Two Kansas Watersheds Selected for 2004 CSP Sign-Up

Salina, May 19, 2004— The Lower Little Blue in northcentral Kansas and the Lower Salt Fork Arkansas in southcentral Kansas have been selected as two of the nation’s 18 priority watersheds that will be included the fiscal year 2004 Conservation Security Program (CSP) sign-up to be held this summer, USDA’s Natural Resources Conservation Service (NRCS) announced today. The Lower Little Blue is located in Republic, Washington, and Marshall counties and the Lower Salt Fork Arkansas in Barber and Harper counties. These watersheds also include parts of Nebraska and Oklahoma, respectively.

"The selection of the these watersheds in this first sign-up represents a balance of resource needs, historic stewardship, potential producer eligibility, and the technology and adequate staff needed to successfully implement the program," said NRCS State Conservationist Harold L. Klaege. "Nationally, the selected watersheds reflect a cross-section of land uses, crop regions, and landscapes that will test the basic concepts in NRCS’s newest conservation program, CSP," he said.

In order to implement CSP this fiscal year, the NRCS will immediately begin to train employees within the priority watersheds on the basics of the program; detailed training will occur once the interim final rule is published in early summer.

"A sign-up announcement will be published along with the interim final rule that will detail the specific program requirements within the priority watersheds," Klaege said.

Nationally, the fiscal year 2004 CSP budget of $41.4 million will allow NRCS to write 3,000 to 5,000 contracts. The contracts will be determined in a national selection process that will be described in the sign-up notice.

According to Klaege all CSP applications that meet the sign-up criteria will be placed in an enrollment category and considered regardless of available funding.

"Agricultural producers in the watersheds have been protecting our soil and water resources for years," Klaege said. "Now they will be rewarded for that stewardship, and will become the models for future CSP participants. It’s a bright new day for conservation, and I’m delighted we’re a part of this exciting first sign-up," he said.

CSP is a voluntary program that supports ongoing conservation stewardship of agricultural working lands and enhances the condition of America’s natural resources. Additional information on CSP, including the Federal Register notices, public comments, and frequently asked questions, can be found at the national NRCS website.