Proposals for projects are judged on relevance of the project to the individual RC&D's area plan goals and objectives. Criteria for setting priorities are usually published in the RC&D area plan or are available from the local sponsors of the RC&D area. Proposals for projects should be submitted to the local USDA designated RC&D area. If an area does not exist, contact the field or state office of the Natural Resources Conservation Service. 10.902 SOIL AND WATER CONSERVATION FEDERAL AGENCY: NATURAL RESOURCES CONSERVATION SERVICE, DEPARTMENT OF AGRICULTURE AUTHORIZATION: Soil Conservation and Domestic Allotment Act of 1936, as amended, Public Law 74-46, 16 U.S.C. 590 a-f. OBJECTIVES: To help people conserve, improve, and sustain our natural resources and environment. TYPES OF ASSISTANCE: Advisory Services and Counseling. USES AND USE RESTRICTIONS: Technical assistance to the general public in planning and applying natural resource conservation practices, systems, and treatment; and furnishing technical natural resource conservation information to State and local governments. ELIGIBILITY REQUIREMENTS: Applicant Eligibility: Land users, Land owners, Community organizations State governments and local governments. Resource assistance needed is usually reviewed with the conservation district governing body. Individuals and groups may become cooperators with local conservation districts to which application for assistance is directed. Applicants are also eligible in Puerto Rico, the Virgin Islands, and Western Pacific U.S. Trust Territories. Beneficiary Eligibility: General public, State governments, and local governments. Credentials/Documentation: None. APPLICATION AND AWARD PROCESS: Preapplication Coordination: This program is excluded from coverage under E.O. 12372. Application Procedure: Contact the local Natural Resources Conservation Service office in nearly all counties. Preapplication coordination of this program is not required. This program is subject to the provisions of OMB Circular No. A-110. Award Procedure: Not applicable. Deadlines: None. Range of Approval/Disapproval Time: Not applicable. Appeals: Not applicable. Renewals: Not applicable. ASSISTANCE CONSIDERATIONS: Length and Time Phasing of Assistance: POST ASSISTANCE REQUIREMENTS: Reports: Not applicable. Audits: Not applicable. Records: Not applicable. FINANCIAL INFORMATION: Account Identification: 12-1000-0-1-302. Obligations: (Salaries and expenses) FY 05 $753,083,201; FY 06 est $722,871,270; and FY 07 est $634,320,000. Range and Average of Financial Assistance: Not applicable. PROGRAM ACCOMPLISHMENTS: NRCS provided conservation technical assistance to nearly 3 million customers, in fiscal year 2000. Of the customers assisted, over 347,000 were members of minority groups. As a result of these conservation planning services, a total of 10.2 million acres of cropland and 10.8 million acres of grazing land were treated to the resource management system level (sustainable management). On 4.2 million acres of cropland that had been eroding at excessive rates, NRCS technical assistance enabled farmers to reduce erosion to the tolerable rate or less, thus preserving the productive capacity of the soil. Overall, NRCS provided conservation planning assistance on more than 34 million acres of land in all uses and application assistance on more than 29 million acres. REGULATIONS, GUIDELINES, AND LITERATURE: "Conquest of the Land," AIB99; "Soil Erosion by Water," AIB513; "Assistance Available from the Natural Resources Conservation Service," AIB345; "Controlling Erosion on Construction Sites," AIB347; "Community Improvement Through Resource Conservation and Development," PA1077; "Save Soil Systematically," PA1366. "List of Published Soil Surveys;" "Going Wild with Natural resource Conservation," PA1363; "Conversation Planning-You and Your Land," PA 1376, "Farming and Maintaining Terraces," LN570. INFORMATION CONTACTS: Regional or Local Office: State and local Natural Resources Conservation Service offices (see Appendix IV of the Catalog). Headquarters Office: Jose Acevedo, Deputy Chief for Natural Resources Conservation Programs, Natural Resources Conservation Service, Department of Agriculture, P.O. Box 2890, Washington, DC 20013. Telephone: (202) 720-4527. Use the same number for FTS. Web Site Address: http://www.nrcs.usda.gov. RELATED PROGRAMS: 10.054, Emergency Conservation Program; 10.500, Cooperative Extension Service; 10.901, Resource Conservation and Development; 10.903, Soil Survey; 10.904, Watershed Protection and Flood Prevention; 10.905, Plant Materials for Conservation; 10.906, Watershed Surveys and Planning; 10.907, Snow Survey and Water Supply Forecasting; 10.910, Rural Abandoned Mine Program. EXAMPLES OF FUNDED PROJECTS: Not applicable. CRITERIA FOR SELECTING PROPOSALS: Not applicable. 