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Watershed Agricultural Council and Natural Resources Conservation Service to coordinate; landowners with private, forested land holdings in 8-county watershed region to apply by July 17. |
WALTON, NY, July 2, 2009 - Private landowners with forestlands in Delaware, Greene, Schoharie, Ulster, Sullivan, Dutchess, Putnam and Westchester Counties can apply for the 2009 Environmental Quality Incentives Program (EQIP) through July 17. Last week, the Watershed Agricultural Council (WAC) and the Natural Resources Conservation Service (NRCS) were jointly assigned $200,000 in EQIP funding, to be directed specifically to clean-water and land conservation projects in the New York City watershed region. EQIP is a voluntary conservation program that provides financial and technical assistance to landowners willing to implement practices that improve natural resources on privately owned forestland.
NRCS is partnering with the Watershed Agricultural Council's Forestry Program to deliver the two EQIP Focus Areas. "Through EQIP, forest landowners can apply for financial and technical assistance in either the Forest Management Focus Area and the Forest Wildlife Focus Area," explained Tom Pavlesich, Forestry Program Manager at the WAC. "Applicants interested in improving forest management through forest health thinning, crop tree release, controlling invasive or undesirable species or controlling erosion on forest trails and landings can apply to the Forest Management Focus Area. Landowners interested in improving habitat for at-risk shrub or forest-dwelling bird species can apply to the Forest Wildlife Focus Area. WAC Forestry Program foresters will work with applicants from eligible counties to plan practices and prepare an EQIP application that can include thinning or removing trees for forest health, pruning mast trees to increase wildlife food, or planting trees and shrubs for wildlife food and cover."
"For watershed landowners, the EQIP funding will subsidize conservation measures that ultimately improve water quality," added Fred Huneke, WAC Chairman. "Trees and forested lands are Nature's water filters. In the NYC watershed, we work extensively with the New York City Department of Environmental Protections, U.S. Forest Service and U.S.D.A. on keeping surface water clean for drinking. This latest infusion of federal funding impacts both our local communities and our nine-million neighbors downstream." Each year -- as part of a voluntary, landowner conservation program -- the WAC receives funding from the New York City Department of Environmental Protection (NYC DEP) to put practices similar to those proposed by NRCS into place.
Roughly 75% of the 2,000-mile New York City watershed is covered in forest, the majority of that land being privately owned. The region's wood-based industry encompasses raw lumber materials, finished wood products and specialty items such as furniture. "Forests provide valuable environmental and economic benefits, and the financial and technical assistance available through EQIP can help to ensure the long-term health and sustainability of New York's forest resources," said Robert Davies, Director of New York DEC's Division of Lands and Forests.
Landowners can apply for EQIP at their local USDA-NRCS office. Landowners must have established property records with their local USDA Service Center Agency and submit a completed EQIP CPA1200 form prior to receiving assistance from the Watershed Agricultural Council's Forestry Program. The program is competitive, and applications are ranked based on national and state identified resource priorities and their overall benefit to the environment. All applications must be received by the local USDA NRCS office no later than July 17, 2009 to be considered for the fiscal year 2009 funding. For additional conservation program information please visit http://www.ny.nrcs.usda.gov/programs/.
"We are pleased to be able to offer forestland owners the opportunity to apply a variety of conservation and management practices that will improve the health and productivity of their forests, prevent soil erosion, and protect important habitat for at-risk wildlife species," noted NRCS State Conservationist Astor F. Boozer.
The Watershed Agricultural Council helps private landowners to improve their farm and forest lands in order to protect clean drinking water for nine million New York City residents. The WAC works with almost 1,000 landowners to enlist private contractors to develop conservation plans and construct conservation practices in accordance with farm and forest management plans.The New York City watershed covers an area of 1.2 million acres and contains 19 water supply reservoirs and 3 controlled lakes. The City's water is unfiltered, one of only five metropolitan water sources nationwide that do not undergo significant water treatment protocols. This is in large part due to the success of the New York City Watershed's voluntary program whereby landowners agree to apply conservation practices on their properties.
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| FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE
START: July 2, 2009
END: July 17, 2009 |
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SUMMARY: Landowners with forestlands in Delaware, Ulster, Greene, Schoharie, Sullivan, Westchester, Putnam and Dutchess counties can apply for NRCS conservation grants to improve forest wildlife habitat and manage timber assets on private property.
Deadline is July 17, 2009. |
RELEASE CONTACT:
Forestry Program Manager
(607) 865-7790 x113 |
WAC CONTACT:
Tara Collins
Communications Director
(607) 865-7090 x226
(607) 643-5148 cell |
The Watershed Agricultural Council is a 501(c)(3) nonprofit organization whose mission is to support the economic viability of agriculture and forestry through the protection of water quality and the promotion of land conservation in the New York City Watershed region. The WAC is funded by The New York City Department of Environmental Protection, U.S. Department of Agriculture, U.S. Forest Service and other federal, foundation and private sources. The WAC is an Equal Opportunity Provider and Employer.
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