The purpose of the program is to assist land-users, communities, units of state and local government, and other Federal agencies in planning and implementing conservation systems. The purpose of the conservation systems are to reduce erosion, improve soil and water quality, improve and conserve wetlands, enhance fish and wildlife habitat, improve air quality, improve pasture and range condition, reduce upstream flooding, and improve woodlands.
Stacy Floyd, NRCS Soil Conservationist assists a local landowner to develop a conservation plan on his land.
Environmental Quality Incentives Program (EQIP) The Environmental Quality Incentives Program provides technical, educational, and financial assistance to eligible farmers and ranchers to address soil, water, and related natural resource concerns on their lands in an environmentally beneficial and cost-effective manner. The program provides assistance to farmers and ranchers in complying with Federal, State, and tribal environmental laws, and encourages environmental enhancement. The program is funded through the Commodity Credit Corporation. The purposes of the program are achieved through the implementation of a conservation plan which includes structural, vegetative, and land management practices on eligible land. Two to ten year contracts are made with eligible producers. Cost-share payments may be made to implement one or more eligible structural or vegetative practices, such as animal waste management facilities, terraces, filter strips, tree planting, and permanent wildlife habitat. Incentive payments can be made to implement one or more land management practices, such as residue management, upland wildlife habitat management, and grazing land management.
Incentive payments for no-till and strip-till farming is one of the most popular conservation practices under the Environmental Quality Incentives Program.
Grazing lands practices such as cross fencing pastures to allow for rotational grazing is another popular EQIP practice.
Conservation Security Program (CSP)
CSP is a voluntary program that provides financial and technical assistance to promote the conservation and improvement of soil, water, air, energy, plant and animal life, and other conservation purposes on Tribal and private working lands. Working lands include cropland, grassland, prairie land, improved pasture, and range land, as well as forested land that is an incidental part of an agriculture operation. The program provides equitable access to benefits to all producers, regardless of size of operation, crops produced, or geographic location.
Wildlife Habitat Incentives Program (WHIP)
WHIP provides financial incentives to develop habitat for fish and wildlife on private lands. Participants agree to implement a wildlife habitat development plan and NRCS agrees to provide cost-share assistance for the initial implementation of wildlife habitat development practices. NRCS and program participants enter into a cost-share agreement for wildlife habitat development. Cost-sharing is available for up to 75% of the cost of practice establishment. The cost-share agreement typically lasts a minimum of 5 years from the date that the contract is signed.
Long Leaf Pine communities, almost completely abandoned for many years in favor of faster growing varieties are on the comeback thanks in large part to the Wildlife Habitat Incentives Program.
District sponsored Prescribed Burning Demonstrations like this one in Telfair County, Have helped to secure cost share assistance through WHIP and helped to increase interest in this conservation practice.
SouthEast Georgia Irrigation Water Reservoir Program
This program provides technical and financial assistance for agricultural producers to construct or renovate irrigation ponds with the primary purpose of reducing our dependence on ground water for irrigation. The program is administered by the Georgia Soil and Water Conservation Commission, with technical assistance provided by the Soil and Water Conservation Districts and USDA Natural Resources Conservation Service.
S.E. Georgia Irrigation Pond Reservoir constructed on the farm of Charles Fletcher in Coffee County.
Wildlife Incentives for Non game and Game Species(WINGS)
Project WINGS is a right of way management campaign sponsored by the Two Rivers RC&D, Georgia Power, Georgia Transmission, MEAG Power, Savannah Electric and AGL Resources. Technical assistance is provided by USDA Natural Resources Conservation Service, Soil and Water Conservation Districts, Georgia Forestry Commission and The Georgia Dept. of Natural Resources.
An Appling County Farmer displays a WINGS sign which is used to mark boundaries of WINGS projects.
Erosion and Sedimentation Control:
Soil and Water Conservation Districts play a major role in the Erosion and Sedimentation Control Process in Georgia. Georgia Law requires that E&S plans be reviewed by local Conservation Districts, prior to E&S permits being issued. Through their partnership with NRCS which provides technical assistance for these reviews the District helps to keep local issuing authorities and local developers in compliance with Georgia Law. E&S Plans are reviewed by Supervisors in each county and then ratified at Monthly meetings in order to provide more prompt assistance to development projects. In conjunction with the State Soil and Water Conservation Commission, the District also co sponsors E&S seminars to help educate local developers and contractors about State law and Certification requirements. South Georgia Youth Park in Nicholls (Coffee County).
Hydroseeding demonstration at Altamaha District sponsored E&S project in Nicholls, (Coffee County)
Georgia Soil and Water Conservation Commisssion Upper Satilla River Basin 319 Project:
The Upper Satilla River Basin 319 project is a cost share assistance program made possible through the Clean Water Act, Section 319. Its goal is to reduce pollutant loadings from agricultural non-point sources within the Upper Satilla River watershed which includes parts of Atkinson, Bacon, Ben Hill, Coffee, Irwin, Jeff Davis, and Ware Counties. Agricultural and Livestock producers are eligible for assistance on a 60%-40% cost share basis to install Best Management Practices which will reduce the amounts of pathogens, algal growth, phosphorus, nitrogen, pesticides, and sedimentation in streams, ponds, lakes and other environmentally sensitive areas.
L-R: Zack Railey: NRCS, Craig Vickers: Poultry Producer, and Loren Hébert: SSWCC 319 Project Coordinator look over a Poultry Litter Stack Facility constructed with cost share assistance through the Upper Satilla River 319 Project.
