Colorado NRCS Leadership Team Teleconference Minutes
August 7, 2007

• NLT - A combination of Leadership, SRC’s and NHQ personnel attended the meeting. Some of the discussions/presentations included:


• Prepare for future challenges; 80% of mission critical employees will be eligible to retire in next 10 years.


• Make conservation easier, applications user friendly, conservation practices designed for farmers, not NRCS.


• Transparent, program/fund accountability, focused on CEAP to demonstrate environmental benefits of conservation practices.


• The Military Installation Buffer Initiative
  
  • DOD has $50 million to install buffers/conservation easements around bases for security reasons – wants to partner with NRCS.
  
  
• F/A and T/A used for cultural resources, NEPA and ESA. Technical Service Provider or contractor will provide oversight during construction for complex jobs.


• National Bulletin just transmitted to states.


• IT cost per employee to furnish computers, LAN/WAN, software, maintenance is $5200 per employee.


• This cost will be managed by states.


• Environmental Credit Trading presentation by Carl Lucero.


• Information on carbon sequestration on range land was presented.


• Craig Cox spoke about Water and Energy and corn ethanol.


• Work with our partners for water quality and water quantity.


• Chris Tippee reviewed information on direction of NEDC training and instructor certification.


• Boot Camp redesigned to teach 58 essential tasks for Field office employees.


• Dana York spoke about travel card abuse and zero tolerance.



• ECS


• There will be four GLCI Range Management workshops:


• September 11 in Wray


• September 13 in Greeley


• September 18 in Kim


• September 20 in Pueblo.


• The drought preparedness policy is being reviewed


• Review of Draft Rangeland Ecological Site Manual.


• WEPP training on forestland conducted by Pat Davey and Lynn Townsend.


• Agronomy tech note out for RUSLE 2 regarding effectiveness of sediment filter strips.

• Another round of equipment purchases will be made.


• Watch your direct charge worksheet.


• Be sure to reconcile your purchase cards.


• Mid September will be the cutoff for year-end.

• 2008 Programs


• WRP


• Schedule and guidance information should be coming out soon and posted electronically.


• Initial application cutoff for FY2008 is September 1.


• WHIP and EQIP Call for Proposals


• Will be ready to go out on late July or early August, posted upon review, and will be open and accepting proposals until November 1.


• Please promote at meetings, etc.


• EQIP


• Schedules should be out soon, fund codes and basic ranking drafted.


• November 1 is initial application cutoff for FY2008.


• July 1, 2008 is anticipated cutoff for FY2009 & future years.


• Accelerated initial application cutoffs are intended to facilitate more time for quality up front planning.


• Basic public information will be developed with Petra to be used at meetings.


• Feedback is appreciated.


• Strategy for shifting to payment schedules replacing traditional cost sharing has been drafted with the ARC’s and program staff.


• Payment schedules will not be watershed based.


• A number of components will be scaled back.


• ARCs will work with DCs to document local costs. Common cost areas will be combined to develop common payment schedules.


• Will be based on common cost areas and regions. For example, eastern plains, western valleys, high mountains, front range areas.


• This is a mandatory National process for CSP, EQIP, and WHIP.


• Payment schedule "talking points" will be sent out.


• Would like requests for training.


• Easement Programs discussed


• NRCS Colorado now holds or has contingent rights interests on over 100,000 acres of conservation easements through our various programs.


• ACs are advised to review the list of easements sent to them by Programs staff and consider related workload in Business Plans and PWPs.


• 2007 Programs


• Will obligate all or more of the EQIP dollars originally allocated.


• More dollars are coming to the Lower Ark watershed in Area 3.


• National Bulletin 300-7-27, Final Continuing Resolution Limit Payments, will cover the balance of the CSP program, complete by August 31.


• National Bulletin 440-7-15, Suspension of Application and Contract Management Activities in Protracts, will run thru October 10.


• Late Rate has gone down substantially.



Ray M. – CET Outcome Discussion. (Attachment)

• Roy Hall, SCE, Area Engineers, and CET’s met in July.


• The meeting will be discussed more at LT meeting in September.

• Ed N. – Area One


• CSCB employee will be working in Palisade - Callie Hendrickson.


• Two new soil conservationist in Delta and Montrose


• Late rate is 17%


• NRI going well.


• Roy H. – Area Two:


• New CSCB employee Mark Cronquist will be located in the Greeley Area office.


• All employees meeting on September 5.
  
• All DC meeting on October 2-4.
  
• Late Rate is going well.
  
  • Contract terminations need to be processed which should reduce late rate percentages.
    
• NRI progress is going well. The Yuma team will soon be done.
  
• John K. – Area Three:


• Argentineans were in the area over a three day period.
  
• Big thanks to John Andrews for helping with a large lateral project with nine different landowners.
  
• NRI going efficiently and effectively.
  
• State board position in Pueblo.
  
• Late Rate is going well.
  
  • Tracking by practice, 25% still need to be applied.
    
Ron R. – Area Four:

• Late Rate is caught up.

• Caution on WAE Usage.


• AC’s be sure that they are being used for field work, not office work.


• PRS (Field and State) are doing well.

• List of Annual Watershed Meetings was distributed.


• Annual Meeting


• The Governor and Senator Salazar are invited.


• The focus of the meeting will be on water and three districts will make water presentations.


• On Tuesday, there will be a policy meeting.

• Colorado SEP was formally approved.


• A letter to the National FAC regarding office consolidation has gone forward.


• Individual Performance Plans should be submitted to Debbie Kanatzar by August 31.


• Cathee Wilson will be Acting STC August 13 – 24.

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