The Southwest Idaho Resource Conservation And Development's Goals
The Southwest Idaho RC&D Council reviewed the input of many organizations with similar goals for southern Idaho for the revision of the Area Plan. Following consideration of the resource assessment, needs and opportunities, the Council developed the following goals, objectives and strategies to guide its actions over the next 5 years.
Land Conservation
GOAL 1: Decrease environmental damages from soil loss and sedimentation levels on 1,500 acres to levels acceptable to sustain the resource base and ecosystem as identified by the Natural Resources Conservation Service soil scientists.
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Objective 1A: Reduce erosion on 1,000 acres of agricultural lands to meet Total Maximum Daily Load (TMDL) requirements established by the Environmental Protection Agency and the Idaho Department of Environmental Quality for area streams.
- Strategy 1A.01: Increase watershed planning acres in Ada and Canyon Counties by assisting the NRCS and the Ada and Canyon SCDs in the development of Rapid Watershed Assessments or similar plans on the Boise River Watershed HUC # 17050114.
- Strategy 1A.02: Increase implementation of watershed plans by assisting the Ada and Canyon SCDs in facilitating the technical and financial resources for the implementation of projects identified in the watershed plans.
- Strategy 1A.03: Assist the Treasure Valley Water Quality Trading Association and the Ada SWCD in identifying and implementing a project that reduces erosion on agricultural lands when the trading program is initiated.
- Strategy 1A.04: Assist the Ada and Canyon SWCDs in completing two projects identified in their long range plans to address TMDL limiting factors affecting the Boise River; the projects will reduce pollutants from agricultural and urban lands from entering the surface waters.
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Objective 1B: Reduce the occurrence and impacts of wildfire on 5,000 acres with emphasis in the Wildland Urban Interface (WUI) and extending throughout the region, addressing soil loss and damage to the ecosystems.
- Strategy 1B.01: Develop “All Hazard Mitigation” plans consistent with the Federal Emergency Management Agency (FEMA) policies and procedures for all counties and the Duck Valley Indian Reservation in the RC&D area.
- Strategy 1B.02: Implement two projects in the next 5 years to protect 3,000 acres identified by sponsors in the FEMA compliant County “All Hazard Mitigation” plans to reduce the potential for wildfire destruction that cause extensive soil erosion and ecosystem damage.
- Strategy 1B.03: Facilitate review of mitigation plans by county planning committee at least annually prior to the FEMA pre-disaster mitigation program application period in the spring of each year.
- Strategy 1B.04: Implement one project consistent with the Idaho Statewide Implementation Strategy for the National Fire Plan as attested to July 2002.
- Strategy 1B.05: Assist Elmore County partnering with the BLM in developing planning and zoning ordinance, to include wildfire hazard plan recommendations.
- Strategy 1B.06: Assist Ada County and Boise City in implementing three projects in the next 5 years to increase protection from wildfire through demonstrations, public information dissemination, and fire regime manipulation on the Boise Front to reduce wildfire hazards affecting 2,000 acres.
- Strategy 1B.07: Increase public awareness through an information campaign that develops brochures on wildfires and rural fire protection specific to each county and the Duck Valley Indian Reservation.
- Strategy 1B.08: Improve the protection level of 1,000 acres of lands threatened by wildfires by partnering with the Forest Service, BLM and Idaho Department of Lands to conduct fuels reduction on lands targeted as ignition sites in the Pine/Featherville area of Elmore County.
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Water Management
GOAL 2: Improve quality of surface and ground waters to levels identified in the Idaho Department of Environmental Quality standards and quantities required as part of the State of Idaho Department of Water Resources adjudication.
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Objective 2A: Improve flooding mitigation to decrease potential losses identified in the “All Hazard Mitigation” plans for each community by completing one project within the next 5 years.
- Strategy 2A.01: Reduce the potential and mitigate the economic devastation from floods and reduce the potential of flooding by implementing a project identified in the FEMA All Hazard Assessment and Mitigation Plan.
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Objective 2B: Decrease water losses and increase efficiency in area reservoirs.
- Strategy 2B.01: Assist Ada SWCD and Ada County in improving and protecting Hubbard Reservoir for irrigation water supplies and wildlife habitat.
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Objective 2C: Increase efficiencies of agricultural water delivery systems.
- Strategy 2C.01: Develop partnerships with local irrigation districts, soil conservation districts, and the Bureau of Recreation in increasing use of automated irrigation water head gate delivery systems, or equivalent systems as technology advances.
- Strategy 2C.02: Assist the Elmore SWCD in reducing irrigation canal water losses from Little Camas Reservoir to Long Tom Reservoir.
