Program Authorization: R.S. 36:629
The mission of the Office of Soil and Water Conservation Program is to protect the land, water and related resources of the state. The goal of this program is to bring to the people of Louisiana the best technical assistance possible in order to protect and enhance the state's soil and water resources. This is accomplished through a delivery network of local soil and water conservation districts that provide effective and efficient assistance to land managers in developing and implementing solutions to the conservation and restoration of water quality, wetlands and soils. In this capacity this program also serves as the official state cooperating program with the USDA, Soil Conservation Service as required for federal program benefits. Mismanagement of agricultural processes and land and water resources does result in loss of productivity, degradation of water quality and wetlands, and increased flooding. Nearly 28,000,000 acres of land require some level of treatment. The activities of this program are: Administrative, Soil Erosion Reduction, Nonpoint Source Pollution Reduction, and Wetland Protection.
OBJECTIVES AND PERFORMANCE INDICATORS
1. The Soil and Water Conservation program will reduce soil erosion by 12% from the base year FY 1992-93, by January 1, 2000.
2. The Soil and Water Conservation Program will increase beneficial use of agriculture solid waste to 40% by January 1, 2000.
3. The Soil and Water Conservation Program will ensure the restoration of 120,000 acres of farmed wetlands and the protection of 340 miles of shoreline and 900,000 acres of marshlands from erosion and degradation by January 1, 2000, to help reduce the loss of the state's wetlands.
RESOURCE ALLOCATION FOR THE PROGRAM
This program is funded with state general fund and interagency transfers. Interagency Transfers are received from the Departments of Natural Resources and Environmental Quality for developing erosion control plans along the coast of Louisiana.
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Reductions in various Expenditure Categories; Including Reductions to fully fund Salaries |
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DIFFERENCE (TOTAL RECOMMENDED AND EXISTING OPERATING BUDGET) |
The total means of financing for this program is recommended at 100.0% of the existing operating budget. It represents 85.2% of the total request ($2,839,438) for this program.
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This program does not have funding for Professional Services for Fiscal Year 1998-1999. |
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To provide salaries for 96 employees, support for 215 supervisors, and funds for operating services and supplies for 43 soil and water conservation districts |
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ACQUISITIONS AND MAJOR REPAIRS