NEW FEDERAL SUPPORT FOR PRIORITY WATERSHED MANAGEMENT NEEDS

In 1996, a number of past USDA conservation programs that lacked watershed focus were consolidated into the Environmental Quality Incentives Program that targets assistance to farmers in priority watersheds. An analysis is presented of the new federal support, contrasting the new institutional rules with those of past programs and highlighting the ongoing institutional challenges posed by limited funding, resistance to targeting, and the need to integrate federal and local programs. The program focuses on specific watershed tools that can deliver efficient solutions to local watershed problems, such as riparian protection, nutrient planning, and grazing management. Examples are provided of specific state efforts addressing some of the most challenging watersheds in the US.