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Oneida Nation Land Conservation Program. Mike Troge Environmental Program Manager Environmental Health and Safety Division. Oneida Ag-Land Decision Components. Oneida Sustainable Resource Advisory Council (OSRAC) Conservation Plan SOP Agricultural Leases
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Oneida NationLand Conservation Program Mike Troge Environmental Program Manager Environmental Health and Safety Division
Oneida Ag-Land Decision Components • Oneida Sustainable Resource Advisory Council (OSRAC) • Conservation Plan SOP • Agricultural Leases • Partnerships: Tribal, local, state, federal, and private planning and funding programs • Resource staff
Oneida Agriculture Programa brief history • 1995 – Duck/Apple/Ashwaubenon Priority Watershed Program • 1997 – NRCS Tribal Liaison introduced • 1998 – Natural Resources Partnership Committee • 2000 – OSRAC evolved (Oneida Sustainable Resource Advisory Council) • 2003 – OSRAC officially chartered • 2005 – initial development of program for leased land • 2008 – Conservation Plan SOP ratified
Priority Watershed ProgramFirst Wisconsin Nonpoint Program • Started 1980s • Watershed scale (typical size 150 sq. miles) • 90(?) watersheds targeted • Managed by county Land Conservation Departments • 2-yr assessment • 10-year cost-share program • Best management practices (20 practices on list) • Cost-share • Program ends 2010
DAA Priority Watershed Program • Initiated 1995 • Brown County, Outagamie County, Oneida Tribe • First project with Tribal involvement • Duck Creek Watershed, Ashwaubenon Creek Watershed, Apple Creek Watershed
Oneida’s partners • Brown and Outagamie County • Wi DNR, DATCP • USDA, EPA, BIA, Fish and Wildlife, CoE • EQIP, CRP, Circle of Flight, Great Lakes Buffer Program, 319, TRM, WHIP, CSP • WTCAC (Wisconsin Tribal Conservation Advisory Council) • USDA Natural Resources Conservation Service • NRCS Tribal Liaison • Jerry Thompson, 1998-2002 • Tony Bush, 2002-present
OSRAC history • Mission: to provide direction and assistance to the NRCS and other conservation partnerships for the protection, enhancement, and sustainability of natural resources on tribal lands. • Multi-disciplinary council represented by many Oneida departments and organizations. • Interim council in 2000. • Officially chartered in 2003 to meet the USDA-NRCS General Manual 410-RDV-Rural Development request for improving and enhancing services to Oneida Tribe of Indians of Wisconsin.
OSRAC goals • Provide leadership and counsel to NRCS on tribal conservation needs. • Establish yearly programming, communication, and priorities for the NRCS Tribal Liaison, including technical evaluations and funding opportunities. • Serve as the local approval body for conservation agreements with NRCS on tribal lands.
OSRAC objectives • Develop standard operating procedures which establishes guidelines for OSRAC, Conservation Plans, and other areas of importance. • Develop a communication network internally and externally for sharing information and participation in projects related to the Oneida Tribe’s natural resources, including participation on WTCAC. • NRCS recognizes the importance of Oneida’s self-determination and uniqueness of our natural resource needs and becomes more flexible in delivering programs to Tribes. • Healthy sustainable resources within the Oneida Reservation.
Conservation Plan SOP • Agreement between Oneida Land Commission, Department of Land Management, Environmental Health and Safety, USDA Natural Resource Conservation Service • The lease is the means for enforcement of non-point standards on agriculture leases.
Conservation Plan SOPProhibitions • Lessees shall not permit overflow of manure storage facilities. • Lessees shall not place any unconfined manure pile or industrial waste or municipal waste in a surface water quality management area. • Lessees shaall not permit direct runoff from a feedlot or stored manure pile into the water of the reservation. • Lessees shall not allow unlimited access of livestock to surface waters of the reservation…
Conservation Plan SOPRequirements address: • Abandoned wells • Clean water diversions • Crop rotations • Manure storage facilities • Nutrient management plans • Pest management plans • Riparian variable width buffers • Serious erosion concerns • Sheet, rill and wind erosion • Industrial and municipal waste
Conservation Plan Process • Starts with new lease • NRCS Tribal Liaison is provided with details of lease • Lessee contacts Tribal Liaison • Field assessment by Liaison or Tribal staff • Conservation plan developed • Lessee review • Due process if necessary (flowcharts) • OSRAC review • Research funding opportunities • Contract developed • Status reviews