National Association of Conservation Districts

News Release

FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE

NACD URGES CONGRESS TO SUPPORT WATERSHEDS PROGRAM

WASHINGTON, D.C.—December 6, 2005—The National Association of Conservation Districts (NACD) urged members of the House Committee on Agriculture’s Subcommittee on Conservation, Credit, Rural Development and Research to continue strong support for the Small Watersheds Program.

At the general oversight hearing convened by Subcommittee Chairman Congressman Frank Lucas (R-Okla.) to review the U.S. Department of Agriculture’s Watershed Programs, NACD President Bill Wilson, a rancher-surveyor from Kinta, Okla., provided testimony highlighting the importance of the Small Watersheds Program to conservation. “We support coordinating and integrating the available conservation tools to solve natural resource concerns,” he said. “In the case of the watershed program, the synergy produces substantial benefits by treating the entire watershed’s natural resource concerns.”

Also testifying before the House Committee were the USDA Natural Resources Conservation Service’s Chief Bruce Knight; the National Watershed Coalition’s Chairman Mike Sykes; the Eastern Pennsylvania Coalition for Mine Reclamation’s President Ed Wytovich and the Buffalo-Red River Watershed District’s Administrator Bruce Albright.

Wilson urged the Committee to deal with the serious funding issues facing the program. “Over the past several years, earmarks have exceeded the appropriation by up to 30 percent,” he said. “This earmarking ends up creating a larger waiting list for funding of other projects, adding to the already enormous backlog.” Wilson stressed that the existing backlog could be eliminated over time with proper funding support for the program from Congress and the Administration.

He also applauded committee leadership for their responsiveness to coalition members concerns. “Today’s hearing demonstrates the Committee’s commitment to this issue,” Wilson said.

For additional information see Wilson's complete statement.

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The National Association of Conservation Districts is the non-profit organization that represents the nation’s 3,000 conservation districts and 17,000 men and women who serve on their governing boards. For almost 70 years, local conservation districts have worked with cooperating landowners and managers of private working lands to help them plan and apply effective conservation practices. NACD’s website is at www.nacdnet.org.