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
A non-profit 501(c)(3) organization serving Virginia in Augusta, Clarke, Frederick, Page, Rockingham, Shenandoah, and Warren Counties;
and the cities of Harrisonburg, Waynesboro, Staunton, and Winchester
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:
- Optimizing nutrient management and utilization in the Valley
- Conserving open spaces, forestland and farmland in the Valley; assisting with community development
- Encouraging diverse and healthy rural economies
- Improving water management in the Valley
- Providing information and education and assisting with homeland security
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 |
|
|