Conservation Security Program
South Carolina Receives One of 18 Priority CSP Watersheds
Saluda Watershed
The Saluda Watershed has been selected for the 2004 Conservation Security
Program (CSP). The watershed boundaries include areas of Abbeville, Aiken,
Anderson, Edgefield, Greenville, Greenwood, Laurens, Lexington, Newberry,
Pickens, Saluda and Richland counties and provide relief of approximately 1.6
million acres. This watershed was selected from a national pool because of
its diverse landuse, high conservation activity and the collaborative efforts of
various groups and agencies.
CSP Administration
The Conservation Security Program (CSP) is a voluntary program that provides
financial and technical assistance to promote the conservation and improvement
of soil, water, air, energy, plant and animal life, and other conservation
purposes on Tribal and private working lands. Working lands include cropland,
grassland and improved pasture, as well as forested
land that is an incidental part of an agriculture operation. The program
provides equitable access to benefits to all producers, regardless of size of
operation, crops produced, or geographic location within the watershed.
The Natural Resources Conservation Service (NRCS) field offices in the counties
in the watershed along with the RC&D Councils of the East Piedmont,
Ninety Six, Foothills and a small portion of the Edisto-Savannah will assist in
implementing the program.
Program Rules
At this time, there is limited specific information available for the
Conservation Security Program (CSP) because the interim final rule has not yet
been published. The local NRCS staffs and specialists will be receiving
national CSP training in early June. There are several local outreach
sessions scheduled for this summer to address producer questions and provide
updated information regarding the CSP eligibility and sign-up periods. CSP
Workshops will begin June 15, 2004 and the schedule of times and locations
is listed here. Please also listen
to your local radio stations and newspapers for information about the
workshops. Further workshop information may also be available on flyers in
different locations around the counties.
Bookmark this site and return to it often as the site will be updated
regularly as information becomes available.
Saluda Watershed Fact Sheet, Map and News Release
These documents require Adobe
Acrobat Reader.
 Fact
Sheet on CSP in the Saluda Watershed (220 KB)
 South
Carolina News Release, "Saluda Watershed selected for 2004 CSP
Sign-up" May 19, 2004, (130 KB)
Map
of the Saluda Watershed in South Carolina (195 KB)
2004 Conservation Security Program (CSP) Priority Watersheds Announced
On May 18, 2004, Secretary Veneman announced the first watersheds selected
for implementation of the Conservation Security Program (CSP). NRCS administers
this voluntary conservation program that provides payments for producers who
have historically practiced good stewardship on their agricultural lands and
offers incentives for those who want to do more.
The U.S. Congress capped the fiscal year 2004 CSP budget at $41.4 million.
This funding allows NRCS to write 3,000 to 5,000 contracts. Due to that limit on
funding, USDA chose to offer the program in selected, priority watersheds.
These 18 selected watersheds touch some part of 22 states, 127 counties and 119
Conservation Districts. The
18 Priority CSP Watersheds can be viewed here. These watersheds are home to
about 1.5 million people.
All CSP applications that meet the sign-up criteria will be placed in an
enrollment category regardless of available funding. In addition to legal
contract requirements, the categories will consider the applicants’ current
stewardship (soil condition, tillage intensity, existing practices and
activities) and will sort producers based on these factors. Categories also will
examine producers’ willingness to perform additional conservation activities
during their CSP contract. The program will be offered each year, on a
rotational basis in as many watersheds are funded.
National Updates
The following link will provide up-to-the-minute information regarding the
Conservation Security Program at our National NRCS WebPage: CSP
Rules, Notices, and Supporting Documents.
Additional Information
These documents require Adobe
Acrobat Reader.
CSP
Practice Cost Share List (70 KB)
CSP
Enhancements (54 KB)
CSP
News - September 2004 (227 KB)
Watershed Selection Key Points
(May 2004) (80 KB)
Watershed Selection Questions and Answers (May 2004)
(79 KB)
Watershed
Approach Key Points (May 2004) (32 KB)
Watershed Approach Questions and Answers (May
2004) (64 KB)
Stewardship and Existing
Practice Payment Rates - 2004
Contacts
Shawnn K. Balstad
Assistant State Conservationist (Programs)
Glenn Sandifer
Programs Specialist
Phone: 803-253-3894
Email: glenn.sandifer@sc.usda.gov
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