Shenandoah Resource Conservation &
Development Council
Fiscal Year 2005 Annual Plan of Work
July 1, 2004 – June 30, 2005

Administered by
Shenandoah Resource Conservation & Development Council, Inc.
P.O. Box 60, Verona, VA 24482 · (540) 248-3321 Fax: (540) 248-5502
Forward
The US Secretary of Agriculture designated the Shenandoah Resource Conservation and Development Area under the Agriculture and Food Act of 1981, as amended. The purpose of the Area is to promote rural development in the Shenandoah River watershed of Virginia.
The Shenandoah RC&D Council, Inc., (a nonprofit organization), leads implementation of RC&D activities in the Area. The Council’s mission is to enhance the quality of public and private decisions and programs in the Shenandoah River watershed as they affect the care and use of natural resources.
The Shenandoah RC&D Council focuses on:
To achieve this mission, the Shenandoah RC&D Council has adopted this Fiscal Year 2005 Annual Plan of Work. This document is designed to be a flexible management tool the Council uses to guide its activities throughout the fiscal year. Benefits of the Annual Plan of Work include:
· Allowing continuity of action from one year to the next.
· Keeping everyone working toward the same goal.
· Informing the sponsors about Shenandoah RC&D Council activities.
· Forming the basis for technical assistance from the USDA Natural Resources Conservation Service (NRCS) in accessing programs and services from USDA and others to achieve the Council’s goals and objectives.
Approval
The Shenandoah Resource Conservation & Development Council, Inc. hereby adopts the Annual Plan of Work for Fiscal Year 2005 and agrees to effectively use the assistance provided by the U.S. Department of Agriculture to realize the strategies and goals outlined herein. This action taken at the Council’s regular meeting held on September 13, 2004.
__________________________________________________________________________________________________
Shenandoah RC&D Council Chair Date
U.S. Department of Agriculture - Natural Resources Conservation Service Concurrence
__________________________________________________________________________________________________
NRCS State Conservationist Date
The Shenandoah Resource Conservation & Development Council, Inc. prohibits discrimination in its programs and activities on the basis of race, color, national origin, sex, religion, age, disability, political beliefs, sexual orientation, or marital or family status.
TABLE OF CONTENTS
SERVICES
NEW PROJECTS
FISCAL YEAR 2005 WORK PLAN: PROJECTS AND ACTIVITIES SUMMARY
COUNCIL MEETING DATES
MISSION, GOALS, AND OBJECTIVES
SERVICES
APPENDIX
Shenandoah RC&D Council
Shenandoah RC&D Program
Initial Project Proposal
Key Strategies for Successful Grant/Project Management
SERVICES
The Shenandoah RC&D Council provides diverse services in the areas of natural resources and community development. We provide technical assistance to our sponsors and organizations consistent with the Shenandoah RC&D Council annual and strategic plans. We place a high priority on projects and issues that affect large portions of the Area. The Council and its Committees undertake projects consistent with the annual and strategic plans. Sponsors and other organizations desiring assistance may make a request in writing to the Council. All sources of technical and financial assistance are explored. RC&D does not address projects that can best be addressed by others or where collaboration is not needed or possible.
The Annual Plan of Work is an annual action plan focusing and directing the activities of the Shenandoah RC&D Council. Planning builds a framework leading to the achievement of organizational goals and objectives.
Some benefits of an annual plan:
· Defines the actions needed to meet established goals and objectives in a defined time frame within the organization’s capacity for implementation.
· Communicates those actions to the organization’s constituents.
· Ensures the most effective use is made of the organization’s resources by focusing the resources on important priorities.
· Provides a base from which progress can be measured and establish a mechanism for informed change when needed.
The Annual Plan of Work is an adaptable document with modifications made throughout the year as opportunities arise or shift. New projects may be added to the Annual Plan of Work as needed. Project proposals may be submitted to the Council for its consideration throughout the year. They may be submitted by individuals, local governments, and other organizations that are focused on the social, economic and environmental well-being of the Shenandoah Valley. The project proposal is assigned by the Council to the appropriate RC&D Committee for evaluation and recommendation to the Council. Proposed projects need to meet two criteria. First, the project must be compatible with the Shenandoah RC&D Council’s goals and objectives. Second, the project needs to have a project leader and other citizens ready to make the project happen. Without grassroots citizen participation and leadership, the project will not succeed.
