Watershed Selected For 2004 CSP Sign Up

Contact: Jasper Parker, 405-742-1243

Stillwater, May 20, 2004—The Lower Salt Fork of the Arkansas River in northern Oklahoma, has been selected as one of the nation’s 18 priority watersheds that will be used in the fiscal year 2004 Conservation Security Program (CSP) sign-up to be held this summer, USDA’s Natural Resources Conservation Service (NRCS) announced today.

“The selection of the Lower Salt Fork of the Arkansas River in this first sign-up represents a balance of resource needs, historic stewardship, potential producer eligibility, and the technology and adequate staff needed to successfully implement the program,” said NRCS State Conservationist Darrel Dominick. “Nationally, the selected watersheds reflect a cross-section of land uses, crop regions and landscapes that will test the basic concepts in NRCS’ newest conservation program,” Dominick said.

In order to implement CSP this fiscal year, the Natural Resources Conservation Service will begin to train employees within the priority watershed immediately on the basics of the program; detailed training will occur once the interim final rule is published in early summer.

“A sign-up announcement will be published along with the interim final rule that will detail the specific program requirements within the priority watersheds,” Dominick said.

Nationally, the fiscal year 2004 CSP budget of $41.4 million will allow NRCS to write 3,000 to 5,000 contracts. The contracts will be determined in a national selection process that will be described in the sign-up notice.

According to Dominick all CSP applications that meet the sign-up criteria will be placed in an enrollment category and considered regardless of available funding.

“Agricultural producers in Lower Salt Fork of the Arkansas River have been protecting our soil and water resources for years,” Dominick said. “Now they will be rewarded for that stewardship, and will become the models for future CSP participants. It’s a bright new day for conservation and I’m delighted we’re a part of this exciting first sign-up,” he said.

CSP is a voluntary program that supports ongoing conservation stewardship of agricultural working lands and enhances the condition of America’s natural resources.

All programs and services of the Natural Resources Conservation Service are provided in a nondiscriminatory manner.

The U.S. Department of Agriculture (USDA) prohibits discrimination in all its programs and activities on the basis of race, color, national origin, gender, religion, age disability, political beliefs, sexual orientation, and marital or family status. (Not all prohibited bases apply to all programs.) Persons with disabilities who require alternative means for communication of program information (Braille, large print, audiotape, etc.) should contact USDA’s Target Center at 202-720-2600 (voice and TDD).

To file a complaint of discrimination, write USDA, Director, Office of Civil Rights, Room 326W, Whitten Building, 14th and Independence Avenue, SW, Washington, DC 20250-9410 or call (202) 720-5964 (voice or TDD). USDA is an equal opportunity provider and employer.

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