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Colorado NRCS Articles of Interest

NRCS Conservation Technical Assistance Program Helps Put Conservation on the Ground (PDF; 104KB)

The Conservation Technical Assistance (CTA) program has been the central activity of the Natural Resources Conservation Service (NRCS) since it was established in 1935. NRCS field staff help landowners and farm operators plan and implement soil and water conservation and water quality practices.

NRCS also provides voluntary conservation technical assistance to communities, units of state and local government, and other Federal agencies in planning and implementing conservation systems. This assistance is for planning and implementing conservation practices that address natural resource issues throughout Colorado. It helps people voluntarily conserve, improve and sustain natural resources.
 
Earth Team Volunteers: The Volunteer Workforce of the Natural Resources Conservation Service (PDF; 59KB)

The Earth Team provides volunteer leadership in a partnership effort to help people conserve, maintain, and improve our natural resources and environment.

The Earth Team is the volunteer workforce of the Natural Resources Conservation Service (NRCS). Earth Team volunteers are an integral part of the conservation partnership and each member takes pride in the fact that they maintain and improve our natural resources and environment on private lands.
Why Soil Matters (PDF; 158KB)

There can be no life without soil. Did you know that almost all of the antibiotics we take to help us fight infections were obtained from soil micro-organisms? Or, that the average quarter acre lawn contains 50 to 250 earthworms?

Soil is a living factory of macroscopic and microscopic workers who need food to eat and places to live to do their work.


 
No matter where you live, you live within a watershed (PDF; 63KB)

A watershed is the land that drains into a body of water such as a stream, lake or wetland. Because water flows downhill, watershed boundaries are always located on the top of hills or mountains. Rain falling on one side of the hill will flow into one water body, while rain falling on the other side of the hill will flow into another water body.

Any changes to the land in a watershed will affect the river or lake it drains into. For instance, replacing forests and prairies with housing developments decreases the amount of water that can seep into the ground. More water flows over streets and sidewalks into street drains that empty into the river (either directly or via a water treatment facility). Thus, the river tends to flood more often when it rains because so much water is reaching it so quickly.
 
Conservation Planning: The plan is free, the benefits are priceless (PDF; 103KB)

Developing a conservation plan is free, easy and it’s a great way to care for the resources you count on to ensure your way of life – for generations to come.

The Natural Resources Conservation Service experts can help you develop a quality conservation plan to protect the resources you count on to maintain a productive operation, and a quality way of life.
 

 

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