FISCAL YEAR 2005 WORK PLAN: PROJECTS AND ACTIVITIES SUMMARY
July 1, 2004
|
Project # |
Project/Activity |
Status |
Responsible Person |
Purpose |
Major Funder(s) |
Estimated Project Cost |
|
04-4 |
Shenandoah Watershed Restoration and Outreach Project |
Completed (Sept. 13, 2004) |
Whitescarver |
Water Quality/Quantity |
Chesapeake Bay Foundation; National Fish & Wildlife Foundation |
$40,000 |
|
04-2 |
Purchase of Development Rights (PDR) Matching Funds for Federal Farm and Ranchland Protection Program (FRPP), Promote local PDR Programs, and Help Localities Secure Funding for PDRs |
In progress |
Holm/Eckman/Stoffel/Whitescarver |
Farmland and Open Space Preservation |
Commonwealth of VA; USDA-NRCS; private foundations |
$1 million |
|
04-1 |
Increase Tree City USA participation by Valley communities |
In progress |
Comanor/Holm |
Economic Vitality; Water Quality |
Technical assistance |
|
|
04-3 |
Study Feasibility for bringing Soybean Crusher/Biodiesel Refinery to Valley |
Changing focus of project |
Nichols/Holm/Clark |
Rural Economic Vitality |
In progress as project focus changes |
$35,000 for feasibility study, additional funds as needed |
|
05-1 |
Study: Potential for Marketing Shenandoah Valley Poultry Litter as Fertilizer |
In progress |
Bauhan/Holm |
Nutrient Management |
VA Poultry Federation, SWCDs, VA Tech |
|
|
05-2 |
Waste Solutions Forum – Phase I |
In progress |
Gardner/Holm/Bauhan |
Nutrient Management |
CPI?, Agua Fund? VA Tech, CBF, ED, and other partners |
|
|
|
Project and Activity Proposals Under Consideration for Fiscal Year 2005 |
|
|
|
|
|
|
Activity |
Outreach—Conduct media campaign to help inform community on positive aspects of waste mgmt. |
|
Nutrient Mgmt Cmt/Holm |
Nutrient Management |
N/A |
|
|
Activity |
Outreach/Relationship Building – To local SWCD, local governments, member organizations & others, to enhance awareness of and forge working relationships with RC&D through meetings and letters |
|
Council/Holm |
Capacity Building |
N/A |
|
|
|
Biofuels Forum: Explore Bringing Biofuels Forum to RC&D region, tie-in with 2002 Farm Bill |
|
E&I Committee/Nichols/Soybean Group/Holm |
Education and Information/Rural Vitality |
USDA/EPA Tides Foundation |
|
|
Activity |
Design and Set Up Shenandoah RC&D Website |
|
E&I Committee/ secretary/Holm |
Capacity Building |
Tides Foundation |
|
|
Activity |
Develop an Audiovisual Presentation and Informational Materials about Shenandoah RC&D and its role for Council and Committee use. |
|
E&I Committee |
Capacity Building |
N/A |
|
|
|
Local Government Officials PDR Training/How to Fund Local PDR Programs |
|
Farmland, OS, Community Dev. Com/Holm |
Farmland/Open Space Preservation; Education |
Agua Fund? |
|
|
Activity |
Cooperative taking Over Pilgrim’s Pride: Offer Assistance as Needed |
|
Rural Econ. Vitality Com/Holm |
Rural Economic Vitality; Farmland Preservation |
Agua Fund? and others |
|
|
Activity |
Office Policy and Procedures, set up basic office systems and procedures, including create forms as needed, training on Quick Books, reimbursements, etc. |
|
Council/Holm/ secretary |
Capacity Building |
Tides Foundation
|
|
|
Activity |
Council Policy and Procedures, including By-law review, budgeting, leadership transition, committee work, proposal solicitation, etc. |
|
Council/Holm |
Capacity Building |
Tides Foundation |
|
|
|
Consult with local governments regarding potential assistance needed with septic systems related to TMDL implementation and water quality issues. |
|
Water Quality Committee/Council/Holm |
Water Quality |
|
|
|
Activity |
Examine natural resource policy issues on local, state and national levels and determine appropriate Council involvement |
|
Committees/Council/Holm |
Capacity Building/Project support |
|
|
|
Activity |
Request SWCDs advice on how RC&D can assist farmers and the district with finding additional opportunities to put in BMPs |
|
Committees |
Water Quality/Quantity |
|
|
|
Activity |
Identify up to three locally led watershed groups and foster their efforts; assist with identified projects |
|
Water Mgmt Committee/ Council/Holm |
Water Quality/Quantity |
|
|
|
Activity |
Create a Directors notebook that provides information/materials for Council and associate members; outlines participation in Council activities and additional opportunities.
