Grant Program

Return to NOPLEGroup.org Table of Contents, Site Map

2006 Cooperative Conservation Partnership Initiative

Deadline: Proposals due March 7, 2006 to NRCS State Offices

Link: http://www.nrcs.usda.gov/programs/ccpi/

The Cooperative Conservation Partnership Initiative (CCPI) is a voluntary program established to foster conservation partnerships that focus technical and financial resources on conservation priorities in watersheds and airsheds of special significance. Under CCPI, funds are awarded to State and local governments and agencies; Indian tribes; and non-governmental organizations that have a history of working with agricultural producers. The CCPI is a component of the Conservation Technical Assistance (CTA) program, established under authorities provided by the Soil Conservation and Domestic Allotment Act of 1935, 16 U.S.C. 590a et seq. NRCS administers CCPI.

Conservation Priorities

Following are the five conservation priorities for FY 2006. Applications must address at least one of these priorities.

  • Terrestrial and freshwater aquatic wildlife habitat Projects under this natural resource concern must address at least one of the following sub-topics:
    • i. Freshwater aquatic habitat restoration;
    • ii. Protection and enhancement of habitat for species with declining populations;
    • iii. Creation of wildlife habitat corridors.
  • Invasive species Projects under this natural resource concern must address at least one of the following sub-topics:
    • i. Noxious weed control;
    • ii. Native plant restoration;
  • Livestock nutrient management. Projects under this natural resource concern must address at least one of the following sub-topics
    • i. Comprehensive Nutrient Management Plan (CNMP) development and implementation;
    • ii. Sustainable animal agricultural systems;
    • iii. Animal waste utilization.
  • Minor/specialty crop pest management Projects under this natural resource concern must address at least one of the following sub-topics:
    • i. Integrated Pest Management (IPM) development and implementation;
    • ii. Integration of environmental stewardship with producer production objectives
  • Agricultural air quality Projects under this natural resource concern must address at least one of the following sub-topics:
    • i. Mitigation of agricultural air emissions, including greenhouse gases, particulates, odor, and ammonia.
    • ii. Carbon sequestration.

Rapid Watershed Assessment (RWA) Component

CCPI RWA applications must advance a locally-led watershed-scale assessment effort to identify and quantify local conservation priorities. CCPI RWAs should include two products. The first product is a resource profile for the 8-digit HUC watershed of interest which provides a rough picture of resource conditions and conservation efforts in the watershed and can be used as a focal point for discussions during locally-led identification of resource concerns and priorities. The second product is a resource assessment that builds on the information in the profile and develops quantitative estimates of the size, scope, and value of natural resource needs in the watershed. NRCS encourages proposals to develop RWAs in watersheds with significant holdings by limited resource or beginning farmers and ranchers, or tribes.