TEXAS Natural Resources Conservation Service Conservation Investments in

TEXAS Natural Resources Conservation Service Conservation Investments in the Click to edit Master title style Red River Valley in Texas Click to edit Master title style Date | Presenter 2019 Progress Report Date | Presenter November 24, 2019 Report Natural Resources Conservation Service tx. nrcs. usda. gov

Red River Valley Watershed management activities in the Red River Valley affect millions of people in several states. NRCS in Texas is proud to have numerous private landowners working on a voluntary basis to partner on conservation efforts who make significant, positive environmental impacts downstream. Natural Resources Conservation Service tx. nrcs. usda. gov

NRCS in Texas Red River Valley • 39 field offices • 116 NRCS employees/positions • 39 SWCD Employees Natural Resources Conservation Service tx. nrcs. usda. gov

Land uses in the Red River Valley in Texas 6% 2, 265 12% 17% Forestland Range 8% Pasture 57% Cropland Other Registered Texas ag operations in the Red River Valley Natural Resources Conservation Service tx. nrcs. usda. gov

1. 6 million acres under Conservation Plans in Texas. Conservation practices planned greatly improve water quality downstream, which includes the Red River. NRCS staff in every county work one on one with landowners to help them develop a conservation-oriented management plan for their property. Natural Resources Conservation Service 5 tx. nrcs. usda. gov

Conservation Investments in FY 19 Worked with 1, 449 landowners to implement 7, 243 practices on 1. 4 million acres Natural Resources Conservation Service tx. nrcs. usda. gov

Environmental Quality Incentives Program (EQIP) We have obligated $16. 3 million and planned conservation through EQIP contracts on 558, 700 acres Natural Resources Conservation Service tx. nrcs. usda. gov

Conservation Stewardship Program (CSP) In RRVA counties, there approx. 109 2019 -1 CSP contracts obligated covering 103, 968 acres for FY 19 Natural Resources Conservation Service tx. nrcs. usda. gov

Conservation Stewardship Program (CSP) In RRVA counties, there approx. 640 2019 -1 CSPGCI contracts obligated covering 102, 069 acres for FY 19 Natural Resources Conservation Service tx. nrcs. usda. gov

Most Popular Practices in the Red River Valley Watershed in Texas • • • Prescribed Grazing Herbaceous Weed Treatment Brush Management Watering Facility Cover Crop Fence Pumping Plant Livestock Pipeline Structures for Wildlife Tree/Shrub Site Preparation Tree/Shrub Establishment Upland Wildlife Habitat Management Natural Resources Conservation Service tx. nrcs. usda. gov

Prescribed grazing practices were applied on over 675, 000 acres Natural Resources Conservation Service tx. nrcs. usda. gov

Upland Wildlife Habitat Management practices were applied on over 110, 000 acres to improve habitat for species like the Lesser Prairie Chicken and Bobwhite Quail. Natural Resources Conservation Service

Brush management was applied on more than 85, 000 acres. Natural Resources Conservation Service

Crop residue management, including planting cover crops and reduced or no tillage, was applied on over 35, 000 acres. tx. nrcs. usda. gov

Crops were rotated in a planned sequence on nearly 25, 000 acres. Natural Resources Conservation Service tx. nrcs. usda. gov

Pumping plants were installed on 45, 000 acres. Natural Resources Conservation Service tx. nrcs. usda. gov

Precision nutrient management was applied on 6, 250 acres. Natural Resources Conservation Service tx. nrcs. usda. gov

Beneficial cross fencing was constructed on almost 15, 500 acres. Natural Resources Conservation Service tx. nrcs. usda. gov

Pesticide risks to water quality through leaching, solution runoff and adsorbed runoff were mitigated via the precise application of pesticides on over 4, 186 acres. tx. nrcs. usda. gov

Regional Conservation Partnership Program RCPP 20

Shiftail Canal Regional Conservation Partnership Project (RCPP) 2016 – 2018 Louisiana Natural Resources Conservation Service tx. nrcs. usda. gov

Shiftail Canal RCPP - Louisiana • Immediately adjacent to the south side of the Red Bayou Irrigation Area • 26, 000 + acres • Targeting three main resource concerns: • Water Quality • Soil Health • Irrigation Efficiency • Sponsored by NRCS, Caddo SWCD, LSU Ag. Center and five corporate sponsors Natural Resources Conservation Service tx. nrcs. usda. gov

