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Water Resources Congress Agency Updates October 31, 2013

Water Resources Congress Agency Updates October 31, 2013. Pat Harris, Director North Carolina Division of Soil & Water Conservation. Mission Statement.

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Water Resources Congress Agency Updates October 31, 2013

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  1. Water Resources CongressAgency Updates October 31, 2013 Pat Harris, Director North Carolina Division of Soil & Water Conservation

  2. Mission Statement To foster voluntary, incentive-driven management of soil, water and related natural resources for the benefit of the environment, economy and all citizens.

  3. To provide services that promote and improve agriculture, agribusiness and forests; protect consumers and businesses; and conserve farmland and natural resources for the prosperity of all North Carolinians. Agriculture Commissioner Steve Troxler

  4. North Carolina Agriculture Cost Share Program

  5. Community Conservation Assistance Program (CCAP) PY13 Projects 70 participating districts 339 contracts submitted $1,840,345 (total) $395,986 (CCAP) $1,444,359 (other sources)

  6. Agricultural Water Resources Assistance Program (AgWRAP) • Authorized by S.L. 2011-145 • Purposes: • - Identify opportunities to increase water use efficiency, availability & storage • - Implement BMPs to conserve & protect water resources • - Increase water use efficiency • - Increase water storage & availability • FY2011-12 non-recurring appropriation of $1,000,000 (diverted from Water Resources Development Program) • FY2012-13 non-recurring appropriation of $500,000 • FY2013-14 recurring appropriation of $500,000 (new farm ponds, pond repairs/retrofits and pond sediment removal) • Estimated need > $40 million

  7. AgWRAP’s newest farm pond in Alamance County October 8, 2013

  8. Agricultural Water Resources Assistance Program (AgWRAP) TVA SETTLEMENT FUNDS FOR AgWRAP • $500,000 nonrecurring for each year of the 2013-2015 biennium • Avery, Buncombe, Burke, Cherokee, Clay, Graham, Haywood, Henderson, Jackson, Macon, Madison, McDowell, Mitchell, Swain, Transylvania, Watauga and Yancey counties • Eligible practices include new agricultural ponds, pond repairs/retrofits, pond sediment removal, micro-irrigation conversion and conservation irrigation conversion

  9. Conservation Reserve Enhancement Program Total CREP Stats (1999-2013) · Permanent Easements  7,366 ac.    Stream Miles Protected  203 mi. · Thirty-year Easements  26,751 ac.    Stream Miles Protected  736 mi. · Total Easements           34,117 ac.    Total Stream Miles          939 mi. NOTE: continuing to see an increase in permanent easement enrollment due to changes in payment structure & expansion to 76 counties in 2008. 599 acres have been enrolled in the expanded watersheds with 51% enrolled in permanent easements. 

  10. Hurricane Irene Damage Chowan County August 2011 Tornado Damage Bertie County April 2011

  11. Stream Debris Removal Project • Streams/Drainage channels blocked from storm debris from Hurricane Irene and Spring tornadoes • $600,000 grant from Division of Water Resources • $3,363,483 requested • Funds awarded to 11 conservation districts, 7 counties, 4 drainage districts, 1 town, 1 state park, 1 non-profit • Over 339 miles of stream affected

  12. Swine Buyout Program • Established in aftermath of Hurricane Floyd • Funded by CWMTF (4 grants - $18.7 million) • Eligibility: Active Swine farms in 100-yr floodplains • Have bought out 41 operations - Capacity to produce 58,000 hogs in floodplain - 101 waste lagoons decommissioned - 1,192 acres included in conservation easements • 138 farmers have applied for the program

  13. Key Priorities for FY2014 • Recurring Funding for AgWRAP • Rulemaking • Funding to support renovation of aging watershed structures (Public Law 566 structures for flood control) • Continue to encourage local sponsors to update Emergency Action Plans • Continue work with DEMLR to provide training to local sponsors and conservation districts on importance of Emergency Action Plans and required data to complete plan • Additional funding to assist with stream debris removal resulting from hurricanes and tornadoes • Additional funding for CCAP

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