The Natural Resource Conservation Service (NRCS) is accepting applications now, for shorebird habitat and cover crop practices starting this fall and winter. Those interested need to apply by May 28.
Cover crop planting is part of a new set of two related practices to ultimately provide waterfowl breeding habitat. Phase 1 will utilize an NRCS cost-share payment to help establish fall cover crops, which can be terminated before 2022 rice planting or left in place and optionally transitioned into the next phase. Phase 2 (Waterfowl Nesting Habitat) will provide a modest “conservation rental payment” for idle acres that have quality vegetative cover. The payment for Phase 2 (expected to be $20-$30 per acre) will clearly not create any incentive for idling, but rather provide some modest revenue for those willing to dedicate unplanted acres (due to water cuts or other factors) as high-quality wildlife habitat.
The shorebird habitat practices being offered are already well-established. They primarily focus on providing shallow flooding either before or after the traditional flood-up and drainage periods of winter-flooding.
A summary of current practices and payment rates can be found here. For more details or to apply visit your local NRCS County office, contact information can be found in the table below. All applications due by Friday, May 28, 2021.
For general questions, contact Luke Matthews, CRC’s Wildlife Programs Manager, at (916) 607-8988 or lmatthews@calrice.org.
Key NRCS Office Locations and Contact Information
| County | Office | Contact | Phone | |
| Butte | 150 Chuck Yeager Way, Suite A., Oroville | Dan Taverner – District Conservationist | 530-693-3171 | daniel.taverner@usda.gov |
| Colusa | 100 Sunrise Blvd., Suite B. Colusa | Wendy Krehbiel – District Conservationist | 530-458-5131 x114 | Wendy.Krehbiel@usda.gov |
| Glenn | 132 N. Enright Ave, Suite B., Willows | Rob Vlach – District Conservationist | 530-361-3155 | robert.vlach@usda.gov |
| Placer | 11661 Blocker Dr., Suite 115 Auburn | Chris Robbins – District Conservationist | (530) 217-6258 | Chris.robbins@usda.gov |
| Sacramento | 9701 Dino Dr.Suite 190 Elk Grove | Toney Tillman-District Conservationist | (916) 582-6637 | toney.tillman@usda.gov |
| Sutter/Yuba | 1511 Butte House Rd., Suite B, Yuba City | Pa Yang – District Conservationist | 530-216-5860 | pa.yang@usda.gov |
| Yolo | 221 W. Court St., Suite 1., Woodland | Phil Hogan – District Conservationist | 530-207-6526 | phil.hogan@usda.gov |
