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FSA Allocates an Additional 33,400 Acres for Conservation Initiatives
(COLLEGE STATION, TX) - September 2, 2011--USDA Texas Farm Service Agency (FSA) Acting Executive Director James Douglass today announced that FSA has allocated an additional 33,400 acres to the State Areas for Wildlife Enhancement (SAFE) program that improves habitat for high-priority wildlife species.
"SAFE initiatives provide an opportunity to develop grassroots conservation projects to address high priority wildlife needs through habitat restoration," said Douglass.
Conservation practices currently offered under the Conservation Reserve Program (CRP) are fine-tuned through SAFE to improve, connect or create higher-quality habitat to promote healthier ecosystems in areas identified as essential to effective management of high priority species.
SAFE is implemented through a continuous CRP signup that allows USDA to accept producer offers year-round, provided the land and producer meet certain eligibility requirements. Producers within an approved SAFE area can submit offers to voluntarily enroll acres in a CRP contract for 10 to 15 years. In exchange, producers receive annual CRP rental payments, incentives and cost-share assistance to establish habitat-enhancing natural covers on eligible land.
In Texas, 80,900 acres were allocated for SAFE enrollment through three distinct SAFE project areas. Currently more than 42,000 acres in Texas are enrolled in the SAFE program.
The following three SAFE project areas offer enrollment opportunities for land owners in eligible counties.
Texas Mixed Grass SAFE Project
This project is implemented in Andrews, Bailey, Castro, Cochran, Collingsworth, Dawson, Deaf Smith, Donley, Gaines, Gray, Hemphill, Hockley, Lamb, Lipscomb, Martin, Ochiltree, Parmer, Randall, Roberts, Swisher, Terry, Wheeler and Yoakum counties. The original allocation of 45,000 acres plus the addition of 33,400 acres brings the total allocation to 78,400 acres that are available for enrollment to reconnect geographically and reproductively isolated populations of lesser prairie chickens by creating native mixed grass prairie and travel corridors. Restoration efforts will improve water quality and quantity contributed to recharging the Ogallala Aquifer. Habitat management such as prescribed burning, interseeding, or managed haying or grazing will be critical in maintaining the quality and usability of this habitat.
Texas Gulf Coast Prairies SAFE Project
This project is implemented in Aransas, Austin, Brazoria, Calhoun, Chambers, Colorado, Fort Bend, Galveston, Goliad, Harris, Jackson, Jefferson, Lavaca, Liberty, Matagorda, Orange, Refugio, San Patricio, Victoria, Waller and Wharton counties. In this project area, 500 acres are available for enrollment to restore grassland and shallow water for a variety of bird species. During winter and breeding periods, grasslands and seasonal wetlands are valuable to mottled duck, northern bobwhite, Attwater greater prairie chicken, shorteared owl, Henslow’s sparrow, Le Conte’s sparrow, Sprague’s pipit, grasshopper sparrow and numerous other bird species that are declining or otherwise of special conservation concern. Additionally, this project provides alternative income and land-use opportunities to agricultural producers in Southeast Texas that remain unable to farm some fields due to elevated soil salinities caused by Hurricane Rita.
Texas Lower Rio Grande Thornscrub SAFE Project
This project is implemented in Cameron, Willacy, Hidalgo, and Kenedy counties. In this project area, 2,000 acres are available for enrollment to restore Tamaulipan thornscrub habitat for the endangered ocelot and other wildlife species. Thornscrub is a habitat type dominated by thorn-covered shrubs and trees that grow in close proximity to form a thick, almost impenetrable vegetative layer. The remaining patches of thornscrub are fragmented. The goal of this project is to connect and expand habitat patches to allow the ocelot to move more freely.
For additional SAFE project area details or to voluntarily enroll acres contact your local FSA Office or visit the web site at: http://www.fsa.usda.gov ; click on "Conservation Programs."
USDA is an equal opportunity provider, employer and lender.
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