- Strategy 2C.03: Assist the Owyhee SCD in converting 350 acres of flood irrigation to gravity sprinklers.
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Objective 2D: Increase knowledge of consumers and improve the quality of subsurface and surface waters to beneficial use standards identified by the Idaho Department of Water Resources.
- Strategy 2D.01: Develop partnerships with local agencies to provide public education through demonstrations, workshops, and developing and disseminating education materials that show pollutant hazards and potential methods of protection from urban and rural contaminants for two projects in the next 5 years.
- Strategy 2D.02: Assist partners in developing EPA 319 projects and fund applications to implement projects as they are identified for one project within the next 5 years.
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Community Development
GOAL 3: Improve capacity in three communities for health and safety and provide educational opportunities to levels identified by each community in their Gem Community or equivalent plans for maintaining or improving their quality of life.
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Objective 3A: Expand or increase the number of infrastructures to provide adequate health, safety, and educational facilities for community services in three rural communities.
- Strategy 3A.01: Improve timely transfer of information on state and federal programs and the delivery of assistance through partnerships to local communities and senior citizens’ organizations to improve or construct two facilities within the next 5 years.
- Strategy 3A.02: Assist rural fire districts in developing and/or expanding facilities to provide health and safety to area citizens for one district in the next 5 years.
- Strategy 3A.03: Assist Homedale in developing new and/or remodeling existing facilities for community-based activities.
- Strategy 3A.04: Assist Star Seniors in remodeling their existing facilities to better service the local community.
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Objective 3B: Improve two recreational facilities and conduct 5 awareness campaigns on ethical responsibilities to meet the growing population needs for rural and urban natural resource experiences.
- Strategy 3B.01: Increase the awareness of current and future recreational uses and needs throughout the area through media and public workshops held annually on Idaho’s Free Fishing Day, providing 1,000 cumulative hours of information transfer.
- Strategy 3B.02: Improve existing camping, boating, RV dump stations and other facilities to attain optimum use of recreational opportunities for two projects within the next 5 years.
- Strategy 3B.03: Increase the use of available recreational opportunities to achieve optimum use and improve the economic conditions in the communities where they exist for at least one community.
- Strategy 3B.04: Assist the Ada SWCD, Idaho Department of Fish and Game and others to improve the Hubbard Reservoir area to provide additional recreational opportunities.
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Objective 3C: Increase the identification, planning and implementation of infrastructure improvements in rural communities by facilitating financial acquisition and administration on a project every third year.
- Strategy 3C.01: Provide Notus and other rural communities with downtown revitalization support by facilitating program information to develop and implement plans.
- Strategy 3C.02: Assist Kuna in potentially developing a Boys and Girls Club.
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Organizational Development
GOAL 4: Increase the Resource Conservation and Development Council’s capacity to efficiently conduct operations and build its program.
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Objective 4A: Increase RC&D Council capacity leadership by having two Council members participate annually in each of the expanded RC&D network meetings.
- Strategy 4A.01: Attend and actively participate in the National RC&D conference held every three years.
- Strategy 4A.02: Attend and actively participate in the annual Western Regional RC&D conference.
- Strategy 4A.03: Attend and actively participate in the State RC&D conference held biannually.
- Strategy 4A.04: Attend and participate when appropriate in RC&D partnership conferences such as the Idaho Association of Soil Conservation Districts’ annual conference.
- Strategy 4A.05: Provide opportunities for Council members to attend training opportunities such as the leadership forum held each year in Washington, DC.
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Objective 4B: Strengthen RC&D program operations and outreach through education and involvement of Council members, sponsors and partners.
- Strategy 4B.01: Develop, maintain, and operate from an Annual Plan identifying specific projects to address the goals and objectives of the Area Plan.
- Strategy 4B.02: Update the Council Member handbook and provide it to all members of the Council.
- Strategy 4B.03: Develop and implement an educational outreach program each year on the RC&D program delivered through 5 news media releases, tours and/or demonstrations.
- Strategy 4B.04: Improve marketing of the Council through development and documentation of operations to qualify for a National Circle of Diamonds Council as a benchmark that signifies a high level of success.
- Strategy 4B.05: Increase awareness of the Council as a Circle of Diamonds Council by using this award, the recognition by the National RC&D, and press materials to inform the public, potential funding sources, partners, and sponsors of the Council and the RC&D program.
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Land Management
GOAL 5: Enhanced, restore or protect 5,000 acres of ecosystems while protecting individual land rights and local ways of life, as well as unique, cultural and historical land uses.
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Objective 5A: Increase public awareness of 5,000 individuals on the use of available technology in energy conservation methods, production of energy crops and harvestable natural resources.
