Agencies Team Up to Help Forest Landowners Clean Vital Watersheds

MORGANTOWN, WV, June, 24, 2008 —The USDA Natural Resources Conservation Service (NRCS) and the West Virginia Division of Forestry work together to advance conservation on privately-owned forest lands in an effort to improve water quality throughout West Virginia.

“Many projects improve water quality in West Virginia have far reaching effects including enhancing the health of the Chesapeake Bay,” said Kevin Wickey, NRCS State Conservationist in West Virginia. “We are taking a hands-on approach to encourage landowners with private forestland to invest in a forest stewardship plan with our partners from the West Virginia Division of Forestry. Our staffs have worked together for many years at the local level. NRCS and other USDA agencies administer many federal programs that can benefit woodland owners. NRCS provides technical assistance and financial incentive payments. This assistance helps landowners install riparian buffers, windbreaks and hedgerows, plant trees and install other practices for forest stand improvement.”

“Our partnership with NRCS not only benefits individual forest landowners, it helps all West Virginians,” said Greg Cook, Deputy West Virginia State Forester. “Our forest stewardship plans are targeted to help landowners conserve these forests for future generations while also maximizing the return on their investment. This will ensure that our forests continue to produce the numerous benefits that we all enjoy including wood products, wildlife habitat, carbon sequestration, and water quality.”

The Potomac River flows from the mountains of West Virginia to the Chesapeake Bay. More than three quarters of the bay watershed is privately owned. The Halterman farm in Baker, West Virginia is an outstanding example of the strong commitment that farmers in the Mountain State have to conservation. The Haltermans requested the assistance of the West Virginia Division of Forestry to develop a forest management plan for their 190 acres of woodland. “I see benefits from the conservation practices in my plan,” said Arthur Halterman.

“The main objective of the plan is to improve wildlife habitat through a variety of forest management practices,” said Jim Bowen, West Virginia Division of Forestry Management Forester. “Minimizing erosion on woodland roads is also a priority.”

For more information please contact your local USDA Service Center, listed in the telephone book under U.S. Department of Agriculture, or your local conservation district. Information also is available on the World Wide Web at: http://www.wv.nrcs.usda.gov/.

Kevin Wickey, West Virginia NRCS State Conservationist; Greg Cook, Deputy West Virginia State Forester; Jim Bowen, West Virginia Division of Forestry Management Forester; Arthur and daughter Jane Halterman; and Donald W. Biller, Vice-Chair, Potomac Valley Conservation District review the Halterman Farm Conservation Plan, Comprehensive Nutrient Management Plan (CNMP) and discuss the Forest Stewardship Plan.

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