USDA funds Idaho conservation projects (2023)
Brad Carlson/Capital Press file
Three Idaho projects have received more than $9.22 million through the USDA Natural Resources Conservation Service.
Through its Regional Conservation Partnership Program, NRCS coordinates with public and private partners on voluntary projects designed to improve land and watersheds. Some $1 billion combined went to 81 projects in Fiscal Year 2023.
The Butte Soil and Water Conservation District received nearly $3.66 million to improve the Burnett Irrigation Ditch. The project aims to increase irrigation efficiency, protect water sources and improve aquatic habitat, according to an NRCS news release.
The Butte district was also awarded nearly $2.44 million to improve the Blaine County Canal Co. pipeline. The work includes converting 61,000 feet of open canal into a pipeline. The project is expected to benefit aquatic organisms, maintain the integrity of aquatic habitat and improve water quality.
“The unprecedented demand for the program shows how much interest there is from producers and partners for voluntary conservation on the ground,” Bruce Sandoval, acting state conservationist in Idaho for NRCS, said in the release. “USDA is making historic investments and streamlining the program to make it work better for producers and partners,” a combination expected to “deliver conservation at a scale never before achieved through RCPP.”
Through its Regional Conservation Partnership Program, NRCS coordinates with public and private partners on voluntary projects designed to improve land and watersheds. Some $1 billion combined went to 81 projects in Fiscal Year 2023.
The Butte Soil and Water Conservation District received nearly $3.66 million to improve the Burnett Irrigation Ditch. The project aims to increase irrigation efficiency, protect water sources and improve aquatic habitat, according to an NRCS news release.
The Butte district was also awarded nearly $2.44 million to improve the Blaine County Canal Co. pipeline. The work includes converting 61,000 feet of open canal into a pipeline. The project is expected to benefit aquatic organisms, maintain the integrity of aquatic habitat and improve water quality.
“The unprecedented demand for the program shows how much interest there is from producers and partners for voluntary conservation on the ground,” Bruce Sandoval, acting state conservationist in Idaho for NRCS, said in the release. “USDA is making historic investments and streamlining the program to make it work better for producers and partners,” a combination expected to “deliver conservation at a scale never before achieved through RCPP.”
Increasing flow rates in the little lost river, Idaho DEQ (2023)
The Butte SWCD was awarded $250,000 to assist the Blaine County Canal Company in Howe to convert open irrigation ditch to buried pipeline. The goal of the project is to reduce sediment in the Little Lost River as well as making more efficient use of irrigation water to keep more flow in the river.
LOR Foundation awards the butte swcd with field work grant to explore innovative water conservation practice (2023)
The Butte SWCD was awarded $9,774 by the LOR Foundation to conduct water conservation research. The project will focus on using shadeballs to reduce evaporation on livestock watering tanks in the Big Lost River Valley. A control site will be established to measuring water lost with and without shadeballs. Field sites will also be established to examine how livestock and wildlife interact with the shadeballs. Stay tuned for results in 2024!
Butte Soil and Water Conservation District Receives GRANT
From Rocky Mountain Power Foundation (2022)
The Rocky Mountain Power Foundation has awarded Butte SWCD located in Arco, Idaho a grant in the amount of $3,000.00 to assist with the installation of fish screens on the Blaine County Canal Company’s newly installed irrigation pipeline near Howe.
The Rocky Mountain Power Foundation is part of the PacifiCorp Foundation, one of the largest utility-endowed foundations in the United States. The foundation was created in 1988 by PacifiCorp, an electric utility serving 1.9 million customers in six Western states as Rocky Mountain Power (Utah, Wyoming and Idaho) and Pacific Power (Oregon, Washington and California). The foundation’s mission, through charitable investments, is to support the growth and vitality of the communities served by Rocky Mountain Power and Pacific Power. For more information, visit www.rockymountainpower.net/foundation.
Project Neighborly (2022)
The Butte SWCD was awarded $3,500 from the Idaho Community Foundation's Project Neighborly to purchase tables, canopies, signage and other equipment for the farmer's market in Arco. We hope to encourage participation of local producers by providing the booth infrastructure needed for the market booths. The equipment will also be utilized for a community gardening/homesteading educational group that will meet once a week.
The Butte SWCD was awarded $3,500 from the Idaho Community Foundation's Project Neighborly to purchase tables, canopies, signage and other equipment for the farmer's market in Arco. We hope to encourage participation of local producers by providing the booth infrastructure needed for the market booths. The equipment will also be utilized for a community gardening/homesteading educational group that will meet once a week.
