Conservation technical assistance is the help NRCS and its partners provide to land users to address opportunities, concerns, and problems related to the use of natural resources and to help land users make sound natural resource management decisions on private, tribal, and other non-federal lands.
For more than 70 years, the U.S. Department of Agriculture Natural Resources Conservation Service has been the primary federal agency to work with private landowners on natural resources conservation. Participation in NRCS programs is voluntary.
The NRCS offers conservation technical assistance - including conservation planning - at no cost to landowners. Conservation planning is a natural resource problem solving and management process that integrates your future goals with ecological, economic, and social considerations. NRCS conservation planning is based on the premise that landowners will make and implement sound decisions if they understand their problems and opportunities, and the effects of their decisions.
NRCS conservation planners have access to NRCS’ soil scientists, wildlife specialists, engineers, agronomists, foresters and conservation technicians to provide landowners with expertise that has been tested and adapted to local conditions.
NRCS also offers financial assistance to help offset the costs of installing or implementing qualifying conservation solutions.
NRCS is non-regulatory and landowners are responsible for obtaining and complying with all authorities, permits, easements and approvals necessary for the installation, operation and maintenance of conservation practices.
The CTA Program provides land users with proven conservation technology and the delivery system needed to achieve the benefits of a healthy and productive landscape. The primary purposes of the CTA Program are to:
Reduce soil loss from erosion
Solve soil, water quality, water conservation, air quality, and agricultural waste management problems
Reduce potential damage caused by excess water and sedimentation or drought
Enhance the quality of fish and wildlife habitat
Improve the long term sustainability of all lands
Assist others in facilitating changes in land use as needed for natural resource protection and sustainability
Contact an NRCS office for assistance.
National CTA Website and more information
CTA can help land owners in Anchorage
Subject to the Anchorage Municipal Code regarding large domestic animal facilities, you must have a conservation plan developed or approved by the Anchorage Soil and Water Conservation District in order to be in compliance with the ordinance and protected by Alaska’s “Right to Farm” law.
The Anchorage Soil and Water Conservation District can approve a plan written for you by NRCS, make a supplement to your NRCS-written plan, or work with you to develop a new plan altogether with their contractor.
Conversely, a conservation plan written by the Anchorage Soil and Water Conservation District contractor might not be adequate to request financial assistance from NRCS. The District’s Standards of Practice cannot be used for financial assistance from NRCS.
Landowners that possess a conservation plan written by the Anchorage Soil and Water Conservation District are eligible for free planning assistance from NRCS in order to develop a conservation plan that makes practice implementation and installation eligible for NRCS cost-share assistance.
Resources
Right to Farm Law: http://www.legis.state.ak.us/cgi-bin/folioisa.dll/stattx04/query=09!2E45!2E235/doc/{@2849}?
Municipality of Anchorage Large Domestic Animal Facilities Code: http://www.municode.com/resources/gateway.asp?pid=12717&sid=2
