[CC/UW BASIN SCREENING TOOLS FOR PRIORITIES 1 AND 2]{.underline}

[AND ALSO FOR PRIORITY 3 (BELOW)]{.underline}

[SCREENING TOOL FOR NATURAL RESOURCE PRIORITY 1 AND 2]{.underline}

[CENTRAL COAST/UPPER WILLAMETTE VALLEY BASIN WORK GR0UP]{.underline}

November 10, 2004

**BACKGROUND**: Based on direction from NRCS national headquarters,
state NRCS guidance, and recommendations from the public input of
agricultural, livestock, and environmental groups, the EQIP program for
the Central Coast/Upper Willamette Basin is changed to reflect both
local resource concerns consistent with EQIP national priorities. These
National Priorities are as follows:

1)  Assisting producers in complying with local, state, tribal, and
    national regulatory requirements particularly as it pertains to
    livestock feeding operations.

2)  Utilizing EQIP to assist producers in qualifying for the
    Conservation Security Program (CSP) addressing water quality and
    soil quality concerns.

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1.  **RESOURCE CONCERNS**: Water quality resource concerns continue to
    be a high priority for the Willamette Valley, both for drinking
    water for people and livestock, as well as habitat for fish. Water
    quality concerns affecting agriculture include nutrients, organics,
    pesticides and sediment in surface or ground water from both farming
    and livestock operations, low oxygen levels and high water
    temperatures.

> **CSP WATERSHED PROJECTIONS:** At the BWG meeting on August 14, 2004
> it was agreed that the priority for CC/UW watersheds to be selected
> for CSP were as follows:

1)  McKenzie

2)  Siletz, Alsea, Siuslaw

3)  Upper Willamette

4)  South Santiam

5)  Coast Fork/ Mid Fork Willamette

In order to qualify for CSP a producer must demonstrate acceptable
management levels for at least 2 years prior to the application.

**RECOMMENDATIONS:** Based on the above information I recommend the
following items be used as screening tools for the Central Coast/Upper
Willamette Basin Work Group funds:

> **[HIGH PRIORITY]{.underline}**- Producer located in the Siletz,
> Alsea, or Siuslaw Watersheds or in the Upper Willamette Watershed.
>
> **[MEDIUM PRIORITY]{.underline}-** Producer plans to develop livestock
> waste management actions to address regulatory concerns with an ODA
> compliance date of October 1 2005.
>
> **[LOW PRIORITY]{.underline}** -- Producer plans to develop livestock
> waste management actions to address regulatory concerns with an ODA
> compliance date of July 15, 2006

**[SCREENING TOOL FOR NATURAL RESOURCE PRIORITY 3]{.underline}**

**[CENTRAL COAST/UPPER WILLAMETTE EQIP FORESTRY FUND]{.underline}**

**FY 2005**

**BACKGROUND**

Forestlands in the CC/UW Basin are a high priority natural resource
issue because of forest health concerns, under-stocked and over-stocked
stands of trees and high fuel loads. Over the last two decades,
catastrophic wildfires have resulted from these conditions in western
Oregon with consequent deleterious impacts to water and watersheds.
Forested watersheds have significant impacts on a range of natural
resource issues including upland wildlife habitat, water quality, water
quantity, fisheries and threatened and endangered species.

Additional national priorities for the EQIP program are to utilize the
program to assist producers in qualifying for the Conservation Security
Program addressing water quality and soil quality concerns. Since
forestland incidental to cropland and pastureland is eligible for CSP,
it is important that forestland producers demonstrate acceptable
management. At the BWG meeting on August 14, 2004 it was agreed that the
priority for CC/UW watersheds to be selected for CSP were as follows:

1)  McKenzie

2)  Siletz, Alsea, Siuslaw

3)  Upper Willamette

4)  South Santiam

5)  Coast Fork/Mid Fork Willamette

In order to qualify for CSP a producer must demonstrate acceptable
management levels for at least 2 years prior to application.

**RECOMMENDATIONS:** Based on the above information I recommend the
following items be used as screening tools for the Central Coast/Upper
Willamette Basin Work Group Forestry Funds:

**[HIGH PRIORITY]{.underline}** -- Producers located in the Siletz,
Alsea, or Siuslaw Watersheds or in

Upper Willamette Watershed.

**[MEDIUM PRIORITY]{.underline}** -- Producers located in the South
Santiam Watershed.

**[LOW PRIORITY]{.underline}** -- Producers located in the Coast
Fork/Mid Fork Willamette

Watersheds.

The CC/UW Basin Work Group, composed of representatives of the four
counties, provided input to NRCS on a multi-county EQIP Forestry effort
to help focus funds on forestlands within Western Oregon. The Basin Work
Group has set aside \$40,000 for these forestland projects. The
forestland practices to be applied using these funds include Tree and
Shrub Planting, Forest Site Preparation and Critical Area Planting, and
Forest Stand Improvement.

Funds set aside for Forestry will be held until 2/1/05. Forestry Funds
not allocated by 2/1/05 will be re-allocated to general BWG funds.

**PRACTICE COST LISTS**

The CC/UW Basin Forest EQIP will use the Basin Practice Cost Lists.

**RANKING**

The EQIP Ranking Worksheet will be used based on NRCS Quality Criteria.
The resource concerns are ranked as follows:

Resource Concern by Priority

1.  Plant Condition, Health & Vigor

2.  Plant Condition, Productivity

3.  Wildlife & Habitat

4.  Concentrated Flow

5.  Streambank Erosion

6.  Aquatic Habitat Suitability

7.  Soil Tilth, Crusting, Infiltration, OM

8.  Sheet & Rill Erosion

**BASIN POLICIES FOR FORESTRY PRACTICES**

1)  Maximum amount in one contract will not exceed \$10,000 in
    cost-share funds.

2)  Funds set aside will only be used on forestland.

3)  Area must be protected from destructive grazing, if desirable tree
    seedlings are present.

4)  Cost-sharing is not authorized for:

    -   Timber stand improvement where undesirable stems can be removed
        by commercial sales. Non-commercial salvage of firewood or posts
        is allowed.

    -   Any acreage where softwoods have been commercially logged to the
        extent that reforestation is required under the Oregon Forest
        Practices Act. The restriction applies for five years following
        completion of the logging operation.

    -   Planting Christmas trees or hybrid poplar plantations.

5)  Improvement practices should be carried out in such a manner as to
    improve the environment. Of particular importance is protection of
    streams and wildlife habitat. Guidelines established by the ODF for
    buffers, snags and hiding cover will be followed.