Forest education grant awarded to butte swcd (2022)
The Butte Soil and Water Conservation District was awarded $200 from the Idaho Forest Products Commission through their Forest Education Grant program. The funding will provide materials for Arbor Day celebrations at Butte County and Mackay schools as well as the District's annual 6th grade Natural Resources Tour in the fall.
Butte SWCD Receives "Be Outside, Idaho" Grant (2021)
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ARCO – The Butte Soil and Water Conservation District was awarded $1,913.50 from the Idaho Recreation and Tourism Initiative (IRTI) to expand and upgrade outdoor youth activity programs. The IRTI is a coalition of state and federal agencies that have the common goal of fighting “outdoor deficit disorder” among youth. Their mission is to connect children with nature in Idaho, from backyards to mountaintops. The Butte SWCD will be using their funding to provide pollinator-themed outdoor educational activities for students in Howe, Arco, and Mackay. District employee Stephanie Barnes stated that “the District has always placed a high importance on engaging youth with hands-on activities to foster a love of the outdoors and to provide a base for natural resource conservation education. This grant will allow us to expand our current capacities and purchase some much-needed equipment.” This year’s educational theme for the Butte SWCD is “Where Would We BEE Without Pollinators?” and will focus on the importance of pollinators in agriculture. You can learn more about the Butte SWCD by visiting www.butteswcd.org and liking us on Facebook @ButteSoilAndWaterConservationDistrict. To learn more about Be Outside, Idaho visit their webpage at https://www.beoutsideidaho.gov/.
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Butte SWCD Selected for Friends of NACD Grant Award
CONTACT: Sara Kangas, NACD Director of Communications
(202) 547-6223; sara-kangas@nacdnet.org
FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE
February 10, 2020
NACD ANNOUNCES DISTRICT GRANT RECIPIENTS
LAS VEGAS – Today, National Association of Conservation Districts (NACD) Second Vice President Kim LaFleur announced recipients of the inaugural Friends of NACD District Grants program.
The Friends of NACD Districts Grants program is a new initiative of the NACD District Operations and Member Services Committee, of which LaFleur is the chairwoman. The program enables funds raised through individual donations in support of locally-led conservation to fund four conservation district projects of up to $2,500 each.
“Conservation districts work with a variety of customers on a daily basis to deliver solutions across a wide range of landscapes,” LaFleur said. “Every dollar we put in the hands of conservation districts helps to deliver more conservation practices on the ground and in local communities.”
The Friends of NACD program was established in 2009 to enable individuals to support locally-led conservation.
The Richland Soil and Water Conservation District in Columbia, S.C., will begin a seed sanctuary to promote home gardening, sustainable gardening practices and pollinator conservation.
The Sierra Soil and Water Conservation District in Truth or Consequences, N.M., will host its inaugural conservation education summer camp, which will be free for middle school students in Sierra County and will focus on natural resources education through presentations from guest speakers, field trips, games and more.
The Eastern Rhode Island Conservation District in Tiverton, R.I., will launch a seedling sale program to expand district fundraising while educating the local community on the value of planting native trees.
The Butte Soil and Water Conservation District in Arco, Idaho, will establish agricultural chemical container recycling programs—which are currently not available locally—to promote the value of reducing plastics in the waste stream. The conservation district will purchase recycling containers for local farmers, ranchers, homeowners and businesses to leave their plastic pesticide, herbicide and other chemical containers for proper handling and recycling.
“The district grants program enables conservation officials and leaders to directly help conservation districts,” LaFleur said. “These projects will help NACD’s members expand their reach and further conservation delivery.”
Learn more about the district grants program on NACD’s website.
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About the National Association of Conservation Districts:
The National Association of Conservation Districts is the nonprofit organization that represents the nation's 3,000 conservation districts, their state and territory associations and the 17,000 men and women who serve on their governing boards. For more than 70 years, local conservation districts have worked with cooperating landowners and managers of private working lands to help them plan and apply effective conservation practices. For more information about NACD, visit: www.nacdnet.org.
Butte SWCD Receives Technical Assistance Grant
CONTACT: Sara Kangas, NACD Director of Communications
(202) 547-6223; sara-kangas@nacdnet.org
FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE
March 30, 2020
NACD ANNOUNCES
$8.5 MILLION IN GRANTS
TO CONSERVATION DISTRICTS
WASHINGTON – Today, the National Association of Conservation Districts (NACD) announced the award of $8.5 million in new technical assistance grants to over 300 conservation districts in 49 states and territories.
This is the third year of the Technical Assistance Grants program, created with funds from the United States Department of Agriculture Natural Resources Conservation Service (NRCS), to help increase staffing at the field level to provide conservation services to farmers, ranchers, forestland owners and local communities across the U.S.
