Washington Watershed Planning (PL-566)
Success Stories

NRCS is embarking on a major effort, called locally-led conservation, which is an extension of the agency's traditional assistance to individual farmers and ranchers for planning and installing conservation practices for soil erosion control, water management and other purposes. It means that local people, generally with the leadership of conservation districts along with NRCS technical assistance, will assess their natural resource conditions and needs; set goals; identify ways to solve resource problems; utilize a broad array of programs to implement solutions; and measure their success. This voluntary effort is fostered by the conservation provisions of the 1996 Farm Bill and is designed to better tailor the Agency's assistance to meet the needs of individuals and communities served.

A desire for assistance is clearly expressed through the growth of a nationwide "watershed movement." Local people want to protect and be stewards of their land and water resources. They are creating lake, river and watershed associations all across the country because they recognize that they need to work together to plan and implement solutions to their natural resource problems. Local people understand that what they do on their land can affect others and that they need to "think globally and act locally." Just as farmers and ranchers and small communities have sought out NRCS's technology and planning expertise for the past 60 years, watershed associations, conservancy districts, irrigation districts, watershed improvement districts and other groups are seeking the best available science and planning skills to assist them to assess their natural resource conditions and help local people identify solutions to their problems.

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2003 Watershed Planning (PL-566) Success Stories

Colville Reservation Cultural Resource Interim Agreement Completed  (34 KB)

2002 Watershed Planning (PL-566) Success Stories

Study Identifies Potential Flood Area in Sanpoil River Valley, Ferry County  (76 KB)
 

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