- Strategy 5A.01: Assist the Ada SWCD and the Canyon SCD in increasing the use of bio-fuels and other new technology power sources through an information awareness campaign or workshop within the next 5 years that will encourage diversity of the agricultural base and lessen the impacts of market fluctuations in major crop and livestock prices on the regional economy.
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Objective 5B: Increase levels of protection to quality fish and wildlife habitats on 3,000 acres per year for the next 5 years.
- Strategy 5B.01: Improve 50 riparian acres annually in order to enhance water quality, wildlife habitat, vegetation production and stream-side aesthetics by stabilizing stream bank erosion.
- Strategy 5B.02: Improve 3,000 acres per year of deteriorated wildlife habitat to protect existing critical wildlife populations.
- Strategy 5B.03: Facilitate federal, state and local partnerships developed during Bonneville Power-Northwest Power Planning Council Middle Snake Province Sub-Basin planning to identify and plan specific projects by acquiring funding to hire a multi-basin, Sub-Basin plan coordinator within the next 5 years.
- Strategy 5B.04: Interact with partners to provide technical expertise and financial assistance to implement two projects developed from the Bruneau, Middle Snake, and the Boise-Payette-Weiser sub-basin plans of the Middle Snake Province.
- Strategy 5B.05: Assist Bruneau River and Owyhee SCDs in improving the condition of 1,000 acres of native rangelands for livestock and wildlife by implementing projects identified in the “Owyhee Landscape Conservation Initiative” and the Bonneville Power and NRCS watershed plans.
- Strategy 5B.06: Improve 200 acres of critical sage grouse habitat by assisting the Elmore SWCD through partnerships with the Idaho Department of Fish and Game, the BLM and the Elmore Sage Grouse Committee.
- Strategy 5B.07: Improve knowledge of stream accessibility to salmonid species by securing funding from BPA to inventory culvert barriers on perennial tributaries in the Middle Snake Province sub-basins on private, State and BLM lands based on the protocols the Forest Service used in the Road Crossings Assessment of 2004.
- Strategy 5B.08: Increase 5 miles of stream per year open to salmonid access by replacing one culvert per year identified as high priority (1 or 2) in the Fish Passage at Road Crossings Assessment of 2004 done on national forest lands.
- Strategy 5B.09: Increase funding through BPA and leverage other state, private, local and federal funding partnerships to increase the replacement of culverts to three per year by 2011 on federal, state and private lands.
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Objective 5C: Increase urban open space by providing 20 acres in connection with development.
- Strategy 5C.01: Develop partnerships and get support for financial assistance to offset the high cost of purchasing and developing lands to meet the growing community needs for one open space area in Boise.
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Objective 5D: Increase levels of protection from noxious weeds on 20,000 acres used for rural agricultural farm and ranch industries.
- Strategy 5D.01: Assist in implementing three coordinated weed management partnership plans through research, demonstrations of new technology and dissemination of information.
- Strategy 5D.02: Improve the condition of 3,000 acres per year of lands infested with weeds deemed noxious by the State Department of Agriculture through Coordinated Weed Management partnerships.
- Strategy 5D.03: Assist federal, state and local governments and universities in controlling Rush Skeletonweed infestations on range and forest lands through the release of bio-control agents on three sites within the next 5 years.
- Strategy 5D.04: Increase the implementation of projects identified in the coordinated weed management annual plans of the South Fork Coordinated Weed Management Area (CWMA) through administration assistance.
- Strategy 5D.05: Increase the implementation of projects identified in the coordinated weed management annual plans of the Jordan Valley coordinated weed management area (CWMA), through administration assistance.
- Strategy 5D.06: Assist Ada County and the City of Boise in establishing a coordinated weed management area (CWMA) on 50,000 acres of the Boise Front.
- Strategy 5D.07: Assist Owyhee SCD in establishing a coordinated weed management area (CWMA) on 50,000 acres they have identified
- Strategy 5D.08: Assist Elmore SWCD in identifying and establishing a coordinated weed management area (CWMA) in Elmore County.
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Objective 5E: Increase grazing lands education by tours and/or workshops for producers and conservation agency partners as identified in Grazing Lands Conservation Initiative plans.
- Strategy 5E.01: Assist the Idaho Grazing Lands Conservation Initiative Steering Committee with their annual public educational events.
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Objective 5F: Increase the quantity and/or quality of urban forestlands by 10 acres per year.
- Strategy 5F.01: Improve the conditions of rural and urban forests through the community forestry program to maintain healthy production and longevity to achieve Tree City USA status in 10 communities within the area.
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