DRAFT October 24, 2012
Washington State National Water Quality Initiative
Request for Projects
Introduction
The Natural Resources Conservation Service (NRCS) is seeking willing partners and tribes to bring forward high priority project proposals that address water quality resource concerns within priority watersheds in Washington State. The intent is to leverage NRCS technical assistance and funding and find projects that will bring the best benefits from a focused investment. With the help of local partners and tribes, high priority projects will be identified to plan and implement a suite of beneficial conservation practices through the NRCS Environmental Quality Incentives Program (EQIP). Once high priority project proposals have been selected, NRCS will provide funding to landowners, tribes, and tribal members through individual contracts.
Through the National Water Quality Initiative (NWQI), the Natural Resources Conservation Service (NRCS) is offering financial and technical assistance to farmers, ranchers and forest landowners interested in improving water quality and aquatic habitats in priority watersheds with impaired streams. NRCS will help producers implement conservation and management practices through a systems approach to control and trap nutrient and manure runoff. Qualified producers will receive assistance for installing conservation practices such as cover crops, filter strips and terraces. For over 75 years, NRCS has provided agricultural producers with assistance to implement voluntary conservation practices that protect natural resources while maintaining production and profits
The National Water Quality Initiative will work in priority watersheds to help farmers, ranchers and forest landowners improve water quality and aquatic habitats in impaired streams. The eligible watersheds are identified as shown below (Fig. 1) and listed in (Fig. 2).
Fig. 1: PROJECT AREA MAP
Insert washington map of 303d impaired water bodies
Fig. 2 DESIGNATED FOCUS AREAS FOR THE NWQI FY 2013 (12-DIGIT HUCS)
Hydrologic Unit Code / Watershed / Hydrologic Unit Code / WatershedHow National Water Quality Initiative Works
The purpose of this notice is to solicit high priority project proposals from potential partners and tribes and to inform agricultural producers and landowners of the future availability of EQIP funds. Project proposals must encompass an area in one or more of the 12 digit HUC watersheds listed in Fig. 2. Project proponents are encouraged to submit projects that will take a systematic and all-inclusive approach in addressing the resource concerns and that have identified potential landowners who are interested in participating. More than one project may be selected. A watershed – based plan or inventory should exist for the nominated watershed.
Working with water quality partners, NRCS will identify one to three watersheds to which it will dedicate 5 percent of its EQIP funds. These selections must be completed by COB, xxxxx,
The identified watershed(s) must be listed on the HUC 12-digit watersheds with 303(d) impairments related to nutrients (including algal growth, low DO, and ammonia) and sediment (including turbidity) for watershed. The lists will include a count of 303(d)-impaired waters and list the specific sources of impairment for each watershed.
The data can be found at the RAD GIS Lab, in NHQ, for assembly and provision to the States. In addition, the RAD GIS Lab can provide other information on the total acres of agricultural land and acres of agricultural land vulnerable to leaching and runoff (CEAP soil vulnerability layer) in each 12HUC. This additional information is to be used to support the appropriate EPA 303 listed stream impairments information provided. Other factors that should be considered include USGS SPARROW model data, CEAP data, other NRCS initiatives, current projects, staffing, State resource assessments, State and local watershed management plans, existing monitoring efforts, and available data.
Although other impairments are eligible for the initiative, when selecting watersheds, States should emphasizing nutrients (including low DO, ammonia, and algal growth) and sediment (including turbidity) which is also reflected in the approved primary resource concerns. NRCS and collaborating agencies have targeted these impairments for the initiative.
Once the project proposals are selected, operators engaged in livestock or agricultural production, and private non-commercial forest landowners in the area covered by the project may apply for technical and financial assistance through EQIP. The funded applicants would enter into individual landowner/operator contracts with NRCS and agree to implement conservation practices on their land that are consistent with the project purpose. Eligible land includes cropland, hay land, pasture, private non-industrial forestland, headquarters, other farm or ranch lands and tribal lands. See the NRCS EQIP program website for information on how and when to apply. For more detail regarding eligibility and application requirements contact your local NRCS field office. Aggregate contract limitations for EQIP payments apply.
Funding
This EQIP funding is available for NWQI projects only. However, EQIP may not be the only funding mechanism for the NWQI in FY 2013.