10.903 SOIL SURVEY FEDERAL AGENCY: NATURAL RESOURCES CONSERVATION SERVICE, DEPARTMENT OF AGRICULTURE AUTHORIZATION: Public Law 74-46; Public Law 89-560. OBJECTIVES: To produce and maintain up to date published soil surveys and other forms of soil survey databases of counties or other comparable size areas for widespread use by interested agencies, organizations, and individuals and to assist in the use of this information. TYPES OF ASSISTANCE: Dissemination of Technical Information. USES AND USE RESTRICTIONS: Soil surveys are for planners, environmentalists, engineers, zoning commissions, tax commissions, homeowners, farmers, ranchers, developers, landowners, and operators who use them to evaluate soil suitability for home sites, subdivisions, commercial and industrial sites, farms, wildlife and recreational areas, prime agricultural land, hydric soils, highly erodible lands, highways, and airports and to select and implement appropriate use and management of those soils. ELIGIBILITY REQUIREMENTS: Applicant Eligibility: All individuals and groups that have a need for soil surveys are eligible to receive these documents by contacting the local Natural Resources Conservation Service Office. Beneficiary Eligibility: All individuals and groups that have a need for soil surveys are eligible to receive these documents. Credentials/Documentation: None. APPLICATION AND AWARD PROCESS: Preapplication Coordination: This program is excluded from coverage under E.O. 12372. Application Procedure: Applicants may request information from the local office of the Natural Resources Conservation Service, Soil Conservation Districts, Extension Service, the State office of the Natural Resources Conservation Service, State Agricultural Experiment Station and from Senators and Congressmen. Local units of government submit requests to State Conservationist, Natural Resources Conservation Service, see Appendix IV in the Catalog for addresses. Soil Conservation District (SCD) cooperators submit requests to SCD board of supervisors. Award Procedure: Not applicable. Deadlines: None. Range of Approval/Disapproval Time: Not applicable. Appeals: Not applicable. Renewals: Not applicable. ASSISTANCE CONSIDERATIONS: Length and Time Phasing of Assistance: POST ASSISTANCE REQUIREMENTS: Reports: Not applicable. Audits: Not applicable. Records: Not applicable. FINANCIAL INFORMATION: Account Identification: 12-1000-0-1-302. Obligations: (Salaries and Expenses) FY 05 $88,241,053; FY 06 est $87,267,500; and FY 07 est $89,291,000. Range and Average of Financial Assistance: Not applicable. PROGRAM ACCOMPLISHMENTS: For fiscal year 2002, progress was 8,181,928 acres of new surveys and 14,451,280 acres of outdated surveys. Estimates for fiscal years 2003 and 2004 are 22,000,000 acres. REGULATIONS, GUIDELINES, AND LITERATURE: "List of Published Soil Surveys;" "Know the Soil You Build On," AIB 320; "Know Your Soil," AIB 267; "Soil Surveys Can Help You," PA-1054. These publications are available from the Office of Public Affairs, NRCSUSDA, P.O. Box 2890, Washington, DC 20013, at no charge. INFORMATION CONTACTS: Regional or Local Office: State and local offices of the Natural Resources Conservation Service; see Appendix IV of the Catalog for addresses. Headquarters Office: Deputy Chief For Soil Survey and Resource Assessment, Natural Resources Conservation Service, Department of Agriculture, P.O. Box 2890, Washington, DC 20013. Telephone: (202) 690-4616. Web Site Address: http://www.nrcs.usda.gov. RELATED PROGRAMS: 10.902, Soil and Water Conservation; 10.904, Watershed Protection and Flood Prevention. EXAMPLES OF FUNDED PROJECTS: Not applicable. CRITERIA FOR SELECTING PROPOSALS: Not applicable. 