NRCS Announces Eight Grant Recipients for Oregon Conservation Innovation Grants Program

 

FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE
Contact information:
Todd Peplin, Program Manager, Todd.Peplin@or.usda.gov (541) 923- 4358

PORTLAND, OR, September 23, 2009 – The Natural Resources Conservation Service (NRCS) has announced over $460,000 in Conservation Innovation Grants (CIG) to fund eight projects across Oregon. The purpose of the grants is to develop and refine cutting-edge technologies and approaches that will help farmers conserve and sustain natural resources on their operations.
Oregon NRCS received a number of highly qualified applications. The selected projects range in scope from developing a model On-farm Energy Program to implementing a comprehensive Rainwater Harvesting System. A full list of recipients can be found at the end of this news release.

“Oregon NRCS is looking forward to the results of this wide array of models and projects,” said Ron Alvarado, NRCS State Conservationist for Oregon. “The work these groups are doing will provide natural resource and economic benefits to private agricultural and forest landowners across the state.”

Under CIG, Environmental Quality Incentives Program (EQIP) funds are used to award competitive grants to state and local governments or non-governmental organizations, tribes, or individuals. For the Oregon CIG, grant requests were for projects in Oregon with a contribution request of $75,000 or less.

Conservation Innovation Grants demonstrate the use of innovative technologies or approaches, or both, to address a natural resource concern or concerns. CIG is not a research program but rather a tool to stimulate the adoption of conservation strategies or technologies that have been studied sufficiently to indicate a high likelihood of success and that are likely candidates for the eventual advancement of new conservation approaches. Because it is not a research program, CIG funds projects targeting innovative on-the-ground conservation, including pilot projects and field demonstrations with farmers and ranchers.

The approved Oregon projects address traditional natural resource issues, such as water quantity and quality, grazing land conditions, soil and forest health, and air quality. The proposals also address emerging natural resource issues, including agricultural air emissions, energy conservation, and market-based approaches to conservation.

Additional information about CIG, including summaries of the approved Oregon CIG projects, is available at: http://www.or.nrcs.usda.gov/programs/cig/index.html.

For more information about NRCS conservation programs available in Oregon, visit: http://www.or.nrcs.usda.gov, or visit the nearest USDA Service Center in your area.
 

Oregon CIG State Component Awardees

Benton Soil and Water Conservation District
The Soil Quality Project: $46,682

Cascade Pacific RC&D
Model On-farm Energy Efficiency & Renewable Energy Program: $75,000

Clackamas County Soil and Water Conservation District
Northwood's Nursery Multi-purpose Rainwater Harvesting System: $61,992

Mid-Willamette Valley Council of Governments
Integrating SWCD Farm Planning and Credit Calculation: $74,941

Oregon State University
An Innovative Approach to Managing for and Quantifying Developing Late-seral Conditions on Private Working Forests in Dry Forest Ecosystems: $10,589

The Food Alliance
Food Alliance: A Market-based Incentive for Conservation of Wildlife Habitat: $74,794

Yamhill Soil and Water Conservation District
Establishment of Floating Island Wetlands for Nutrient Reduction in Three Yamhill Ponds with High Nutrient Content: $46,400

Yamhill Soil and Water Conservation District
Apply the Nutrient Trading Tool Across Oregon: $70,669
 

For more information, visit the NRCS Web site at: www.or.nrcs.usda.gov/programs/cig.

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