Water Resources CongressAgency Updates October 31, 2013

Pat Harris, DirectorNorth Carolina Division of Soil & Water Conservation

Mission Statement

To foster voluntary, incentive-driven management of soil, water and related natural resources for the benefit of the environment, economy and all citizens.

To provide services that promote and improve agriculture, agribusiness and forests; protect

consumers and businesses; and conserve farmland and natural resources for the

prosperity of all North Carolinians.

Agriculture CommissionerSteve Troxler

North CarolinaAgriculture Cost Share Program

ACSP Summary PY2012Water Quality Benefits*

Total Number of Contracts 941

Acres Affected 66,193Soil Saved (tons) 85,094Nitrogen (N) Saved (lbs) 540,145Phosphorus (P) Saved (lbs) 582,008Waste N Managed (lbs) 1,773,623Waste P Managed (lbs) 2,030,987

Community Conservation Assistance Program (CCAP)

PY13 Projects 70 participating districts 339 contracts submitted

$1,840,345 (total) $395,986 (CCAP) $1,444,359 (other sources)

Agricultural Water Resources Assistance Program (AgWRAP)

• Authorized by S.L. 2011-145• Purposes:- Identify opportunities to increase water use efficiency, availability & storage- Implement BMPs to conserve & protect water resources- Increase water use efficiency- Increase water storage & availability• FY2011-12 non-recurring appropriation of $1,000,000 (diverted from Water Resources Development Program)• FY2012-13 non-recurring appropriation of $500,000• FY2013-14 recurring appropriation of $500,000 (new farm ponds, pond repairs/retrofits and pond sediment removal)• Estimated need > $40 million

AgWRAP’s newest farm pond in Alamance CountyOctober 8, 2013

County AgWRAP amount Buncombe $ 15,000 Lincoln $ 18,000 Lincoln $ 18,000 Lincoln – engineering $ 9,000 Moore $ 15,000 Pasquotank $ 14,063 Perquimans $ 15,000 Sampson $ 15,000 Alamance $ 15,000

Total spent to date (new ponds) $ 134,063

TVA SETTLEMENT FUNDS FOR AgWRAP

• $500,000 nonrecurring for each year of the 2013-2015 biennium

• Avery, Buncombe, Burke, Cherokee, Clay, Graham, Haywood, Henderson, Jackson, Macon, Madison, McDowell, Mitchell, Swain, Transylvania, Watauga and Yancey counties

• Eligible practices include new agricultural ponds, pond repairs/retrofits, pond sediment removal, micro-irrigation conversion and conservation irrigation conversion

Agricultural Water Resources Assistance Program (AgWRAP)

Conservation Reserve Enhancement Program

Total CREP Stats (1999-2013)· Permanent Easements 7,366 ac. Stream Miles Protected 203 mi.· Thirty-year Easements 26,751 ac. Stream Miles Protected 736 mi.· Total Easements 34,117 ac. Total Stream Miles 939 mi.

NOTE: continuing to see an increase in permanent easement enrollment due to changes in payment structure & expansion to 76 counties in 2008.

599 acres have been enrolled in the expanded watersheds with 51% enrolled in permanent easements.

Tornado Damage Bertie County

April 2011

Hurricane Irene DamageChowan County

August 2011

Stream Debris Removal Project• Streams/Drainage channels blocked from storm

debris from Hurricane Irene and Spring tornadoes• $600,000 grant from Division of Water Resources• $3,363,483 requested• Funds awarded to 11 conservation districts, 7

counties, 4 drainage districts, 1 town, 1 state park, 1 non-profit

• Over 339 miles of stream affected

• Established in aftermath of Hurricane Floyd• Funded by CWMTF (4 grants - $18.7 million)• Eligibility: Active Swine farms in 100-yr floodplains• Have bought out 41 operations

- Capacity to produce 58,000 hogs in floodplain- 101 waste lagoons decommissioned- 1,192 acres included in conservation easements

• 138 farmers have applied for the program

Swine Buyout Program

Key Priorities for FY2014 Recurring Funding for AgWRAP

‒ Rulemaking

• Funding to support renovation of aging watershed structures (Public Law 566 structures for flood control)– Continue to encourage local sponsors to update Emergency Action Plans– Continue work with DEMLR to provide training to local sponsors and

conservation districts on importance of Emergency Action Plans and required data to complete plan

• Additional funding to assist with stream debris removal resulting from hurricanes and tornadoes

• Additional funding for CCAP