The Warren Soil and Water Conservation District has a major goal for Warren County which is to improve water quality. This covers all waters that start or past through the county en route to the ocean. The following programs are designed to improve our waters and partnered with NRCS and FSA to help improve and preserve our natural resources for generations to come.
Conservation Technical Assistance - TA - This is "free" assistance for the technical aspects of conservation work done on agricultural land and residential areas. TA also includes educational presentations and programs.
North Carolina Agricultural Cost Share Program - ACSP - This program is the backbone to the District's conservation efforts. The program offers financial and technical assistance for the implementation of Best Mmanagement Practices (BMPs) on agricultural land to reduce non-point source pollution into the water of the State. Some familiar BMPs are grassed waterways, field borders, diversions and sod-based rotations but the District also works with our livestock producers with heavy use areas, watering systems and fencing to keep the animals out of the State's waters. These are just a few BMPs the District has at its disposal to help producers and landowners address water quality issues on their lands. Producers and landowners, with water quality concerns, should contact the District office and discuss with the staff ways to address these concerns and what assistance may be available to aid the producer with implementation.
NRCS and FSA offer the following competitive programs:
Environmental Quality Incentives Program - EQIP - EQIP offers contracts with a minimum term that ends one year after the implementation of the last scheduled practices and a maximum term of ten years. These contracts provide incentive payments and cost-shares to implement conservation practices. Persons who are engaged in livestock or agricultural production on eligible land may participate in the EQIP program. EQIP activities are carried out according to an environmental quality incentives program plan of operations developed in conjunction with the producer that identifies the appropriate conservation practice or practices to address the resource concerns. The practices are subject to NRCS technical standards adapted for local conditions. The local conservation district approves the plan.
Conservation Reserve Program - CRP - This program provides technical 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 (CCC). CRP is administered by the Farm Service Agency, with NRCS providing technical land eligibility determinations, Environmental Benefit Index Scoring, and conservation planning.
Conservation Reserve Enhancement Program - CREP - This program is an extension of CRP. This program pays for site prep, establishment plus an annual rental payment to producers for converting marginal pasture land or highly erodible cropland to trees. All of Warren County is now eligible for CREP.
Wetlands Reserve Program - WRP - The Wetlands Reserve Program is a voluntary program offering landowners the opportunity to protect, restore, and enhance wetlands on their property. The USDA Natural Resources Conservation Service (NRCS) provides technical and financial support to help landowners with their wetland restoration efforts. The NRCS goal is to achieve the greatest wetland functions and values, along with optimum wildlife habitat, on every acre enrolled in the program. This program offers landowners an opportunity to establish long-term conservation and wildlife practices and protection.
Wildlife Habitat Incentives Program - WHIP- This is a voluntary program for people who want to develop and improve wildlife habitat primarily on private land. Through WHIP USDA's Natural Resources Conservation Service provides both technical assistance and up to 75 percent cost-share assistance to establish and improve fish and wildlife habitat. WHIP agreements between NRCS and the participant generally last from 5 to 10 years from the date the agreement is signed.