Chisholm Trail RC&D

Bringing tomorrow's future closer to a reality.

Harvest In Harmony Workshops

“Harvest in Harmony” Workshops are designed for Landowners, Watershed Sponsors, Energy Companies, Land Leasing Agents, Realtors, Utilities and Others interested in developing private lands while preserving critical conservation practices. This series of workshops are aimed to help landowners and energy companies understand some of the easement, safety and liability issues on the land.

The workshops recognize that due to the increased demand for energy resources, oil and gas exploration companies are negotiating leasing agreements with landowners unaware of conservation practices and flood prevention dams that were installed with federal assistance, while landowners are faced with the challenge of balancing their natural resources with the impact of energy production. “With proper planning and information, these companies and landowners can save themselves a lot of headaches, time and money in the long run” says CTRC&D Executive Board.

“Sometimes landowners don’t consider existing conservation practices and easements when initial negotiations are being developed with private companies to access their land and explore for fossil fuels, install pipelines or transmission lines, or other means of development” the Executive Board cautions.

The majority of conservation practices installed on private land were done through a cost-sharing contract with the USDA-Natural Resources Conservation Service. Most counties have a USDA Service Center located in them with field personnel available to assist when negotiations are taking place with landowners and energy companies or other types of developers. Field personnel can easily point out any areas that are under easement or contractual obligation and provide other suggested routes or locations on the property.

Workshop attendees will be provided with valuable information to assist them with identification of conservation practices and flood prevention dams, planning routes, soil data, maps and liability information on flood prevention structures, explanation of easements, and landowner property rights and responsibilities regarding existing contracts and easements.

“Landowners need to consider existing conservation practices and easements when initial negotiations are being developed with private companies to access their land and explore for fossil fuels, install pipelines or transmission lines, or other means of development,” the Executive Board cautions.

The Executive Board says landowners should request a map with the exact area of disturbance delineated, so the landowner can see if there is a potential for negative impacts to installed conservation practices.

The Executive Board cautions that when the area under a cost-share contract undergoes surface changes, the conservation contract can become void. The landowner is then responsible to pay back contract obligations. The damages also affect the landowner’s eligibility for future cost-share programs through the Natural Resources Conservation Service & the Farm Service Agency.

“In most situations when everyone is aware of the practices and their purpose, a route can be taken to avoid disturbance,” the Executive Board says. There have been instances where federally cost-shared conservation practices were modified within their expected life span without the knowledge of the NRCS.

“While energy development has its booms and busts, conservation practices can last a lifetime. Our desire is to develop a working relationship among the landowners, developers and NRCS before activity takes place.” the Executive Board adds.

These workshops are sponsored by the Chisholm Trail RC&D, the USDA- Natural Resources Conservation Service (NRCS), the Association of Texas Soil and Water Conservation Districts, Texas Association of RC&D Areas, Texas Excavation Safety System (Dig Tess), Texas Commission on Environmental Quality, Texas AgriLife Extension, Wise County Water Control and Improvement District Number One and the Red River Authority of Texas.

Chisholm Trail RC&D, Inc.
P.O. Box 454
Bowie, Texas 76230
(940) 872-5329 ext. 4 - Phone
(940) 872-9604 - Fax
E-mail: chisholmtrailrcd@hotmail.com

The Chisholm Trail RC&D, Inc. is partially funded by the United States Department of Agriculture and adheres to the discrimination policy of the USDA-Natural Resources Conservation Service.

The U.S. Department of Agriculture (USDA) prohibits discrimination in all its programs and activities on the basis on race, color, national origin, age, disability, and where applicable, sex, marital status, parental status, religion, sexual orientation, genetic information, political beliefs, reprisal, or because all or part of an individual’s income is derived from any public assistance program. (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 USDA’s TARGET Center at (202) 720-2600 (voice and TDD). To file a complaint of discrimination, write to USDA, Director, Office of Civil Rights, 1400 Independence Avenue, S.W., Washington, D.C. 20250-9410, or call (800) 795-3272 (voice) or (202) 795-6382 (TDD). USDA is an equal opportunity provider and employer.