Three Oklahoma Watersheds Included In Historic Expansion Of The National Conservation Security Program

Contact: Jasper Parker, 405-742-1243

Stillwater, Oklahoma Nov. 02, 2004—Three Oklahoma watersheds were among two hundred two across the nation invited to participate in a historic new program designed to reward farmers for long-term stewardship.  U.S. Secretary of Agriculture Ann M. Veneman announced the selected watersheds recently and said that sign-ups for the 2005 Conservation Security Program (CSP) would begin this winter.

CSP, part of the 2002 Farm Bill, was introduced last summer in 18 watersheds nationwide. The Lower Salt Fork of the Arkansas River Watershed, in northern Oklahoma, was one of those 18 selected. In this first opportunity for farmers from each state to participate, about one eighth of the Nation’s eligible farmers will be given the chance to apply each year over an eight-year period.

The three watersheds selected are:

Lower Cimarron-Skeleton Watershed lies solely within Oklahoma in the wheatbelt region of the state. It covers 2,076,047 acres, 3,780 farms, 8 counties and 10 conservation districts. Major agriculture enterprises include hard red winter wheat production, livestock grazing on native range, introduced forages and small grains, and localized areas of dairy and swine production.

Lower Neosho Watershed lies in northeastern Oklahoma with 95% of the watershed in Oklahoma and 5% in Arkansas. It covers 1,330,860 acres, 3,967 farms, 7 counties and 7 conservation districts. Major agriculture enterprises include livestock grazing of introduced forages and native range, poultry production is concentrated in the Spavinaw Creek tributary to the watershed, and swine and dairy production are localized within areas of the watershed in both Oklahoma and Arkansas.

Little River Watershed lies in central Oklahoma entirely within the state. It covers 626,141 acres, 1,998 farms, 4 counties, and 5 conservation districts. Major agriculture enterprises include livestock grazing and hay production on native range, introduced forages and some small grains.

“As an agency and as a Nation we have helped farmers and ranchers fix conservation problems such as soil erosion or water conservation since the Dust Bowl days of the 1930s,” said Darrell Dominick, Oklahoma State Conservationist for the Natural Resources Conservation Service (NRCS) overseeing CSP. “This however, represents a whole new direction in conservation and agricultural policy and programs. These payments for demonstrable long-term stewardship will reward many of those who undertook conservation on their own initiative and who care for the resources we all share.”

Participants will be enrolled in one of three tiers in the program, depending on the extent of the conservation treatment in place on their farm or ranch. Payments will be based in part on this existing conservation treatment as well as their willingness to undertake additional environmental enhancements.

Dominick said that while protecting soil and water quality are the “price of admission” farmers will also have options to improve wildlife habitat, improve air quality, participate in watershed-wide stewardship programs, and improve nutrient and pest management activities.

NRCS will offer local workshops in the selected watersheds to more fully explain the program to interested potential participants.

CSP will continue to be offered each year, on a rotational basis, in as many watersheds as funding allows. See additional information on CSP in Oklahoma; or information including the Federal Register notices, public comments and frequently asked questions, is at  the national NRCS website. Locate your local NRCS Field Service Center.

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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