Tuolumne County Resource Conservation District

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Forest Conservation Activity Planning

General Program Description

Starting in 2010 California NRCS is offering a conservation planning practice as part of the Environmental Quality Incentives Program (EQIP). NRCS Field Offices in approved counties are now accepting applications from interested landowners and operators for conservation planning activities associated with Forestry. The 2008 Farm Bill includes the opportunity to provide financial and technical assistance for the development of Conservation Activity Plans.

Conservation Activity Plans

A conservation activity plan (CAP) combines specific land use objectives associated with a renewable resource with a comprehensive management plan that addresses all of the natural resource concerns within an agriculture or forestry operation. A CAP meets all NRCS conservation planning standards, and addresses cultural resources and other regulations outlined in the National Environmental Policy Act (NEPA). The purpose of a CAP is to outline a combination of vegetative, structural, and/or management practices necessary to protect and sustain natural resources on agricultural and forest landscapes, and to serve as a blueprint for future implementation of conservation practices..

NOTE: Applications for the General EQIP signup are accepted on an ongoing basis.

In California, NRCS is accepting applications from landowners and operators requesting assistance to develop:

• Forest Management Activity Plans: ownership specific conservation plans prepared by a Registered Professional Forester (RPF). The plan identifies and describes in detail the forest resources, management actions and conservation practices that will help the landowner meet their objectives, maintain production, meet regulatory requirements, and enhance soil, water, air, plants, fish, and wildlife resources.

Application and Planning Process:

A landowner or producer may submit an EQIP application for financial assistance to offset the development cost of a detailed Forest Activity Plan. Participants must enroll in EQIP before their Conservation Activity Plan is developed; payment for a CAP is not retroactive.

1. A producer applies for EQIP assistance for development of a CAP. To be considered for funding, applications must meet both the land and producer eligibility requirements. In addition, producers are allowed only one CAP on the same acreage at a time.
2. If approved for funding, the producer will select an RPF with previous planning experience from the roster of RPFs found at: http://www.bof.fire.ca.gov/professional_foresters_registration/locate_a_rpf_or_crm_/

3. The CAP must be developed by the RPF within 24 months.
4. After the CAP is complete, the landowner or producer submits it to NRCS. After NRCS approves the completed plan, the landowner will receive the EQIP payment for plan development. The established payment rates for CAPs are not more than 75% of the estimated incurred cost of plan development.

Where to Apply:

Applicants should submit form CPA-1200 to the Natural Resources Conservation Service Field Office representative in any of the approved counties. For assistance with Forestry Activity Plans, contact the NRCS office in Sonora or Jackson, listed below.

http://offices.sc.egov.usda.gov/locator/app?state=ca

Program Application:

To be eligible for EQIP a complete application must be submitted to the local NRCS office. Incomplete applications may be deferred to the next funding cycle. Deferred applications may be re-submitted when complete for the next fiscal year ranking cycle. EQIP applications are accepted on a continuous basis.

Complete Application Must Include:

ü  Form NRCS-CPA-1200 Application and Appendix: Signed and dated by all program participants or authorized persons. Depending upon the applicant and existing records, these additional forms and documentation may need to be completed:

ü  Form FSA-211 or NRCS-CPA-09: Power of Attorney – if applicable (Entity applicants must submit this form).

ü  Form AD-1026: Highly Erodible Land Conservation - Wetland Conservation Certification.

ü  Form CCC-901A: Entity Member Information, if applicable.

ü  Form CCC-926: Payment Eligibility Average Adjusted Gross Income (AGI) Certification.

ü  Form CA-LTP-5: Producer Certification of Irrigation History, if applicable.

ü  Land ownership or control: The applicant may be required to provide evidence of control of land through ownership documents (deeds, etc) or lease information (rental agreements, permits, lease, etc).

ü  Proof of Identity: Authorized persons may be required to show valid state driver’s license, passport or other personal identification as well as Social Security or EIN numbers, address and other information.

Note: Confidential and private information: Many of the program application forms or documentation requires the applicant to provide sensitive, contact, financial or other confidential information. Disclosure of this data is voluntary, but failure to provide the required information in a timely manner may result in the deferral of an application or denial of a benefit payment. By law and policy, confidential, private and sensitive information is protected by USDA and employees and agency partners are subject to penalty and disciplinary action for inappropriate or mismanagement of private data.

Forms and Documents:

EQIP Program Application and Appendix (PDF; 56 KB)

Screening Worksheet for Forest Management Activity Plan Applications

Technical Criteria for Developing Forest Management Activity Plans

Technical Criteria for Developing Integrated Pest Management Activity Plans

Additional Contact Information

Amy Rocha: District Conservationist,

12200B Airport Rd. Jackson, CA 95642

Tuolumne, Calaveras, Amador Counties

209-223-6535

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Matthew McNicol: Forester

Central Sierras

PO BOX 4394 Sonora, CA 95379

209-533-8866

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