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Natural Resources Conservation Service

Who we are

To reach staff members by phone, dial 707-252-4188 and the extension below

Staff	Position	Extension	Email address
Phill Blake	District Conservationist	x101	phill.blake@usda.ca.gov
Chip Bouril	Soil Conservationist	x102	chip.bouril@usda.ca.gov
Kelly Gin	Soil Conservationist	x104	kelly.gin@usda.ca.gov
Carolyn Jones	Agricultural Engineer	x114	carolyn.jones@usda.ca.gov

 

The Natural Resources Conservation Service, (formerly the Soil Conservation Service) is a very close working partner with the RCD. Because our partnership includes sharing office space, equipment, and personnel, many Napa County folk often refer to NRCS staff as "RCD".

This slight bit of identity confusion doesn't bother us much, because although the NRCS is an agency of the U.S. Deptartment of Agriculture, we tailor services to the local RCD and community need.

 

Services and programs

We work with landowners to develop NRCS Conservation Plan- a plan that details the management decisions and conservation practices of individual landowners.  The plan is private, and is designed to help landowners meet their management and environmental goals.

 

We plan and consult on projects related to: erosion control, water quality, grazing management, seeding and planting, wetland evaluation, stream restoration, permitting and understanding local laws, and soils and land use maps

 

     Programs

• USDA Environmental Quality Incentives Program, EQIP (competitive grants for farmers and ranchers)
• USDA Wildlife Habitat Incentives Program, WHIP (competitive grants for farm and ranch projects that benefit wildlife)
• Emergency Watershed Protection Program (grants for land restoration in times of emergency)
• Wetlands Reserve Program (easements for restoration of wetlands)

 

How we partner

NRCS provides technical leadership to the RCD program, along with some very valuable technical consultation to landowners and other state, federal, and local agencies in Napa County. Our land stewardship program, the County Conservation Regulations Program, and the many watershed restoration projects we sponsor are just a few of the efforts NRCS helps to support. The Napa County Soil Survey, (available on-line) was created by NRCS soil scientists, and is supported as an ongoing public information technology effort by local staff.