EQIP funding will not be provided to project proponents, partners, or tribes who bring forth high priority project proposals. Rather, this is an opportunity for NRCS to provide technical and financial assistance to private landowners who have a component in executing projects that partners and tribes have identified as a high priority and that meet NWQI and local objectives.
Eligible Partners
Any of the following project proponents may submit project proposals for consideration:
· Indian tribes
· Units of federal government
· Units of state government
· Units of local government
· Agricultural, non-profit organizations, or other non-governmental groups working on fish passage and habitat restoration projects
Project Requirements
Project proposals must:
1) Be located in one or more of the watersheds listed in Fig. 2.
2) Have an existingwatershed-based plan or inventory with a baseline condition that identifies: source pollutant sources, existing land use and cover inventory, soil and topographic profile descriptions, streambank and bed erosion assessment, riparian corridor assessment, level of conservation practice implementation, and list of impaired streams with suspected pollutant sources.
3) Be for projects that will obligate NRCS program funds through individual landowner contracts by date to be determined.
4) Address one or more of the following primary water quality resource concerns:
5) A. Excessive Nutrients and Organics in surface water
6) B. Excessive suspended sediments and Turbity in Surface water
In addition to the primary resource concerns, addtitonal resource concerns that can be addressed are:
Water Quality:
· Excessive nutrients and organics in ground water
· Excessive salinity in groundwater
· Excessive salinity in surface water
· Harmful levels of Pesticides in Groundwater
· Harmful levels of Pesticides in Surface Water
· Harmful Temperatures of Surface Water
Fish and Wildlife
· Inadequate Water
· T & E Species: Declining Species, Species of Concern
· Threatened and Endangered Fish and Wildlife Species
Water Quantity:
· Insufficient Flows in Water Courses
Figure 3. Core NRCS Practices for the NWQI(at least One core practice must be contracted) :
Core Practice Code / Core Practice Name327 / Conservation Cover
328 / Conservation Crop Rotation
329 / Residue and Tillage management, No Till/Strip Till/Direct Seed
332 / Contour Buffer Strips
340 / Cover Crop
342 / Critical Area Planting
344 / Residue Management Seasonal
345 / Residue and Tillage Management, Mulch Till
386 / Field Border
390 / Riparian Herbaceous Cover
393 / Filter Strip
395 / Stream Habitat Improvement
410 / Grade Stabilization Structure
412 / Grassed Waterway
449 / Irrigation Water Management
472 / Access Control
528 / Prescribed Grazing
550 / Range Planting
561 / Heavy Use Area Protection
590 / Nutrient Management
600 / Terrace
601 / Vegetattive Buffer
612 / Tree/Shrub Establishment
638 / Water and Sediment Control Basin
*Other NRCS practices may be utilized to fully address the resource concern, provided the practices are supporting the target practices listed above.
Supporting Conservation Practices for the NWQI:
Supporting Practice Code / Supporting Practice Name313 / Waste Storage Facility
314 / Brush management
315 / Herbaceous Weed Control
316 / Animal Mortality Facility
317 / Composting Facility
356 / Dike
362 / Diversion
367 / Roofs and Covers
378 / Pond
380 / Windbreak/Shelterbelt Establishment
381 / Silvopasture Establishment
382 / Fence
395 / Stream Habitat Improvement & Management
396 / Fish Passage
422 / Hedgerow Planting
441 / Irrigation System, Microirrigation
442 / Irrigation System, Sprinkler
443 / Irrigation System, Surface & Subsurface
484 / Mulching
512 / Forage and Biomass Planting
516 / Livestock Pipeline
554 / Drainage Water Management
558 / Roof Runoff Structure
560 / Access Road
574 / Spring Development
575 / Animal Trail and Walkways
578 / Stream Crossing
582 / Open Channel
585 / Strip Cropping
587 / Structure for Water Control
588 / Cross Wind Ridges
595 / Integrated Pest Management
603 / Herbaceous Wind Barriers
614 / Watering Facility
635 / Vegetated Treatment Area
642 / Water Well
643 / Restoration and Management of Declining Habitats
654 / Road/Trail/Landing Closure
655 / Forest trails and Landings
657 / Wetland Restoration
666 / Forest Stand Improvement
A higher priority will be given to project proposals that:
1) Have a high percentage of producers actively farming or managing working agricultural or non-industrial private forest lands included in the proposed project area;
2) Provide an all-inclusive and systematic approach to addressing the resource concern(s).
