Program

Buffer Incentive Program

Virginia Agricultural BMP Cost-Share Program

Virginia Agricultural BMP Cost-Share Program

Practice

N/A

Woodland Buffer Filter Area

Loafing Lot Management System

Type

Incentive, State (MD) technical and financial assistance.

Incentive, State (VA) technical and financial assistance

Incentive, State (VA) technical and financial assistance.

Purpose

One-time payments of $300 per acre for planting and maintenance of minimum 50-foot forested buffers along streams/shorelines.

One-time payments of $100 per acre to establish minimum 50-foot forested buffers along streams. Permitted only on crop and pasture land that has recently been in production.

Cost-share for rotational grazing system. Requires a minimum 25-foot fenced buffer around streams.

RFB Emphasis

Yes

Yes

No

Prot. Level

10 year practice lifespan

10 year practice lifespan

10 year practice lifespan

Admin. Agency

MD DNR-Forest Service

VA Department of Conservation and Recreation through the soil and water conservation districts.

VA Department of Conservation and Recreation through the soil and water conservation districts.

Participation

Voluntary, 30 sites/yr, averaging 175 acres.

Voluntary, 3/yr for 15 acres

Voluntary, 10/yr @ 75% c/s up to $7,500 per applicant.

Enforcement

Adequate

Adequate

Adequate

Barriers

Burdensome paperwork; payment insufficient for commercial farm owner/operators.

Perceived risk of practice loss due to flood risk.

With the cap, the cost-share is often not even 50% of the total actual cost.

$ Level/Source

MD DNR-Forest Service @ 111,000/yr

VA Department of Conservation and Recreation via Federal Funds through a CBI Grant, average $1.1 million/yr

VA Department of Conservation and Recreation via Federal Funds through a CBI Grant, average $1.1 million/yr

Benefits

Reduction of NPS pollution.

Payment can be Apiggybacked@ onto other cost-share practices.

Reduction of NPS pollution.

 Program

Streambank Fencing Program

Agricultural Conservation Program

Agricultural Conservation Program

Practice

N/A

Permanent Vegetative Cover (SL1)

Stream Protection (WP2)

Type

Incentive, State (PA) technical and financial assistance.

Incentive, Federal (MD, VA, PA) technical and financial assistance.

Incentive, Federal (MD, VA, PA) technical and financial assistance.

Purpose

Fencing with minimum 12-foot buffer free to rural landowners by PA Game Commission in exchange for allowing public hunting. Department of Environmental Resources implementing parallel program that omits hunting requirement.

Cost-share for establishing trees, grasses, shrubs in eroding areas, including riparian zone.

Cost-share for establishing permanent vegetative cover, which can include trees, along the banks of streams, as well as related items such as remote watering systems, stream crossings for livestock, and stream fencing.

RFB Emphasis

No

No

No

Prot. Level

10 year practice lifespan, PA Game Commission Maintains

10 year practice lifespan.

10 year practice lifespan.

Admin. Agency

Department of Environmental Protection - Game Commission through the local soil and water conservation districts.

 Consolidated Farm Services Agency

Consolidated Farm Services Agency

Participation

Voluntary (highly supported)

PA 265 farms for 3,165 acres

VA 4 farms for 81.2 acres/yr

Enforcement

Adequate

Adequate

Adequate

Barriers

Insufficient funds, a limiting factor for participation.

Burdensome paperwork

Burdensome paperwork.

$ Level/Source

Department of Environmental Protection - Game Commission through an CBI Grant.

Consolidated Farm Services Agency, funds vary from year to year.

Consolidated Farm Services Agency, funds vary from year to year.

Benefits

Reduced NPS pollution.

Reduce nonpoint source pollution.

Establish and protect riparian forest buffers.

 Program

Agricultural Conservation Program

Conservation Reserve Program

Wetlands Reserve Program

Practice

Riparian Forest Buffer Establishment (WP7)

N/A

N/A

Type

Incentive, Federal (CFSA) technical and financial assistance.

Incentive, Federal (CFSA) technical and financial assistance.

Incentive, Federal (CFSA) technical and financial assistance.

