Shenandoah Resource Conservation & Development Council

Fiscal Year 2006 Annual Plan of Work

July 1, 2005 – June 30, 2006

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Administered by

 

Shenandoah Resource Conservation & Development Council

·P.O. Box 60, Verona, VA  24482 ·Phone: (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, (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 2006 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 2006 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 July 11, 2005.

 

 

__________________________________________________________________________________________________

Shenandoah RC&D Council Chair                                                                      Date

 

U.S.  Department of Agriculture - Natural Resources Conservation Service Concurrence

 

 

__________________________________________________________________________________________________

NRCS State Conservationist                                                                              Date

 

“All programs and assistance of the Shenandoah RC&D Council are available without regard to race, color, national origin, gender, religion, age, disability, political beliefs, sexual orientation, and marital or family status.  Persons with disabilities who require alternative means for communication of program information (Braille, large print, audiotape, etc.) should contact the USDA’s TARGET Center at (202) 720-5964 (voice and TDD). 

USDA is an equal opportunity provider and employer.”


 

TABLE OF CONTENTS

 

SERVICES                                                                                                                                         p. 4

 

ANNUAL PLAN OF WORK OVERVIEW                                                                         p. 4

 

NEW PROJECTS                                                                                                                              p. 4

 

FISCAL YEAR 2005 WORK PLAN:  PROJECTS AND ACTIVITIES SUMMARY                 p. 5

 

COUNCIL MEETING DATES                                                                                                        p. 10

 

MISSION, GOALS, AND OBJECTIVES                                                                                       p. 11

 

 

 

 

 


 

SERVICES

 

The Shenandoah RC&D Council provides diverse services in the areas of natural resources and community development.  The Council provides technical assistance to its sponsors and organizations consistent with the Shenandoah RC&D Council annual and strategic plans.  The Council places 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. 

 

 

ANNUAL PLAN OF WORK OVERVIEW

 

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.

 

 

NEW PROJECTS

 

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 2006 WORK PLAN:  PROJECTS AND ACTIVITIES SUMMARY

July 1, 2005

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) Promote Local PDR Programs, and Help Localities Secure Funding for PDRs

Completed  (May 9, 2005)

Holm/Eckman/Comanor/ Lawrence

Farmland and Open Space Preservation

Beirne Carter Foundation; Agua Fund

Shenandoah RC&D contribution: $27,000

04-1

Increase Tree City USA participation by Valley communities

Completed  (May 9, 2005)

Comanor/Holm

Economic Vitality; Water Quality

Technical assistance

N/A

04-3

Study Feasibility for bringing Soybean Crusher/Biodiesel Refinery to Valley

Completed  (May 9, 2005)

Nichols/Holm/Clark

Rural Economic Vitality

Technical assistance

N/A

05-2

Waste Solutions Forum – Phase I

Completed  (May 9, 2005)

Gardner/Holm/Bauhan

Nutrient Management

Agua Fund, VA Tech, CBF, ED, Farm Bureau, Virginia Dairyman’s Assoc, VA Poultry Federation, and other state partners

$50,000

05-9

Conversion of Poultry Litter to Pyrodiesel and Slow-Release Fertilizer

In progress

Shiflet/Bauhan/Holm/Agblevor

Nutrient Management

Agua Fund

$10,600 Shen RC&D share

05-1

Community Fire Protection Program Partner

In progress

Comanor/Holm/NR Highlands RC&D

Forestry

Stevens Amendment Funding % $200,000

 

