguille) $162,677 $1,214,875 WREP Projects 6 2010 Cache River 21 2012 AGFC 22 2012 Cache-L Anguille River 23 2012 Mississippi River Trust 24 2012 The Nature Conservancy 18 Tyronza River $411,614 $4,951,633 19 Middle Cache $297,507 $3,022,459 20 - Wapanocca $85,430 $1,318,286
Cache River Watershed WREP Project 2010 goal: Restore 10,000 acres Offers on 4,090 acres, restored 1,862 acres. Sediment load will be reduced by 27,000 tons/yr 8,000 additional acres in 2012 Designated as America s Great Outdoors project Big Woods large stand of bottomland HW Cypress estimated over 500 years old 200,000 acres designated as wetlands of International Importance TNC, USACE, USFWS, NRCS The Nature Conservancy Mike Sullivan Arkansas State Conservationist
Initiative Modifications in Lower Mississippi River Basin Water management additions/ revisions to current MRBI Multi-state Mississippi River batture lands forestry/wildlife initiative
MRBI in the Lower Mississippi River Valley State # of Contracts Funds obligated Treated acres Arkansas 671 26,478,114 167,595 Louisiana 72 1,837,195 18,775 Mississippi 403 20,898,497 69,853 Missouri 784 23,175,656 80,725 Tennessee 92 1,345,010 5,971 Total 2,022 73,734,471 342,920 Data Source: ProTracts FY12, Oct. 24, 2012
Water Quality Monitoring and Evaluation Voluntary monitoring to determine effects of conservation practice installation Partnering with Universities and other entities 3 tiered approach Edge of Field In Stream Pour Point
Typical MRBI Monitoring Partnerships Monitoring Activity Edge-of-Field monitoring partial funding for up to 9 years Edge-of-Field monitoring plan, equipment installation, sampling, analysis for up to 9 years In-stream monitoring above and below implemented conservation practices & edge-of-field sampling site 12-digit HUC outlet monitoring Partnership EQIP funding provided through NRCS to agricultural producer Monitoring partner contracts with landowner for assigned EQIP payment and contributes remaining funds Monitoring partner funds Monitoring partner funds Modeling of monitoring results Monitoring partner funds or funding agreements with NRCS at state level
Adaptive Management Initiative scale Add focus areas Review/modify eligible practices Evaluate and report results Project scale Annual review Review goals and evaluate progress Review/adjust ranking criteria Recommend eligible practices Field/contract scale Implement practices Evaluate results
Assessment of Projects Mike Sullivan Arkansas State Conservationist Reviews for 2010/11 Projects Partners are meeting their in-kind contributions. Good communication between all parties. Increase landowner participation in all projects. All projects need additional funding beyond projects request. Making progress in planning of core practices. Joint MRBI review meeting with Louisiana and Arkansas. Will adapt ranking questions for FY13 to ensure practices are implemented to proximity of streams.
Next Steps Mike Sullivan Arkansas State Conservationist More in depth review for existing projects right practices in right places, sufficient treatment to achieve objective? Monitoring Activity Plan (new guidelines) FY13 Request for Proposals (RFP) Same Focus areas EQIP funding only Share lessoned learned regarding successful projects
Questions? Follow-up questions can be sent to: Mike Sullivan State Conservationist Natural Resources Conservation Service Michael.sullivan@ar.usda.gov or call 501-301-3100
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Easement Funds Obligated WREP Acres Number of Easements Restoration Dollars Obligated Cache River (WREP) 2010 $2,044,900 1911 4 $1,051,011.50 TNC-FY11 $2,685,520 2233 9 $3,913,835 TNC FY12 $4,084,155 3249 19 $5,871,264.50 MRT-Batture Lands FY12 $989,650 713 2 $1,381,525 AR Game & Fish $810,000 568 4 $1,122,400 Cache/L Anguille (Poinsett Co.) 0 0 0 0 Total $10,614,225 8,674 38 $15,384,936