Purpose

Provides a number of cost-share practices designed to solve soil, water, and related environmental problems in agricultural areas, including small woodlands. Most notably: Minimum 95-foot forested Riparian Buffer Strips.

Takes highly erodible land out of production for at least ten years. Cost-share for tree establishment, other vegetative cover. Annual rental payments on land taken out of production.

Allows farmers to sell permanent or 30 year easements to U.S.D.A. Cost-share to restore altered wetlands to natural condition. Eligible land includes prior converted cropland, farmed wetlands, riparian areas along streams or water courses that link protected wetlands

RFB Emphasis

Yes

No

No

Prot. Level

10 year practice lifespan.

10 year practice lifespan.

Indefinite

Admin. Agency

Consolidated Farm Services Agency

Consolidated Farm Services Agency

Natural Resources Conservation Service

Participation

Voluntary

Voluntary

Voluntary

Enforcement

Adequate

Adequate

Adequate

Barriers

Burdensome paperwork.

Burdensome paperwork.

Burdensome paperwork

$ Level/Source

Consolidated Farm Services Agency, funds vary from year to year.

Consolidated Farm Services Agency, funds vary from year to year.

Natural Resources Conservation Service, varies year to year

Benefits

Establish and protect riparian forest buffers.

Riparian forest buffers may be established if HEL was recently cropped.

Protects wetlands and riparian forests

 Program

Woodland Incentive Program

Virginia Agricultural BMP Cost-Share Program

Forest Stewardship Program

Practice

N/A

Woodland Erosion Stabilization

N/A

Type

Incentive, State (MD) technical and financial assistance

Incentive, State (VA) technical and financial assistance

Incentive, Federal (USFS) technical assistance

Purpose

Cost-share provided to non-industrial private woodland owners for tree planting, including riparian forest buffer establishment.

Cost-share to establish permanent vegetation on eroding areas. on forest harvesting sites.

Provides technical assistance to private landowners for implementing conservation practices while meeting harvesting needs. Forest Stewardship Plans required for participation in other federal cost-share programs for forestry.

RFB Emphasis

No

No

No

Prot. Level

15 year practice lifespan

5 year practice lifespan

N/A

Admin. Agency

MD DNR-Forest Service

Department of Conservation & Recreation, through the local soil and water conservation districts

US Forest Service through State forestry agencies

Participation

Voluntary (Tree planting not distinguished from buffer planting)

Voluntary, 20-30/yr for 65-80 acres.

Voluntary, MD 570 yr for 40,000 acres

Enforcement

Adequate

Adequate

Adequate

Barriers

Cost-share payment 15% less than other available programs.

Some sites no longer eligible because they are now captured by the ABad Actor@ Law.

Public Awareness

Availability of service personnel or others qualified to provide technical advise.

$ Level/Source

MD DNR-Forest Service @ $60,000/yr General Funds

VA Department of Conservation and Recreation via Federal Funds through a CBI Grant, average $1.1 million/yr.

USFS through state forestry agencies, MD $136,000/yr.

Benefits

Establishment and maintenance of riparian forest buffers

Improved wildlife habitat.

Establishment and maintenance of riparian forest buffers recommended.

 Program

Forestry Incentive Program

Stewardship Incentive Program

Special Rivers Project

Type

Incentive, Federal (CFSA) technical and financial assistance

Incentive, Federal (USFS/CFSA) technical and financial assistance

Incentive, Federal (EPA, Bay Program) technical assistance

Purpose

Cost-share for tree planting, including in forested wetlands and riparian areas on private, non-industrial forest land.

Cost-sharing for tree planting, stream fencing, riparian and wetland improvement, tree shelters, and fisheries habitat improvement on non-industrial private forest land.

Fosters forest stewardship and best management practices in both rural and urban watersheds to improve water quality. Limited to the Susquehanna, Monocacy, and Anacostia river basins.

RFB Emphasis

No

Yes, for SIP 6

No

Prot. Level

10 year practice lifespan

10 year practice lifespan

N/A

Admin. Agency

Consolidated Farm Services Agency and the State Forestry Agencies.

US Forest Service and the Consolidated Farm Services Agency through the State forestry agencies.