10.904 WATERSHED PROTECTION AND FLOOD PREVENTION (Small Watershed Program; PL-566 Operations Phase) FEDERAL AGENCY: NATURAL RESOURCES CONSERVATION SERVICE, DEPARTMENT OF AGRICULTURE AUTHORIZATION: Watershed Protection and Flood Prevention Act, Public Law 83-566, 68 Stat. 666, as amended; Public Law 84-1018, 70 Stat. 1088; Public Law 85624, 72 Stat. 563; Public Law 85-865, 72 Stat. 1605; Public Law 86-468, 74 Stat. 131, 132; Public Law 86-545, 74 Stat. 254; Public Law 87-170, 75 Stat. 408; Public Law 87-703, 76 Stat. 608; Public Law 89-337, 79 Stat. 1300; Public Law 90-361, 82 Stat. 250; Public Law 92-419, 86 Stat. 667; Public Law 95-113, 91 Stat. 913; Public Law 97-98, 95 Stat. 1213; Public Law 99-662, 100 Stat. 4196; Public Law 101-624, 104 Stat. 3359. OBJECTIVES: To provide technical and financial assistance in carrying out works of improvement to protect, develop, and utilize the land and water resources in small watersheds. TYPES OF ASSISTANCE: Project Grants; Advisory Services and Counseling. USES AND USE RESTRICTIONS: Technical assistance is provided in designing, and installing watershed works of improvement. Financial assistance is provided for sharing costs of measures for watershed protection, flood prevention, agricultural water management, sedimentation control, public water based fish, wildlife, recreation; and in extending long term credit to help local interests with their share of the costs. Watershed area must not exceed 250,000 acres. Capacity of a single structure is limited to 25,000 acre-feet of total capacity and 12,500 acre-feet of floodwater detention capacity. ELIGIBILITY REQUIREMENTS: Applicant Eligibility: Any State agency, county or groups of counties, municipality, town or township, soil and water conservation district, flood prevention or flood control district, Indian tribe or tribal organization, or any other nonprofit agency with authority under State law to carry out, maintain, and operate watershed works of improvement may apply for assistance. This program is available in Puerto Rico, the Virgin Islands, Guam, American Samoa, the Mariana Islands and the Trust Territories of the Pacific Islands. Beneficiary Eligibility: Any State agency, county or groups of counties, municipality, town or township, soil and water conservation district, flood prevention or flood control district, Indian tribe or tribal organization, or any other nonprofit agency with authority under State law to carry out, maintain, and operate watershed works of improvement may apply for assistance. This program is available in Puerto Rico, Guam, American Samoa, the Mariana Islands, and the Trust Territories of the Pacific Islands. Credentials/Documentation: Applications must designate the proposed project area, be properly signed and attested to by all applicants, and set forth the need for the proposed project. Costs will be determined in accordance with OMB Circular No. A87 for State and local governments. APPLICATION AND AWARD PROCESS: Preapplication Coordination: The standard application forms, as furnished by the Federal agency and required by OMB Circular No. A-102, must be used for this program. Environmental assessments or an Environmental impact statements are required for all projects. This program is eligible for coverage under E.O. 12372, "Intergovernmental Review of Federal Programs." An applicant should consult the office or official designated as the Single Point of Contact in his or her State for more information on the process the State requires to be followed in applying for assistance, if the State has selected the program for review. Application Procedure: Application forms and information are available in all NRCS offices and from designated State agencies. This program is excluded from coverage under OMB Circular No. A-110. Award Procedure: Details of the procedure are available from the State and field offices of the Natural Resources Conservation Service. Deadlines: None. Range of Approval/Disapproval Time: Receipt of the application is acknowledged as soon as it is determined to be valid. Appeals: Not applicable. Renewals: Not applicable. ASSISTANCE CONSIDERATIONS: Formula and Matching Requirements: Technical and financial assistance under which program funds provide certain prescribed services and costs and a percentage of other costs on the basis of a contract vary according to purpose of the works of improvement. For example, for construction costs under the Act, program funds provide 100 percent for flood prevention; up to 50 percent of agricultural water management, public recreation and fish and wildlife purposes; and none of the costs for certain other nonagricultural water management purposes. All of the applicants' installation costs are eligible for program loans. Reimbursable advances are available for preservation of sites and future municipal water supply. Length and Time Phasing of Assistance: Continues until all works of improvement are installed or their installation is terminated by mutual agreement. POST ASSISTANCE