Conservation Technical Assistance/CTA

The Conservation Technical Assistance (CTA) Program is designed to assist land users, communities, and units of government in planning and implementing conservation on private lands.  CTA continues to support goals to reduce erosion, conserve and improve soil and water, conserve and improve wetlands, enhance fish and wildlife habitat, improve air quality, improve pasture and range conditions, reduce upstream flooding, and improve woodlands. NRCS Colorado reaches virtually all of Colorado's privately owned land with conservation technical assistance in some form.  Rural, tribal, urban and other communiites benefit from technical expertise of the NRCS accross the state.  This is often combined with the assistance of other USDA agencies, and partners like the Conservation Districts, the Colorado State Conservation Board(CSCB) and many others. 

CTA services are based on the practical application of science-based technical standards.  These USDA NRCS technical standards are developed nationally, and customized for Colorado.  State and local governments, consultants, educational institutions, and others often accept and use these standards for resource management in a variety of areas.

NRCS staff assist local groups with the development of resource conservation plans using the locally led process. Locally developed plans identify issues and needs at the community or watershed level, and local groups identify strategies to address their concerns.  On occasion, such plans and technical specifications have been referenced in proposals for funding from public and private sources.

CTA is normally integrated with NRCS conservation programs such as the Conservation Reserve Program/CRP, Environmental Quality Incentives Program/EQIP, Wetlands Reserve Program/WRP, and Wildlife Habitat Incentives Program/WHIP, and so forth.  Today government entities, communities and individuals are investing more in conservation systems for natural resources.  These systems require ongoing and up-to-date technical assistance.  This interdependence of technology, expertise, and ongoing improvement demonstrates the fundemental and complementary nature of the Conservation Technical Assistance Program of the NRCS.

For additional information contact your USDA Field Service Center or the NRCS Colorado State Office

<Back to the NRCS Colorado CTA 2002 Annual Report