Environmental Protection Agency through the Maryland Department of the Environment and the DNR- Forest Service.

Participation

Voluntary, MD 60/yr for 2,300 acres

PA 3.0 applications for 16.6 acres/yr

Voluntary

Enforcement

Adequate

Adequate

N/A

Barriers

10 acre minimum requirement

Burdensome paperwork

Limited personnel due to high turnover.

$ Level/Source

FY95 $ 63,000.

SIP 6 MD average $6,000/yr

Environmental Protection Agency through the Maryland Department of the Environment and the DNR- Forest Service @ $190,000/yr

Benefits

Vigorous growth promoting increased nutrient uptake and an increase of buffer effectiveness.

Protect and maintain stream integrity and bank stability.

Protect and maintain stream integrity and bank stability.

 Program

Tree-Mendous Maryland

Forest Conservation and Management Program

Reforestation/Timber Stand Improvement Tax Deduction (TAXMOD) Program

Type

Incentive, State (MD)

Incentive, State (MD)

Incentive, State (MD)

Purpose

Local businesses, regional corporations, citizen groups, and local governments conduct community plantings on public land. Also trains people to lead tree-planting efforts in their communities.

Special tax assessments on forest land, if the landowner agrees to adhere to a forest stewardship plan.

Allows landowners of small forestry operations to deduct double the costs associated with reforestation activities, including those in the riparian zone.

RFB Emphasis

No

No

No

Prot. Level

N/A

15 year agreement

15 year maintenance requirement

Admin. Agency

DNR-Forest Service

DNR-Forest Service and Department of Assessment and Taxation

DNR-Forest Service and Office of Treasurer

Participation

Voluntary, 42,000 volunteers/yr, plant 800,000 trees/yr on 1,200 acres.

Voluntary, 60/yr for 1,500 acres

Voluntary

Enforcement

N/A

Adequate

Adequate

Barriers

Insufficient resources (e.g. funding and personnel)

Burdensome paperwork.

Burdensome paperwork.

$ Level/Source

DNR-Forest Service @ $150,000/yr Special Funds

Program funded by participants.

N/A

Benefits

Educates people to the value of trees and forests and their relationship to water quality.

Establishment and maintenance of riparian forest buffers recommended.

Reduced carrying costs.

Program

Agricultural Use Assessment

Use-Value Taxation

Farmland and Forest Land Assessment Act ("Clean and Green Act")

Type

Incentive, State (MD)

Incentive, State (VA)

Incentive, State (PA)

Purpose

Preferential assessment on value of land used for agriculture. Woodlots can also receive an agricultural assessment. No specific requirements for riparian areas.

Counties provide preferential assessments on use value of agricultural and forest land. No specific requirements for riparian areas.

County can grant a preferential assessment for ten or more contiguous acres of land devoted to agricultural, forest reserve, or open space purposes. Can apply to land in the riparian zone, although no specific requirements in riparian areas.

RFB Emphasis

No

No

No

Prot. Level

3 years with compliance checks and verification

Duration of participation

10 year agreement

Admin. Agency

Department of Assessment and Taxation

Virginia Department of Agriculture and Consumer Services through the local tax assessors.

Pennsylvania Department of Agriculture through local jurisdictions.

Participation

Voluntary

Voluntary

Voluntary

Enforcement

Adequate

Local Departments of Taxation

Adequate

Barriers

Little or no demand in rural areas where agricultural use assessment is common.

Not available in all counties (65 of 95)

Penalties for non-compliance

$ Level/Source

N/A

N/A

N/A

Benefits

Establishment and maintenance of riparian forest buffers recommended.

Encourages preservation of open space.

Reduces carrying costs.

Program

Public Law 96-451

Type

Incentive, Federal (IRS)

Purpose

Federal tax incentives to reduce reforestation costs. Can include reforestation efforts in riparian areas.

RFB Emphasis

No

Prot. Level

N/A

Admin. Agency

Internal Revenue Service

Participation

Voluntary

Enforcement

Adequate

Barriers

Burdensome paperwork.

$ Level/Source

N/A

Benefits

Reduced carrying costs.