R2023-67 Resolution Authorizing Execution of Programmatic Partnership Agreement with U.S. Department of Agriculture Natural Resources Conservation Service for the Regional Conservation Partnership Program

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I � RCPP Project ID:2724 Any post-project covered program land management contract support Many of the activities listed above may be exceed the duration of the project agreement, at which point NRCS must reserve adequate TA to continue management of the activities after agreement expiration Table 1B-2: Cross reference Table 213-1 (above) and RCPP TA-I practice types (as included in Project Partner TA-I Deliverables) and use Table 213-2 to document proposed TA-1 activities, and the rationale for their inclusion in the project. Table IB-2: RCPP Land Management, Partner Use TA-Implementation (TA-I) ,Description and rationale should cover each FA Land Management related RCPP TA practice type for which Partner TA-I funds are budgeted. Rationale may include, but are not limited to 1) known limitations on NRCS staffing or expertise to accomplish critical tasks in the project area within available time or 2) expectation of partner ability to deliver standard NRCS TA at rates comparable with NRCS costs on an accelerated schedule. Describe the RCPP RT-Practice for which Partner- TAi funds are budgeted: Rational for budgeted TA-I funds: 1) known and severe limitations on NRCS staffing to accomplish critical tasks in the project area within available time. Currently it can take anywhere between 12 and 20 hours (potentially half of an entire week)to complete just 1 producer contract for cover crops. There is no possible way that current field office staff can even absorb a fraction of the RCPP workload given they have other responsibilities and programs to administer. 2) Expectation of partner ability to deliver standard NRCS TA at rates comparable with NRCS costs on an accelerated schedule and in a targeted fashion. 3) Qualified partners and contributions are available for TA-1. Services must be performed to realize contributions. TA categories and services for which funds are budgeted and requested include: 1) Steps 1 and 2 -identify resource concerns and opportunities, determine objectives. This will include individual and targeted landowner meetings, an initial site visit and assessment to gauge willingness for practices sought by Partners and to discuss the sign-up process and partner/landowner/grower/NRCS expectations. Client objectives and a description of need for action will be entered into the CPA-52 form by a third party consisting of qualified and experienced individuals and registered TSPs and then provided to the local DC to review for accuracy and sign off on. 2) Steps 3 and 4—inventory resources and analyze resource data. This will include but not be limited to any additional site visits to document and map the location of resource concerns beyond those already identified by the Lead Partner,preparing maps of proposed practice locations,database research,pre-planning, and collection of needed operational data such as past conservation efforts, cropping history, current tillage or nutrient management practices, extent of tiling etc., and nutrient and sediment load reduction calculations. Applicable information will be entered into the CPA-52 form by qualified and experienced individuals and registered TSPs.3) Step 5 and 6—formulate and evaluate alternatives. These steps will result in a conservation and cost-share opportunity plan for the landowner or Page 33 of 51