5th SFG (A) (Special Forces AUC Training Staff) 5th SFG (A) (Special ...

Rhode Island Summary Overview The Wildlife Habitat Incentives Program (WHIP) is a voluntary program that helps
landowners develop and improve wildlife habitat on private lands. Interested
landowners seek natural resource planning assistance from the Natural Resources
Conservation Service (NRCS) and other federal, state, and private organizations to
develop conservation plans that improve wildlife habitat. WHIP funds help implement
the actions identified in the plan by providing financial assistance up to 75 percent of
the cost for their projects. In Rhode Island, strong interest and participation in WHIP continued through FY
2001. Applications requesting Federal cost-share funds totaled $76,500 were submitted
by 11 landowners. The Rhode Island FY 2001 allocation for financial assistance was
about $50,000. This is a shortfall of about $27,000. NRCS staff developed and
approved 4 WHIP conservation plans and contracts. Accomplishments Rhode Island NRCS received 11 applications with a dollar value of applications
received $76,500, there were 4 contracts approved with 27.7 acres under contract. The
dollar value of partner contributions totaled $2,000. Program Benefits Program funding, besides providing landowners with financial resources to improve
wildlife habitat, is creating the partnerships in Rhode Island that can provide them with
the best technical expertise. All 4 Rhode Island contracts will encourage the wildlife
to return, and will have a positive impact on the watersheds involved. State Contact Joseph Bachand, Resource Conservationist
USDA NRCS WHIP Program Manager
60 Quaker Lane, Suite 46
Warwick, Rhode Island 02886
Phone 401-822-8818 Fax 401-828-0433 United States Department of Agriculture December 2001 Program Focus Rhode Island NRCS partnered with
the Aquidneck Island Land Trust to
fund a particularly special project
through WHIP. The multiple
benefits of this project cannot be
adequately described in feet or
acres. What appears on a contract
as 5,400 feet of fence, is actually a
contribution to the preservation of
43 acres. The land trust has
purchased the development rights
on three adjacent farms in
Middletown, RI. Conservation
Plans, developed by NRCS, were a
major part of the agreements.
Practices recommended in their
plans, such as fencing livestock out
of streams and rotational grazing,
will be implemented through
participation in USDA cost-share
programs WHIP and
Environmental Quality Incentives
Program. Not only will wildlife
habitat be created through these
practices, but a critical drinking
water supply will also be protected
from contamination by animal
waste. The effects of this project
will be far reaching. Benefits will
be shared by the landowners, users
of the drinking water supply, and
the wildlife. Additionally, a
valuable partnership has been
created with the Aquidneck Island
Land Trust. Recently, the
executive director of the land trust
was quoted in a local paper saying,
We recognize the value and the
character of these properties. We
wanted to conserve the land, the
animal population and assure that
its current natural scene would be
around for years to come. Stream before buffer 2001 Wildlife Habitat Incentives
Program Rhode Island WHIP Dollars and Contracts Fiscal Year 2001 Cumulative Total (98-01) Congressional Obligated Number of Obligated Number of Districts Dollars Contracts Dollars Contracts District 1 29,450 2 211,772 18 District 2 16775 2 155,358 18 State Totals 46,225 4 367,130 36 The U.S. Department of Agriculture (USDA) prohibits discrimination in all 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. (Not all prohibited bases apply to all programs.) Persons with disabilities who require alternative means for
communication of program information (Braille, large print, audiotape, etc.) should contact USDAs TARGET Center at (202) 720-2600 (voice and TDD). To file a complaint of discrimination, write USDA, Director, Office of Civil Rights, Room 326W, Whitten Building, 14th and Independence Avenue, SW, Washington, DC
20250-9410 or call (202) 720-5964 (voice and TDD). USDA is an equal opportunity provider and employer. Rhode Island WHIP Dollars and Contracts by Congressional District

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