United States Department of Agriculture
Natural Resources Conservation Service		 Maine Go to Accessibility Information
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Fact Sheet

What is NRCS?

The Natural Resources Conservation Service (NRCS) is an agency of the U.S. Department of Agriculture. NRCS offers help to individuals, groups, towns and other units of government to protect, develop and wisely use soil, water and other natural resources. Our mission is to provide leadership and administer programs to help people conserve, improve and sustain our resources and environment.

What Does NRCS Do? 

NRCS provides the skills of trained soil conservationists, technicians, soil scientists, agronomists, engineers, geologists, economists, biologists, and others to help landowners and land users carry out voluntary plans to:

  • reduce soil erosion 
  • improve water quality
  • reduce upstream flood damage
  • improve pasture and forest land
  • conserve and develop natural resources

How Does NRCS Operate?

The Natural Resources Conservation Service works through Maine’s 16 Soil and Water Conservation Districts. Each Conservation District, directed by local citizens, determines needs and works toward solving natural resource problems within its own boundaries.

State Conservationist Joyce A. Swartzendruber,  directs NRCS in Maine, including:

Technical Assistance - Help landowners to plan, install, and use methods (structures, techniques, crops, plant materials) to better control erosion and wisely use natural resources.
2002 Farm Bill - The Farm Security and Rural Investment Act of 2002 (Farm Bill) includes landmark legislation for conservation funding and for focusing on environmental issues.  The conservation provisions will assist farmers across the State of Maine in meeting environmental challenges on their land.  This legislation simplifies existing programs and creates new ones to address high priority environmental and production goals.
Resource Conservation and Development (RC&D) - Assist individuals, groups, and communities in multi-county areas to improve environmental, social, and economic conditions related to land and water use. 
Watershed Projects - Help local groups plan, finance, and build small projects in upstream areas for flood prevention, erosion control, water quality and supply, and recreation. 
Soil Surveys - Provide maps and detailed use interpretations of Maine’s soil resources. Soil survey reports are published and are available from local NRCS offices. 
Inventory and Monitoring - Evaluate natural resource conditions and trends and provide assistance to development of local programs for soil and water conservation based on priorities identified by Conservation Districts and others. 

For more information contact your local service center.

  
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