REQUIREMENTS: Reports: Annual operation and maintenance inspection and report. Audits: In accordance with the provisions of 7 CFR Part 3052, "Audits of States, Local Governments, and Non-Profit Organizations," which implement OMB Circular No. A-133 (Revised, June 27, 2003), "Audits of States, Local Governments, and Non-Profit Organizations," nonfederal entities that expend financial assistance of $500,000 or more in Federal awards will have a single or a program-specific audit conducted for that year. Nonfederal entities that expend less than $500,000 a year in Federal awards are exempt from Federal audit requirements for that year, except as noted in 7 CFR 3052. Records: Records of operation and maintenance activities are maintained for the life of the project. FINANCIAL INFORMATION: Account Identification: Watershed and flood prevention operations, 12-1072-0-1-301. Obligations: (Grants watershed and flood prevention operations) FY 05 $43,870,070; FY 06 est $44,253,198; and FY 07 est $0. (Salaries and Expenses, watershed and flood prevention operations) FY 05 $36,793,854; FY 06 est $29,996,800; and FY 07 est $0. Range and Average of Financial Assistance: (per State) $0 to $2,164,000; $650,000. PROGRAM ACCOMPLISHMENTS: In fiscal year 2000, 6 projects were approved for operations. A total of 518 projects in construction. Projects installed as planned under the program totaled 918. In fiscal year 2002, it is estimated that 8 projects will be approved for operations, 512 projects will be in construction, and 931 projects will be installed as planned under the program. REGULATIONS, GUIDELINES, AND LITERATURE: "What is a Watershed," PA-420; "Flood Plain Management - Why We Need It," PA-1276; "Multiple- Purpose Watershed Projects," PA-575; and "Small Watershed Projects," PA- 1354. INFORMATION CONTACTS: Regional or Local Office: For list of NRCS State offices with telephone numbers and addresses, see Appendix IV of the Catalog. Headquarters Office: Watersheds and Wetlands Division, Natural Resources Conservation Service, Department of Agriculture, P.O. Box 2890, Washington, DC 20013. Telephone: (202) 720-3534. Web Site Address: http://www.nrcs.usda.gov. RELATED PROGRAMS: 10.664, Cooperative Forestry Assistance; 10.902, Soil and Water Conservation; 10.903, Soil Survey; 10.905, Plant Materials for Conservation; 10.906, Watershed Surveys and Planning; 10.907, Snow Survey and Water Supply Forecasting; 12.104, Flood Plain Management Services. EXAMPLES OF FUNDED PROJECTS: To date, Federal assistance for installation has been authorized on 1,651 watershed projects. This program provides technical and financial assistance to State agencies and units of local government in solving problems caused by flooding, erosion and sediment damage, conservation, development, utilization, and disposal of water, including the development of multipurpose facilities for such uses as recreation, improvement of fish and wild-life habitat, irrigation, and water supply to municipal and industrial users. CRITERIA FOR SELECTING PROPOSALS: 1) The watershed must meet the requirements of the law; 2) an approved watershed plan has been prepared; 3) the local sponsors should indicate willingness to carry out a watershed project; 4) the project has environmental, economic and social benefits that exceed the costs for a favorable benefit-cost ratio; and 5) no critical environmental issues exist. 10.905 PLANT MATERIALS FOR CONSERVATION FEDERAL AGENCY: NATURAL RESOURCES CONSERVATION SERVICE, DEPARTMENT OF AGRICULTURE AUTHORIZATION: Soil Conservation and Domestic Allotment Act of 1936, as amended, Public Law 74-46. OBJECTIVES: To assemble, evaluate, select, release, and introduce into commerce, and promote the use of new and improved plant materials for soil, water, and related resource conservation and environmental improvement programs. To develop technology for land management and restoration with plant materials. To transfer technology on plant materials. TYPES OF ASSISTANCE: Provision of Specialized Services. USES AND USE RESTRICTIONS: Plant materials are used in all phases of the soil and water conservation program. This program emphasizes field testing to determine the plant's value and restoration techniques. It is limited to conservation cooperators properties in conjunction with soil conservation districts, State Agricultural Experiment Stations, State Crop Improvement Associations and other Federal and State agencies. The program also provides commercial seed growers with breeder and foundation