These funds are used to re-establish water conveyance systems and stabilize areas denuded by floods or fire. This prevents future runoff from causing further property damage or human suffering. The availability of these funds has enabled the Secretary and SCS to respond quickly to reduce threats to life and property suddenly caused by natur al disasters. Small Watersheds Authorized by PL-566 The budget proposes $133,611,000 for PL-566 small watershed projects. This is a net decrease of $25,413,000 from fiscal year 1981 to support a general reduced level of program activity that will complete 20 projects in 1982. No new construction starts are proposed for fiscal year 1982. SCS is continuing to emphasize accelerated conservation land treat ment in approved watersheds. This provides more conservation land treatment in tributary areas above dams and is one nonstructural alternative to dams and channel modifications. GREAT PLAINS CONSERVATION PROGRAM The budget proposes an appropriation of $22, 288,000 for the Great Plains Conservation Program. This is an increase of $1,624,000 from fiscal year 1981. The added funds will cover increased operating and construction costs for conservation practices installed under Great Plains contracts. For many years, the Great Plains region has been plagued with drought and severe wind erosion problems, most recently in 1980. To help solve these problems, we again plan to fund about 1,000 new contracts covering about three million acres in fiscal year 1982. Conservation practices applied under all existing contracts and contract modifications should adequately protect about six million acres of agricultural land. Since 1956, farmers and ranchers have received about $232 million in cost-share payments. A total of 110 million acres have been protected through 58,000 cost-share contracts in the Great Plains States. We anticipate that about 5,000 applications will await contracts as of the end of 1982, a 12 percent increase from 1981. Public Law 96-263 enacted on June 6, 1980 extended the program to September 30, 1991. RESOURCE CONSERVATION AND DEVELOPMENT The budget proposes an appropriation of $26,812,000 for the Resource Conservation and Development Program (RC&D). This is $7,234,000 less than in 1981. Within 194 authorized RC&D areas, land, water, and related natural resources are studied by local sponsors and citizen groups to identify problems, needs and the availability of resources to address locally identified goals and objectives. The USDA, through the Soil Conservation Service, provides planning and coordination assistance to local sponsors to obtain needed improvements in rural communities. In fiscal year 1980, 1,226 RC&D measures benefited about 1,800 communities. SCS and other cooperating USDA agencies provided technical assistance on 335 of these measures. communities install 126 of these measures, including those for critical area treatment to control erosion and sediment, and to provide flood prevention, land drainage, public waterbased recreation, fish and wildlife developments, and water quality management. Financial assistance was provided to help rural The 1982 budget requests no new RC&D area authorizations and proposes to complete the program phaseout by the end of FY 1982. Emphasis will be placed on completing those measures on which work is underway. We will provide coordination and measure planning assistance in fiscal year 1981 in full accordance with Congressional direction, including the four new areas authorized by the 1981 Appropriation Act. SUMMARY The work performed under the Soil and Water Resources Conservation Act of 1977 has helped the Department of Agriculture, including SCS, and the States to examine conservation work accomplished over the last 45 years. We found that controlling erosion, maintaining soil productivity, retaining prime farmlands, reducing upstream flood damage, improving water quality and conservation, and conserving energy are very high priority national goals, assuming more importance than ever before if we are to produce sufficient agricultural products for ourselves and for export while protecting our increasingly valuable soil and water base. Two tables are provided for subcommittee review to show the non-Federal contributions to soil and water conservation programs. Mr. Chairman, that concludes my statement. I will be happy to answer any questions. UNITED STATES DEPARTMENT OF AGRICULTURE Soil Conservation Service Fiscal Year 1980 National Summary Estimates Non-Federal Contributions of Funds and Services to Soil and Water Conservation Districts Program PRIVATE & OTHER 777,000 624,000 514,370 ARIZONA 355,071 ARKANSAS 4,135,000 CALIFORNIA 108,975 5,014,725 CARIBBEAN AREA 3,467,947 1,126,476 COLORADO 161,000 611,000 2,391,482 8,462,000 9,580, 330 14,704,030 2,358,517 6,952,940 1,373,000 2,145,000 579,331 2,618,517 5,125,571 4,746,115 7,709,469 1,479,000 2,576,000 3,081,623 9,573,561 2,960, 705 8,022,136 2,338,624 1,657,715 4,361,916 1,874,000 1,867,000 1,655,000 5,396,000 26,000 9,600 46,250 81,850 |