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United States Department of Agriculture
Natural Resources Conservation Service
9173 W. Barnes Dr., Suite C
Boise, Idaho 83709
 
For More Information:
Contact:  Richard Sims, 208.378.5701
Contact:  Jody Fagan, 208.685.6978

IDAHO’S LEMHI WATERSHED SELECTED FOR 2004 CSP SIGN-UP
Idaho NRCS to Hold Informational Sessions for Interested Producers

Salmon, May 24, 2004—The Lemhi watershed in east central Idaho has been selected as one of the nation’s 18 priority watersheds for the 2004 Conservation Security Program (CSP) sign-up to be held this summer.

CSP is a voluntary program that rewards those farmers and ranchers who are meeting the highest standards of conservation on their land. The Idaho CSP project area includes the Lemhi Valley from the Gilmore Summit down to the town of Salmon.

“The producers in the Lemhi Valley have completed a tremendous amount of voluntary conservation,” says Rich Sims, state conservationist for the Natural Resources Conservation Service (NRCS) in Boise. “One of the reasons NRCS Chief Bruce Knight selected the Lemhi for this first year of CSP is because the producers in the area have been so proactive.”

Idaho NRCS will hold two CSP informational meetings for Lemhi producers in June. Interested producers who have land in the watershed should plan to attend one of the meetings for additional details about CSP and producer eligibility. Meetings will be held at: 

• June 22, 7 p.m., Lemhi Grange
• June 23, 7 p.m., Commissioner's Annex in Salmon

“A sign-up announcement will be published along with the interim final rule that will detail the specific program requirements within the priority watersheds,” Sims says.

Nationally, the 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.

“The idea of CSP is to provide payments to individuals who are interested in continuing great stewardship,” Sims says. “The program also will offer additional incentives for further enhancements. We’ll be keying in on habitat for salmon and sage grouse, and continuing to improve the soil and water quality of the area.”

Additional information on CSP, including the Federal Register notice, public comments and frequently asked questions is available at http://www.nrcs.usda.gov/programs/csp.
 

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