quality seed or propagules. Other plants or seed are not provided to the general public. Large-scale production is conducted by cooperating commercial producers. Free plants, seed and/or grants are not available to nurseries or individuals from the Plant Materials Program. Renewals: Not applicable. ASSISTANCE CONSIDERATIONS: Formula and Matching Requirements: This program has no statutory formula and no matching requirements. Length and Time Phasing of Assistance: Not applicable. POST ASSISTANCE REQUIREMENTS: Reports: Not applicable. Audits: Not applicable. Records: Not applicable. FINANCIAL INFORMATION: Account Identification: 12-1000-0-1-302. Obligations: (Salaries and expenses) FY 05 $13,072,793; FY 06 est $10,441,530; and FY 07 est $10,678,000. Range and Average of Financial Assistance: Not applicable. PROGRAM ACCOMPLISHMENTS: About 450 releases of grasses, legumes, forbs, shrubs, and trees have been developed and made available for commercial increase through this program. Uses include erosion control and sediment reduction, roadside and stream bank protection, wetlands restoration, buffer strip establishment, surface-mined land reclamation, and wildlife food and cover. The annual commercial production of NRCS released grasses, legumes and woody plants by commercial seed growers and nurserymen is equivalent to the amount required to establish vegetative cover on over 2,000,000 acres of land. REGULATIONS, GUIDELINES, AND LITERATURE: "National Plant Materials Manual; "Grass Seed Production and Harvest in the Great Plains," FB 2226; "Building, Planting and Maintaining Sand Dunes," L 42; "Grasses and Legumes for Soil Conservation in the Pacific Northwest and Great Basin States," AH 339. "Conservation Plants for the Northeast," NRCS, USDA Program Aid No. 1154; "Plant Performance on Surface Coal Mine Spoil in the Eastern United States," NRCS TP 155; "Plant Materials For Conservation," NRCS Program Aid No. 1219; "Plant Materials For Use On Surfaced Mined Land in Arid and Semiarid Regions," NRCS TP 157; "New Plants For Conservation," NRCS Environmental Quality Aid; "Grass Varieties in the United States," SCS Handbook 170. "Native Grass Seed Production Manual," USDA-NRCS, DU-Canada; "Vegetating With Native Grasses in Northeastern North America," USDANRCS, DU-Canada. An internet homepage with more information may be found at: http://plant- materials.nrcs.usda.gov. INFORMATION CONTACTS: Regional or Local Office: NRCS State offices and field offices. See Appendix IV. Headquarters Office: Deputy Chief For Science and Technology, Natural Resources Conservation Service, Department of Agriculture, P.O. Box 2890, Washington, DC 20013. Telephone: (202) 720-4630. Use the same number for FTS. Web Site Address: http://www.nrcs.usda.gov. RELATED PROGRAMS: 10.902, Soil and Water Conservation; 10.904, Watershed Protection and Flood Prevention. EXAMPLES OF FUNDED PROJECTS: Not applicable. CRITERIA FOR SELECTING PROPOSALS: Not applicable. 10.906 WATERS HED SURVEYS AND PLANNING (Small Watershed Program; PL-566; Watershed Surveys and Planning) FEDERAL AGENCY: NATURAL RESOURCES CONSERVATION SERVICE, DEPARTMENT OF AGRICULTURE AUTHORIZATION: Watershed Protection and Flood Prevention Act, Public Law 83-566, 68 Stat. 666, as amended: Public Law 84-1018, 70 Stat. 1088; Public Law 85624, 72 Stat. 563; Public Law 85-865, 72 Stat. 1605; Public Law 86-468, 74 Stat. 131, 132; Public Law 86-545, 74 Stat. 254; Public Law 87-170, 75 Stat. 408; Public Law 87-703, 76 Stat. 608; Public Law 89-337, 79 Stat. 1300; Public Law 90-361, 82 Stat. 250; Public Law 97-98, 95 Stat. 1213; Public Law 99-662, 100 Stat. 4196; Public Law 101-624, 104 Stat. 3359. OBJECTIVES: To provide planning assistance to Federal, State, and local agencies for the development of coordinated water and related land resources programs in watersheds and river basins. Priority will be given to studies which: (1) Contribute to achieving the National Conservation Program high priority objectives; (2) have a high likelihood of being implemented; (3) will be implemented with no or relatively little Federal assistance; (4) have State and local assistance in the study; and (5) are of short duration (2 to 4 years) and (6) low cost. Special priority is given to the objective of setting priorities in helping to solve problems of upstream rural community flooding, water quality improvement coming from agricultural nonpoint sources, wetland preservation and drought management for agriculture and rural communities. Special emphasis is given