Fiscal Year 2003: Performance Report U.S. Department of Agricultire Natural Resources Conservation Service

• Description: Fiscal Year 2003: Performance Report U.S. Department of Agricultire Natural Resources Conservation Service
• State: CO
• Date: 3/1/2003
• Title: Fiscal Year 2003: Performance Report U.S. Department of Agricultire Natural Resources Conservation Service
• Water Supply Pro - Doc Type: Annual Report

Strategic Goal 2
Reduce unintended
adverse effects of natural
resource development
and use to ensure a high
quality environment.
roductive use of natural resources
and protection of the environment
are compatible and mutually sup-
portive goals. Achieving these goals, how-
ever, requires careful planning and good
management based on sound science.
NRCS helps both individual agricultural
producers and groups and local govern-
ments ensure that activities related to
development and use of natural resources
do not harm the environment.
Protecting natural resources
in developing areas and rural
communities.
Effective strategies for resource use and
management in communities must be
developed at the local level by the people
who are most affected. NRCS technical
experts assist community groups and local
government entities who are responsible
for making decisions about local resource
planning and growth management. We
provide the technical information and
advice on resource conditions that they
need to identify their goals and develop
plans to achieve them. The number of
plans and projects that we help local enti-
ties develop and carryout is an indicator
of progress toward wise use of resources
(Table 2). Major natural resource issues
about which we advise local governments
are reducing urban erosion, developing
and enforcing sediment control ordi-
nances, controlling streambank erosion,
and managing stormwater. Conversion of
farmland to non - agricultural uses and loss
of open space and wildlife habitat are con-
cerns in many rapidly developing areas.
We provide tools and advice to help com-
munities plan for growth, and we provide
financial assistance to help them protect
important farmland from conversion to
other uses.
Protecting water and air
resources from agricultural
non -point sources of
impairment.
Some agricultural operations have the
potential to cause damage to the environ-
ment if not well managed. NRCS helps
producers apply erosion - control practices,
such as conservation buffers, and nutrient
Riparian forest buffers protect a stream in Ohio.
Table 2. Examples of assistance to communities.
Performance Goals
Performance Indicators
FY2003
Target
FY2003
Actual
Protect farmland
Farmland and ranchland
121
112
from conversion to
protected from conversion
non - agricultural uses
to nonagricultural uses under
easement, (1000s of acres)
Promote sound urban
Group and area plans
420
459
and rural community
developed to address community
development
resource concerns, including
farmland protection or non - agricultural
effects on water quality, (number)
Community improvement
4,300
4,254
Fiscal Year 2003 Performance Report
projects completed
(RC &D Program), (number)