2009 Committee Reports and Action Items are now available. Contact NCASWCD.

2009 Committee Members

Resource Contacts

Action Item* Action items #1 and #2 are the top two priorities of this committee.

1. The Association through local districts shall identify major sources of nonpoint source pollution within each District and shall work cooperatively with DENR, other agencies and the private sector to develop and implement local and regional strategies to address identified water quality concerns. These local strategies shall be included in District Strategy Plans for ACSP and offered for incorporation into DENR’s river basin plans and any TMDLs, ELG’s, or other Implementation Strategies developed to address water quality concerns. 2003

2. Districts are encouraged to develop strategies for addressing water quality concerns in impaired and impacted streams under the Association’s Impaired and Impacted Streams Initiative and to work cooperatively with other districts, the Division, and other entities to seek funds and implement best management practices to affect water quality improvement. 2007

3. The Association encourages the Technical Review Committee and Commission to consider adopting integrated pest management, integrated crop management, and precision farming as new best management practices in the Cost Share Program. 2005

4. The Natural Environment Committee Chairman shall send a reminder of action items and policies to district supervisors during the year. 2006

5. The Association President will appoint a standing subcommittee of the Natural Environment Committee to explore options for districts to work closer with the Division of Forest Resources. This subcommittee will be composed of district supervisors and district employees with a forestry interest from across the state, as well as the appropriate representatives from the Division of Forest Resources and the NC Forestry Association. The subcommittee will continue to meet, and make a report to the Association Executive Board of their findings. Any suggested actions will be reported to the Natural Environment Committee at the Annual Meeting. 2009

6. The Association will work through Area Committees with the Division, the District Employee’s Association, and NRCS to assess technical training needs for district employees and to facilitate necessary training in a timely manner. 2008

7. The Association encourages the Technical Review Committee and the Commission to consider adopting cost share incentives for pre-commercial thinning and for small tract commercial size thinning for existing CRP and CREP stands. 2009

8. The Association President shall work with our elected Government Officials and the Department of Revenue to revise the PUV taxation to encourage Conservation Program participation by landowners and not be penalized by additional taxation. 2009

Policies & Positions 

1.            The Association recommends that Districts take a stronger initiative in encouraging improved forest land management and forest health programs in their Districts. 

a.      The Association recommends that all Districts devote at least one meeting a year to evaluating and developing a specific program for improved forestland management in their Districts, and invite the local Division of Forest Resources District Forester to participate.  2007   

b.      The Association supports the following programs: 

1)     The Division of Forest Resources’ Forest Development Program, the NC Tree Farm Programs, and Forest Stewardship and Forest Legacy Programs; and 

2)     The N.C. State University School of Forest Resources’ Small Woodlot Research and Demonstration Program. 

3)     The implementation of forest Best Management Practices by forest landowners, timber buyers, and harvesting loggers when harvesting and/or re-foresting timberlands to reduce accelerated erosion, to reduce stream sedimentation and improve water quality. 

c.   The Association supports, under supervision of the Division of Forest Resources and other certified burners [as defined in GS 113-60.41], the practice of prescribed burning as a tool in forest management. 2007 

d.The Association and local districts are urged to take a strong stand on increasing financial assistance for the Forest Development Program (FDP) and the Forest Lands Enhancement Programs (FLEP) and also, to work with our state and national legislators toward a better understanding of forestry practices and costs. 2007 

2.            The Association supports the Wildlife Resources Commission in its program efforts to focus on cropland, forestland, and right-of-way management. 2003 

3.            The Association endorses and encourages the maintenance of a Western North Carolina Arboretum to protect endangered plants; to provide services in the evaluation, demonstration, and testing of plant materials; and to broaden public awareness of the unique position this region occupies in the plant world. 2003 

4.            The Association strongly supports efforts of USDA, research universities, agricultural experiment stations, and other concerned state and federal agencies to terminate or extensively abate all contributing factors to acid rain deposition in North Carolina and the United States. 2003 

5.            The Association endorses the extension of Conservation Reserve Program contracts and asks that local Districts encourage program participants to extend their Conservation Reserve Program contract. 2003 

6.            The Association supports the partnership established to administer the Conservation Reserve Enhancement Program and encourages Districts to actively promote this program to eligible landowners.  The Association also supports adequate new funding for CREP. 2003 

7.            The Association supports the Natural Resource Conservation Service in: 

a.      the creation and enhancement of wildlife habitat under the Wildlife Habitat Incentives Program (WHIP);  

b.      the protection of soil, water, air and natural resources under the Environmental Quality Incentives Program (EQIP); and,

c.      implementing the Wetland Reserve Program (WRP).  2003 

8.            The Association supports the State’s goal of preserving one million acres of open space by 2010 and encourages the state to consider ways to maintain private ownership of working farm and forest lands as a means of achieving this goal. 2003 

9.            The Association supports preserving the state’s farmland and encourages:

a.      Districts to take an active role in developing and implementing state and/or local farmland preservation initiatives and creation of Agricultural Districts. 

b.      The General Assembly and local governments to provide financial and other incentives to farmers to preserve working farmlands. 2003   

10.        The Association supports Districts holding conservation easements generated by the Conservation Reserve Enhancement Program, Farmland Preservation Program, and other open space preservation programs and encourages the State to make long term funding available for monitoring conservation easements. 2003   

11.        The Association recognizes and supports North Carolina Big Sweep Waterway Cleanup and does further hereby urge every district to do their part to restore the beauty and function of our lakes and streams with promoting, supporting, volunteering, or in kind services for the Big Sweep event. 2003 

12.        The Association, when determining the location for holding it’s annual meeting, shall give preference to meeting facilities that employ active water conservation techniques. 2003 

13.        The Association supports prescribed grazing on pastureland and encourages districts to emphasize this practice where appropriate.  2007 

14.      The Association supports Present Use Value (PUV) taxation and supports allowing landowners in the PUV taxation program who donate or sell a conservation easement for agricultural, horticultural or forest land preservation on part or all of that land to remain eligible for PUV taxation on the affected land.  2008 

15.      The Association supports a provision for an existing conservation contract to be modified or cancelled and re-contracted at a higher and better level of conservation treatment under a new contract. 2009