to assisting communities which desire to adopt floodplain management regulations to meet the requirements of the National Flood Insurance Program and State agencies in developing a strategic water resource plan. TYPES OF ASSISTANCE: Provision of Specialized Services; Advisory Services and Counseling. USES AND USE RESTRICTIONS: Technical assistance is provided to sponsoring organizations for planning activities to help solve water and related land resources problems. It is available through disciplines such as engineering, economics, social sciences, agronomy, range management, forestry, biology, hydrology, archaeology, landscape architecture, waste management, recreation, etc. ELIGIBILITY REQUIREMENTS: Applicant Eligibility: Any local or State water resource agency or other Federal agency concerned with water and related land resource development, counties, municipalities, town or township, soil and water conservation district, flood prevention or flood control district, Indian tribe or tribal organization or nonprofit organization. USDA participation is based on a cooperative effort with a sponsoring organization(s). State and local agencies are expected to participate in the studies and to fund their own activities. This program is also available in Puerto Rico, Virgin Islands, Guam, American Samoa, the Mariana Islands and the Trust Territories of the Pacific Islands. Beneficiary Eligibility: Any local or State water resource agency or other Federal agency concerned with water and related land resource development that can benefit from the development of alternative plans and recommendations. Credentials/Documentation: Requests for assistance must designate the proposed study area, describe the basic planning and/or study objective, and indicate joint participation and be signed and attested to by all applicants. APPLICATION AND AWARD PROCESS: Preapplication Coordination: None. This program is excluded from coverage under E.O. 12372. Application Procedure: Application materials and information are available in all NRCS offices. This program is excluded from coverage under OMB Circular No. A-110. The letter of request addressed to the appropriate State Conservationist of the Natural Resources Conservation Service. Award Procedure: Not applicable. Deadlines: None. Range of Approval/Disapproval Time: Receipt of request is acknowledged when received by the State Conservationist. Appeals: Not applicable. Renewals: Not applicable. ASSISTANCE CONSIDERATIONS: Formula and Matching Requirements: Each cooperating agency is to fund its own participation. The extent of participation and funding are to be defined in a plan of work that establishes the basis for the study effort. Length and Time Phasing of Assistance: The length of the study is defined in the plan of work. It is subject to some modification, depending on the availability of funds to each of the cooperating agencies. Federal assistance for planning is provided as rapidly as possible depending on availability of funds and personnel resources. Sponsors are encouraged to focus their studies on a limited number of critical problems of special concern nationally, such as flood damage reduction, erosion control, water conservation, preservation of wetlands, and water quality improvement. Short duration, low cost studies that support ongoing State and local programs are encouraged. POST ASSISTANCE REQUIREMENTS: Reports: Interim reports may be prepared during the study. Final reports are prepared at the completion of each study. Post study assistance may be provided through the operations phase of this program (see program no. 10.904). Audits: Not applicable. Records: Not applicable. FINANCIAL INFORMATION: Account Identification: 12-1066-0-1-301. Obligations: (Salaries and expenses) FY 05 $6,844,867; FY 06 est $6,022,170; and FY 07 est $0. Range and Average of Financial Assistance: Not applicable. PROGRAM ACCOMPLISHMENTS: USDA has cooperated with local, State, and concerned Federal agencies in the preparation and updating of State water resource plans and other water, land, and related studies for floodplain management and flood prevention. There have been over 1,660 watershed plans and 550 flood insurance studies, 602 floodplain management studies (detailed studies), 461 cooperative river basin studies (broad based studies), and 171 resource plans completed under this program since it was authorized in 1954. REGULATIONS, GUIDELINES, AND LITERATURE: Regulations for the program are found in 7 CFR 621 and 