“Even in this time of a national emergency, landowners have conservation concerns that need to be addressed,” NACD President Tim Palmer said. “We’re proud to provide funding to America’s conservation districts that allows for more boots on the ground, providing support for their individual landscapes and resource concerns.”
These funds will support over 230 full- and part-time individuals, resulting in approximately 175 full-time equivalent staffing. More than $2.3 million of matching funds are to be added to these awards, further increasing the impact of the grants. State conservation partnership leaders have identified high priority locations and workloads to help guide where the funds can best be placed.
The funds announced today will support resource technicians, conservation planners, program support specialists, foresters, cultural resource specialists, agronomists and other specialists based on the local needs and priorities identified by state and territory leaders. All these employees will provide conservation technical assistance to help customers carry out their conservation plans. NACD anticipates more than 10,000 conservation plans; 18,000 conservation practices; and 10,000 contracts will be implemented through this technical assistance announcement.
These grants are programmed for a 13-month period with the opportunity to continue, should funds continue to be available.
NACD will also be releasing a new Request for Proposals in the near future for another $6.5 million in funding, with a response period of 60 days and awards expected to be made this summer.
“As our nation’s private lands continue to provide an abundant supply of foods, goods and services, even in times of crisis, we must also remember to take care of the land,” Palmer said. “By providing additional conservation technical assistance through these awards, NACD and its conservation districts will stand armed and ready to provide local knowledge and decision making for their customers and cooperators, so they can continue to grow and provide the nation’s food, fuel, feed and fiber.”
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About the National Association of Conservation Districts:
The National Association of Conservation Districts is the nonprofit organization that represents the nation’s 3,000 conservation districts, their state and territory associations and the 17,000 men and women who serve on their governing boards. For more than 70 years, local conservation districts have worked with cooperating landowners and managers of private working lands to help them plan and apply effective conservation practices. For more information about NACD, visit: www.nacdnet.org.
CONTACT: Sara Kangas, NACD Director of Communications
(202) 547-6223; sara-kangas@nacdnet.org
FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE
March 30, 2020
NACD ANNOUNCES
$8.5 MILLION IN GRANTS
TO CONSERVATION DISTRICTS
WASHINGTON – Today, the National Association of Conservation Districts (NACD) announced the award of $8.5 million in new technical assistance grants to over 300 conservation districts in 49 states and territories.
This is the third year of the Technical Assistance Grants program, created with funds from the United States Department of Agriculture Natural Resources Conservation Service (NRCS), to help increase staffing at the field level to provide conservation services to farmers, ranchers, forestland owners and local communities across the U.S.
“Even in this time of a national emergency, landowners have conservation concerns that need to be addressed,” NACD President Tim Palmer said. “We’re proud to provide funding to America’s conservation districts that allows for more boots on the ground, providing support for their individual landscapes and resource concerns.”
These funds will support over 230 full- and part-time individuals, resulting in approximately 175 full-time equivalent staffing. More than $2.3 million of matching funds are to be added to these awards, further increasing the impact of the grants. State conservation partnership leaders have identified high priority locations and workloads to help guide where the funds can best be placed.
The funds announced today will support resource technicians, conservation planners, program support specialists, foresters, cultural resource specialists, agronomists and other specialists based on the local needs and priorities identified by state and territory leaders. All these employees will provide conservation technical assistance to help customers carry out their conservation plans. NACD anticipates more than 10,000 conservation plans; 18,000 conservation practices; and 10,000 contracts will be implemented through this technical assistance announcement.
These grants are programmed for a 13-month period with the opportunity to continue, should funds continue to be available.
NACD will also be releasing a new Request for Proposals in the near future for another $6.5 million in funding, with a response period of 60 days and awards expected to be made this summer.
“As our nation’s private lands continue to provide an abundant supply of foods, goods and services, even in times of crisis, we must also remember to take care of the land,” Palmer said. “By providing additional conservation technical assistance through these awards, NACD and its conservation districts will stand armed and ready to provide local knowledge and decision making for their customers and cooperators, so they can continue to grow and provide the nation’s food, fuel, feed and fiber.”
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About the National Association of Conservation Districts:
The National Association of Conservation Districts is the nonprofit organization that represents the nation’s 3,000 conservation districts, their state and territory associations and the 17,000 men and women who serve on their governing boards. For more than 70 years, local conservation districts have worked with cooperating landowners and managers of private working lands to help them plan and apply effective conservation practices. For more information about NACD, visit: www.nacdnet.org.