3) Leverage non-USDA financial and technical resources and coordinate with other local, state, or federal efforts;
4) Deliver high percentages of applied conservation practices to address identified fish passage concerns and water quality concerns complementary to salmon habitat improvement;
5) Complete the application of the conservation practices and activities on all of the covered program contracts or cost-share agreements in 3 years or less;
6) Provide for environmental monitoring and evaluation of conservation practices and activities; or
7) Assist the participants and/or NRCS in meeting local, state, and federal regulatory requirements.
Individual applicant priority will be based on a high, medium and low priority as follows:
1. High: All of the conservation practices requested in the application will be implemented on land physically located inside the NWQI watershed, and includes core conservation practices as identified for the pollutants of the eligible watershed on more than 25% of the offered acres.
2. Medium: All of the conservation practices requested in the application will be implemented on land physically located inside the NWQI watershed, and includes core conservation practices as identified for the pollutants of the eligible watershed
3. Low: All of the conservation practices requested in the application will be implemented on land physically located outside the NWQI watershed, and includes core conservation practices as identified for the pollutants of the eligible watershed
Monitoring
Edge-of-field water quality monitoring activity standards will be implemented by NRCS and the opportunity to pay producers to do monitoring will be available in FY13.
Project Proposal Requirements
1) Project Title;
2) Project director/manager name, telephone number, mailing address, and email address;
3) Name and contact information for lead project proponent submitting proposal and other collaborating partners; and
4) Project description including a brief project summary, and:
a. Estimated project start and end dates;
b. Designated 12-digit HUC watershed, or contiguous multiple 12-digit HUCs sub-watersheds where the project is located, including the county(s);
c. General project objectives and resource concerns to be addressed as they relate to NWQI priorities and objectives;
d. A description of how an all-inclusive and systematic approach will be taken to address the resource concern(s);
e. Estimated total cost of the project(s); and
f. Whether the NWQI project proposal will be used in conjunction with any other federal, state or local programs to meet NWQI objectives. Include the name of the program and the associated federal, state or local entity and contact information. (Note: Other USDA federal funds cannot be used as a match to the funds provided by NRCS.)
g. A detailed description of the geographic area covered by the proposal, including:
i. Types of land uses to be treated; and
ii. The location and size of the proposed project area, and
iii. The 12-digit HUC sub-watershed(s) the project will be within.
h. A detailed map showing the project area. Include on the map:
i. Outlined areas that need conservation treatments;
ii. Location where conservation treatments are needed; and
iii. Priority order for the areas to be treated.
i. A project timeline.
j. A listing and description of the approved NWQI core conservation practices and partner activities to be implemented during the project timeframe and the general sequence of implementation of the project. Information about approved NWQI practices and activities can be accessed at http://www.wa.nrcs.usda.gov/. While other conservation practices listed in the Electronic Field Office Technical Guide, are eligible for use in NWQI, each individual project must include at least one of the core conservation practices listed in Figure 3. For each conservation practice, estimate the amount of practice extent (feet, acres, number, etc.) the partner expects producers to implement and the amount of financial assistance requested to support implementation of each practice through producer contracts.
k. Technical assistance efforts that will be made by the partner. Describe any activities that are innovative and include outcome-based performance measures, such as engineering designs, and fish monitoring, to be implemented by the partner, along with the schedule of such activities.
l. Indicate whether the project will address specific regulatory compliance and any other outcomes the partner expects to complete during the project period.
How to Apply
Project proponents may submit project proposals for the NWQI via email or U.S. Postal Service; however, all proposals must be received before close of business date to be determined.
Applicants are encouraged to submit project proposals electronically to . If submitting a paper project proposal, the project proposal may be mailed to:
Jeff Harlow
U.S.D.A. Natural Resources Conservation Service
Spokane, WA
Do not send submissions via registered or certified mail. Do not send the same project proposal both electronically and to the mailing address; use only one method to submit a project proposal. If submitting more than one project proposal, please submit each separately.