Virginia
is making strides with its Resource Management Plan program, an innovative
approach to meeting Chesapeake Bay cleanup goals. The initiative encourages
farmers to increase their use of agricultural conservation practices while
crediting them for practices already in place.
Since
the program’s launch in July 2014, 278 resource management plans have been
developed for farms in the Chesapeake Bay watershed. This far surpasses the
goal of 40 that was set for the program’s first year.
“Resource
management plans are critical to Virginia’s strategy to protect and restore the
health of rivers, streams and the Chesapeake Bay — and build a new Virginia
economy in the process,” Governor McAuliffe said. “A major factor in
this program’s success has been the support of both the agricultural and
conservation communities.”
The
program enables farmers to have a private-sector resource management plan
developed for their property that incorporates a host of agricultural
conservation practices that reduce to pollution to local waters and protect
soil health. Once the plan is approved and the practices are implemented, the
farm is deemed to be in compliance with state nutrient and sediment standards
for the following nine years.
Participation
in the program is voluntary for farms and landowners.
“I’m
thrilled that the Resource Management Plan program has surpassed its first-year
goal,” said Virginia Secretary of Natural Resources Molly Ward.
“This is a true win for all the partners involved, and I commend everyone who
worked together to achieve this important milestone.”
The Virginia Department of Conservation and
Recreation manages the program in partnership with Virginia’s 47 soil and water
conservation districts. Districts serve as the primary review authority for
the plans.
RMPs
enable the state to document practices that have been installed with or without
financial incentives, providing verified data to validate the agricultural sector’s
level of participation in conservation practices.
Better
tracking of practices also gives decision makers more accurate data to
determine funding needs for agricultural cost-share and other incentive
programs.
"The
RMP program has proven to be a valuable new tool for promoting conservation
practices that improve farming operations and water quality,” said Kendall
Tyree, executive director of the Virginia Association of Soil and Water
Conservation Districts. “Soil and water conservation districts play an
essential role in the delivery of this voluntary program and are supportive of
the effort."
A plan
can cover all or a portion of a farm and include existing and needed best
management practices such as stream buffers, fencing to keep livestock out of
streams, soil conservation measures, and nutrient management plans.
These
practices help curb the flow of sediment, nitrogen, and phosphorus that
contributes to pollution in waterways and the Chesapeake Bay. They also can
help farmers improve the health of their herds and the productivity of their
soils.
The
278 plans that have been developed cover 48,500 acres of the Chesapeake Bay
watershed in Virginia. On average, the typical plan covers 172 acres. A total
of 47 farm owners or operators are participating.
“The
success of this program is due to a significant number of farm leaders jumping
in and working side by side with their local soil and water conservation
districts in the first year,” said Ann Jennings, Virginia director of the
Chesapeake Bay Commission. “The resource management plans developed will
result in the documentation and implementation of thousands of best practices,
enhanced farm management and an improved Chesapeake Bay.”
The
plans developed so far include 1,816 best management practices to protect soil
and water resources.
For
details about the RMP program and to read the report, go to http://www.dcr.virginia.gov/soil-and-water/rmp
Landowners
who want to participate in the RMP program should contact their local soil and
water conservation district.
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