05-8

Nutrient Input and Removal Verification

In progress

Kaylor/Holm

Nutrient Management

Agua Fund

$13,000 Shen RC&D share

05-3

Volunteer Farm

In progress

Blair/Holm/ Comanor

Open Space, Farmland, Forestry and Community Development

Technical Assistance

unlimited

05-4

Rockingham County Produce Auction

In progress

Bendfeldt/ Stanley/Holm/Nichols

Rural Vitality

Agua Fund

$6,500 Shen RC&D share

05-5

Augusta County Sustainable Ag Task Force Enhancement

In progress

Shiflet/Holm/ Nichols

Rural Vitality

Agua Fund

$3,750

05-6

Winchester City Market

In progress

Kearns/Holm/ Nichols

Rural Vitality

Agua Fund

$3,000

05-7

Fitch Individual Home Small Sewage Discharge

In progress

Benzing/Holm/Carr

Water Quality/Quantity

319 Funds DCR

$12,000

 

 

Project and Activity Proposals Under Consideration for Fiscal Year 2006

 

 

 

 

 

Activity

Outreach/Relationship Building – To local SWCDs, 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 options for educating and promoting biofuels and alternative energy for home and on-farm use in the Valley

 

E&I Committee/ Lawrence /Holm

Education and Information

DMME/Blue Ridge Alternative Fuels

 

Activity

Maintain  Shenandoah RC&D Website

 

E&I Committee/ Cormier/Holm

Capacity Building

N/A

 

Activity

Help enhance media and public awareness of Shenandoah RC&D

 

E&I Committee/ Comanor/Holm/Cormier/ Council

Capacity Building

N/A

 

 

Offer key local government officials training in PDR programs, especially funding options

 

Farmland, OS, Community Development Committee Comanor/Holm/Eckman

Farmland/Open Space Preservation; Education

Agua Fund?

 

Activity

Establish a Community Development subcommittee to specifically address community development issues

 

Farmland, OS, Community Development Committee Comanor/Holm/Eckman

Community Development

N/A

 

Activity

Review criteria for proposal submission/tracking

 

E&I Committee/ Holm

Capacity Building

N/A

 

Activity

Purchase Council Computer and financial software, set up basic financial statements to track Council funds, reimbursements, etc.

 

Council/Holm/ Cormier

Capacity Building

 

Tides Foundation

 

 

 

 

Activity

Help identify, clarify and define what RC&D strengths and assistance capacity are, what RC&D has to offer, and communicate that more clearly

 

E&I Committee/ Council/Holm

Capacity Building

N/A

 

 

Look for ways to fund recommendations and action items from Waste Solutions Forum that relate to water quality

 

Water Quality Committee/ Benzing/Holm

Water Quality

 

 

Activity

Consult with county planning commissions and regional planning commissions on how RC&D can support better management of urban, suburban, and rural lands; address their board meetings

 

Council/Holm

Capacity Building; Project Development

 

 

Activity

As RC&D members brief the Council on their organizations, ask them to also educate on one issue their organization addresses that affects the RC&D region

 

Council

Capacity Building/Project Development/Education

N/A

 

Activity

Inform the Council about particular subject areas that affect RC&D work

 

Committees

All Council goals

N/A

 

Activity

Identify up to three locally led watershed groups and foster their efforts; assist with identified projects. FY 2006: Black’s Run Greenway; Friends of the Shenandoah River; either Riverfest or Lewis Creek WQ Advisory Committee

 

Water     Quality  Committee/ Benzing/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

 

 

Cormier/Holm/Comanor

Capacity Building

Tides Foundation

 

Activity

Explore Homeland Security venues and ask each RC&D committee to explore Homeland Security projects, funding and options related to its goals and objectives

 

All Committees

 

 

 

Activity

Look for action points where RC&D might fit in with the Regional Water Policy Committee when it releases its final report April 2006

 

Water Quality/ Quantity Committee/ E&I Committee

Water Quality/Quantity

 

 

Activity

Look for homeland security links and funding to ensure a complete effort for water quantity data through the SVRWRPC Water supply Action Plan process. Review data in December 2005 when it becomes available, prior to plan finalization in April 2006.

 

Water Quality/ Quantity Committee

 

 

 

Activity

Help support the Shenandoah RC&D FY 2006 Area Plan and associated planning process

 

Council/all Committees

Required by NRCS as part of Area Designation Agreement