|
|
RC&D secretary/Holm/Comanor |
Capacity Building |
Tides Foundation |
|
|
|
Adult, College, and Secondary Education in the Shenandoah River Basin in the 2010-2020 Decade |
|
Schertz/Lawrence |
Education &Information |
|
|
|
|
Shenandoah River Basin Natural Resource Information Consortium |
|
Schertz/Lawrence |
Education & Information |
|
|
Monday, September 13, 2004
Monday, November 8, 2004
Monday, January 10, 2005
Monday, March 14, 2005
Monday, May 9, 2005
Monday, July 11, 2005
Shenandoah Resource Conservation and Development Council, Inc.
Mission, Goals, and Objectives and Potential Related Activities
Mission: to enhance the quality of public and private decisions and programs in the Shenandoah Valley as they affect the care and use of natural resources.
Goal A: Plan for the wise use of natural resources to improve their quality and value.
· Objective 01. Provide assistance to the NRCS and Conservation Districts in the implementation of locally led conservation.
· Objective 02. Work with local agricultural groups to protect and improve agricultural lands and assure a strong agricultural sector in the state.
· Objective 03. Seek ways to improve local, state, and federal planning activities and promote sound land use decisions.
· Objective 04. Improve forestry productivity and income potential through better forestry management.
· Objective 05. Work with local governments and groups to reduce flooding, stop water pollution, reduce soil erosion, and improve water quality.
· Objective 06. Increase the awareness of the importance of proper lawn management techniques for suburban and urban homeowners.
· Objective 07. Promote Civil Rights Outreach activities as they relate to agriculture and natural resources management.
· Objective 08. Promote conservation partnership activities through conservation tours, workshops, conferences, etc.
Goal B: Strengthen the overall operations of the Shenandoah RC&D Council
· Objective 01. Update the Council’s strategic plan
è Manage finances and resources to ensure the sustainability of the Shenandoah RC&D Council.
è Develop a fund raising plan and be accountable to funders.
è Ensure current sources of revenue are stable.
è Develop and approve the annual budget.
è Monitor budget implementation.
è Ensure adequate financial controls.
è Conduct an annual audit by a CPA with nonprofit experience.
è Annually submit 990 to the IRS.
è Assess need for liability and directors and officers insurance.
è Establish and update policies to facilitate Council operations.
è Monitor operations.
è Install and use Quickbooks to monitor project status and expenditures.
è Strengthen programs and services.
è Ensure legal and ethical integrity.
· Objective 02. Conduct outreach to local governments, organizations, and individuals to establish the presence of the Shenandoah RC&D and inform others of the Council’s role and services available.
· Objective 03. Provide materials for Council members and associate members in a Director’s notebook that outlines participation in Council activities and additional opportunities.
· Objective 04. Design and implement Shenandoah RC&D Council’s website.
· Objective 05. Submit nominations for regional and national RC&D awards as appropriate.
· Objective 06. Seek ways to improve and strengthen the RC&D program
Goal C: Optimize nutrient management and utilization in the Valley
· Objective 01. Develop a poultry litter collection and redistribution program.
A. Foster awareness of bio-security issues as they relate to litter collection, redistribution and disposal; assist in preparedness for large-scale food/animal disease outbreaks.
è Explore issues related to composting and incinerating dead animals, including on-farm systems.
è Explore public/private on-time litter transport business with Poultry Federation and other partners
· Objective 02. Optimize nutrient recycling in the Valley and throughout Virginia where possible with animal and other organic wastes to improve soil quality.
è Conduct a media/informational campaign to help inform the community on the positive aspects of what is being done with waste management in the Valley – what environmental benchmarks are being met?
è Help make SWCD and Extension more aware of what Shenandoah RC&D does and ensure SWCD directors inform Shenandoah RC&D Council of issues and opportunities.
è Solicit projects that promote soil quality since production agriculture is losing soil carbon at a rate greater than it is being replenished.
è Ensure the need to improve soil quality is considered in projects since it ties in with water use efficiency in crop production.
è Monitor the state of agriculture in the Valley.
è Develop education and information programs on environmental issues related to nutrient management.
è Foster applications for projects that deal with recycling organic wastes.
· Objective 03. Explore emerging options related to nutrient management and disposal including waste to energy options.