Shiftail Canal RCPP - Louisiana • 4 RCPP contracts are currently being implemented on 1, 117 acres • LSU Ag. Center Red River Research Station is partnering with the Caddo SWCD to provide 1, 074 acres in nutrient management plans and 479 acres of irrigation water management plans • LSU Ag. Center has agreed to establish 3 water quality monitoring locations to provide benchmark water quality data along with 3 years of data following conservation practice implementation • RCPP contracts also include 475 acres of residue and tillage management and/or cover crops to address soil health Natural Resources Conservation Service tx. nrcs. usda. gov

Red Bayou Watershed - Louisiana Natural Resources Conservation Service tx. nrcs. usda. gov

Update • Both pumps failed during height of irrigation season. • North Caddo Irrigation District spent ~$4500 for repairs to the pumps. • Repairs completed within 3 days getting irrigation water to farmers in a critical time. Natural Resources Conservation Service tx. nrcs. usda. gov

New Technology - Louisiana • North Caddo Irrigation District invested $2950 in a remote access system that allows the district technician to monitor and control the pumps by smart phone app. • Allows for more timely control and monitoring to prevent access run time in the event of a problem with the pumps. • The District believes this will save water and subsequently save the District money. Natural Resources Conservation Service tx. nrcs. usda. gov

Conservation - Louisiana • Watershed level conservation projects are being implemented to the north and south of the watershed. • Water quality and soil health are the targeted resource concerns in the project areas. • Kelly Bayou Watershed (north) – 50% of the Caddo Parish local EQIP funds will be dedicated to this watershed in an attempt to prioritize a degraded waterbody with targeted conservation. • Shiftail Canal Watershed (south) Natural Resources Conservation Service tx. nrcs. usda. gov

The USDA Small Watershed Program is one of the nation’s best examples of a program being delivered through partnerships • Private • Local • State • Federal Natural Resources Conservation Service tx. nrcs. usda. gov

Watershed and Flood Prevention Operations Program Funding • The 2017 Consolidated Appropriations Act provided funding of $150, 000 for Watershed and Flood Prevention Operations (WFPO) • Remedial Repairs • Project Backlog • New Projects Natural Resources Conservation Service tx. nrcs. usda. gov

Grant Parish Watershed - Louisiana Natural Resources Conservation Service tx. nrcs. usda. gov

Grant Parish Watershed - Louisiana • 36, 788 acres project area • Project proposes to use good quality water from the Red River for irrigations purposes during drought events • Nantachie Bayou will be the channel by which the Red River water will be introduced into the project area • Will also provide incidental opportunities to improve wildlife & fisheries habitat • Water level gauges installed collecting data for modelling Natural Resources Conservation Service tx. nrcs. usda. gov

Lower Bayou 12 New Dam Oklahoma Natural Resources Conservation Service tx. nrcs. usda. gov

WFPO Funding - Oklahoma Natural Resources Conservation Service tx. nrcs. usda. gov

Watershed Rehab Funding Oklahoma Natural Resources Conservation Service tx. nrcs. usda. gov

Question s? www. tx. nrcs. usda. gov In accordance with Federal civil rights law and U. S. Department of Agriculture (USDA) civil rights regulations and policies, the USDA, its Agencies, offices, and employees, and institutions participating in or administering USDA programs are prohibited from discriminating based on race, color, national origin, religion, sex, gender identity (including gender expression), sexual orientation, disability, age, marital status, family/parental status, income derived from a public assistance program, political beliefs, or reprisal or retaliation for prior civil rights activity, in any program or activity conducted or funded by USDA (not all bases apply to all programs). Remedies and complaint filing deadlines vary by program or incident. Persons with disabilities who require alternative means of communication for program information (e. g. , Braille, large print, audiotape, American Sign Language, etc. ) should contact the responsible Agency or USDA’s TARGET Center at (202) 720 -2600 (voice and TTY) or contact USDA through the Federal Relay Service at (800) 877 -8339. Additionally, program information may be made available in languages other than English. To file a program discrimination complaint, complete the USDA Program Discrimination Complaint Form, AD-3027, found online at How to File a Program Discrimination Complaint and at any USDA office or write a letter addressed to USDA and provide in the letter all of the information requested in the form. To request a copy of the complaint form, call (866) 632 -9992. Natural Resources Conservation Service USDA is an equal opportunity provider, employer and lender. tx. nrcs. usda. gov