622. Guidelines and policy is contained in the National Watersheds Manual (NWSM), National Basin and Area Planning Manual (NRBM), and NRCS General Manual (GM) 150-Basin and Area Planning, Part 401. Literature available through the NRCS include "What the Natural Resources Conservation Service Does," SCS-CI-3; "Local- State-Federal Watershed Projects," SCSCI-4; "Multiple-Purpose Watershed Projects," PA-575. INFORMATION CONTACTS: Regional or Local Office: For list of NRCS State offices with telephone numbers and addresses, see Appendix IV of the Catalog. Headquarters Office: Watersheds and Wetlands Division, Natural Resources Conservation Service, Department of Agriculture, P.O. Box 2890, Washington, DC 20013. Telephone: (202) 720-3534. Web Site Address: http://www.nrcs.usda.gov. RELATED PROGRAMS: 10.902, Soil and Water Conservation; 10.904, Watershed Protection and Flood Prevention; 12.110, Planning Assistance to States. EXAMPLES OF FUNDED PROJECTS: (1) New York City Watershed Cooperative River Basin Study to assess agriculturally related non-point source pollution affecting the quality of water for 1/2 of New York's population. The State of New York will analyze the data collected and develop a comprehensive protection plan with strategies for addressing the water quality concerns; (2) in New Castle Counties Delaware, the Central Pencader flood plain management study was initiated to guide land use, zoning, and subdivision decisions to develop sound flood plain and storm water management practices. The local government will use the flood hazard analysis and flood plain information to direct major development activities in a responsible manner; (3) State strategic water management plan for N. D. has been instrumental in organizing a State water quality task force for prioritizing and addressing natural resource problems and opportunities on a watershed basis. CRITERIA FOR SELECTING PROPOSALS: Not applicable. 10.907 SNOW SURVEY AND WATER SUPPLY FORECASTING (Snow Surveys) FEDERAL AGENCY: NATURAL RESOURCES CONSERVATION SERVICE, DEPARTMENT OF AGRICULTURE AUTHORIZATION: Soil Conservation and Domestic Allotment Act of 1936, as amended, Public Law 74-46. OBJECTIVES: To provide information on forthcoming seasonal water supplies from streams that derive most of their run off from snow melt. To help farm operators, rural communities, and municipalities use water- supply forecasts in managing water resources. To provide hydrometeorological data for regulating reservoir storage and managing stream flow. To provide soil moisture/temperature and climate data to support drought assessment, fire hazard assessment, wildlife management and climate change research. To obtain, evaluate and disseminate climate data in support of NRCS conservation activities including models. TYPES OF ASSISTANCE: Dissemination of Technical Information. USES AND USE RESTRICTIONS: The information is used by the owners and operators of the 30,000,000 irrigated acres in the mountain States, and the far West. The data are also used in administering international and interstate river flow distribution contracts and agreements, and in the regulation of hundreds of small and large reservoirs for irrigation, flood control, power generation, recreation, industry, and municipal supplies. The data are also used for drought, flood, fire, and climate assessments. Cooperators include other Federal agencies, State agencies, municipalities, irrigation districts, water associations and private utilities, and water management officials of Canada and Mexico. ELIGIBILITY REQUIREMENTS: Applicant Eligibility: General public, including those located in the U.S. Territories. Beneficiary Eligibility: General public, including those located in the U.S. Territories. Credentials/Documentation: None. APPLICATION AND AWARD PROCESS: This program is excluded from coverage under E.O. 12372. Individuals can make requests for reports from NRCS Field and State offices that issued them, and from the NRCS National Water and Climate Center at Portland, OR. Award Procedure: Not applicable. Deadlines: None. Range of Approval/Disapproval Time: Not applicable. Appeals: Not applicable. Renewals: Not applicable. ASSISTANCE CONSIDERATIONS: Length and Time Phasing of Assistance: POST ASSISTANCE REQUIREMENTS: Reports: Not applicable. Audits: Not applicable. Records: Not applicable. FINANCIAL INFORMATION: Account Identification: 12-1000-0-1-302. Obligations: (Salaries and expenses) FY 05 $10,230,634; FY 06 est $10,543,500; and FY 07 est $10,588,000. |