NRCS CONSERVATION PROGRAMS AND THE INFLATION REDUCTION ACT: The additional $19.5 billion infunding available over the next five years for EQIP, RCPP, CSP, ACEP programs includes $1 billion for technical assistance, and $300 million to measure, evaluate, and quantify carbon sequestration and greenhouse gas emission reductions from conservation investment. https://tinyurl.com/NRCSIRAFunds
- Climate smart agriculture and forestry practices: reduce wildfire risk, store carbon, increase buffers, enhance habitat, and protect drinking water! https://tinyurl.com/NRCSClimateSmart
- NRCS national priority source water protection area map: delineated areas for increased cost share in each state https://www.nrcs.usda.gov/programs-initiatives/source-water-protection
DRINKING WATER PARTNERS: State source water protection programs and drinking water utilities can work in partnership to:
- Share maps, water data, and information on forested lands and drinking water protection areas (surface and ground water).
- Provide information and leverage potential funding sources.
- Assist with implementation and help target forestry initiatives and practices.
- Share information and conduct outreach to communities and landowners.
RESOURCES
- National Source Water Collaborative www.sourcewatercollaborative.org
- State Source Water Protection Programs www.asdwa.org/source-water/
- Southeastern Partnership for Forests & Water www.southeasternpartnership.org/
TOOLS
- Tools for Engaging Landowners (TELE) https://www.engaginglandowners.org/
- Forests to Faucets 2.0 US Forest Service Watershed Analysis https://bit.ly/foreststofaucets2
- Drinking Water Mapping Application to Protect Source Waters https://bit.ly/EPADWMAPS
FUNDING
- EPA Funding Integration Tool for Source Water (FITS) www.epa.gov/sourcewaterprotection/fits
- Southeastern Partnership Funding Page https://southeasternpartnership.org/funding
EXAMPLES OF FOREST/WATER COLLABORATION
- Conservation Districts:
- Michigan Forests for Clean Water (MACD) https://tinyurl.com/HuronRiverForestsWater
- Montana Conservation Corps https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=zD6rVwiDJ4I
- State-Based Partnerships:
- Texas Partnership for Forests and Water https://tfsweb.tamu.edu/forestsandwater/
- Arkansas Forests and Drinking Water Collaborative https://www.arforestsandwater.com/
- South Carolina Forests & Water Initiative https://www.scforestsandwater.com/
- Watershed-Based Partnerships & Programs:
- Sebago Clean Waters (ME) www.sebagocleanwaters.org/
- Upstream Matters (City of Raleigh, NC) www.upstreammatters.org/
- Savannah River Clean Water Fund (GA) https://savannahrivercleanwater.org/
- Colorado Forest Restoration Institute https://cfri.colostate.edu/projects/forests-to-faucets/
CONTACTS FOR MORE INFORMATION AND HELP:
- Conservation Districts – Annica McGuirk (annica-mcguirk@nacdnet.org
- Source Water Partners – Sylvia Malm (smalm@gwpc.org)
- Southeastern Partnership for Forests & Water – Kathy Hawes (kathy@kathyhawes.com)