Area One - 2007 Summary of Accomplishments

Updated 08/05/2008

Gary J. Reckner, Assistant State Conservationist - Field Operations
Area 1 Office

 

Area 1 has exceeded 100 percent goal accomplishment on 21 of 23 of field office level Performance Results System (PRS), goaled items. We were instructed to focus on other priorities rather than strive to accomplish the remaining two items as the state goal had been accomplished or exceeded.

The Barren River Conservation Reserve Enhancement Program (CREP) area received 1811 inquiries which resulted in 1514 "CRP-2Cs."  NRCS staff serviced 927 of these applications by October 1. Team leadership's responsiveness and management directed detail of additional staff made these accomplishments possible. A CREP Field Day was well attended by hundreds of local landowners. It was a real show-piece of inter-agency cooperation and teamwork.   U.S. Senator Mitch McConnell was in attendance, making a presentation to the team for their accomplishments and teamwork.

Area 1 leads the State in program implementation due in large part to the landuses in western Kentucky but also due to the high degree of proficiency, sound judgment and leadership demonstrated by Sue Stone, Rodney Bozarth, Ray Toor and Donna Gilland within the Environmental Quality Incentives Program, Conservation Security Program, Wildlife Habitat Incentives Program, Conservation Reserve Program, Grassland Reserve Program and Wetlands Reserve Program.   

Current year contracted conservation practice application exceeds 85 percent.  Prior-year overdue contracted practice application rates are the highest in Area 1, exceeding 77 percent, although we had the lowest percentage of overdue practices.

Area 1 produced all the Wetlands Reserve Program (WRP) progress in Kentucky this year, applying over 1500 acres of benefits to water quality and fish and wildlife habitat and 1200 acres of wetlands restored. Applications for WRP are running slightly ahead (3%) of last year’s rate. All currently held applications have been serviced.

Field Office staff in Area 1 produced 55 Comprehensive Nutrient Management Plans (CNMPs) and reported 46 CNMPs as applied.

Quality Assurance Reviews have been completed and corrective actions are being made. Area and State Office staffs conducted six comprehensive Field Office Appraisals.

Watershed project O&M Agreement Review was completed in July.

I initiated contact and collaborated with U.S. Forest Service, U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service, and the Kentucky Fish and Wildlife Service (KFWS) to host a Mid-Contract Management training program to enhance the wildlife values and increase the use of natural processes in the management of CRP and CREP treated areas in order to meet jointly-held natural resource objectives. This training was conducted with approximately 70 inter-agency personnel in attendance.

I have worked to ensure that, in order to increase planning efficiency, optimize employee utilization, minimize current year budget impacts and improve future year budget position; all planners have, or are scheduled to receive this fiscal year, high-end laptops (including KFWS biologists) to minimize the ratio of computer workstations to employees and increase the portability and flexibility of our workforce.

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