For Coordinated Resource Management In Washington State

Preamble

Coordinated Resource Management (CRM) is a procedure designed to (1) achieve compatibility between the uses being made of our natural resources, which include agriculture, fish and wildlife habitat, forage production and use, forest products, recreation, land development and others; and (2) improve land and water resources and their perpetuation in high quality condition. A Coordinated Resource Management plan covers all ownerships of the planned area. All major uses of the area are considered in an effort to coordinate activities and maximize resource management opportunities.

I. Purpose

This Memorandum of Understanding establishes policy and general guidelines for use by the undersigned state and federal agencies for coordinating their activities in resource planning and working with conservation districts, federal, state and local agencies, and private landowners or users in developing and implementing sound resource management and conservation programs.

II. Policy

The signatory parties agree to cooperate, to the extent possible, in preparing and implementing Coordinated Resource Management plans on operating units, allotments, subwatersheds, and other appropriate resource areas made up of private, federal, and state-administered land.

The agencies or organizations cooperating on particular management or planning units will vary depending on the land ownership pattern and resource values within the planning area. The signatory agencies will seek to cooperate with all owners or managers of land and resources within each specific area. Other agencies, organizations, and individual interests will be involved as needed and appropriate.

III. Authority

Authority for participation in this effort is covered by existing federal or state statutes or delegations of authority. Authority for federal agencies is also continued in a national Memorandum of Understanding between the USDA Forest Service, Bureau of Land Management, Cooperative Extension Service (formerly Science and Education Administration - Extension) and Natural Resources Conservation Service (formerly Soil Conservation Service) dated November 1987.

IV. Responsibility of Agencies and Organization

1. The USDI Bureau of Land Management and the USDA Forest Service plan and conduct multiple-use resource management and conservation programs on lands under their jurisdiction. The Forest Service also has an interest in encouraging sound agriculture, forestry, and conservation practices on areas within and adjacent to national forests and grasslands, and to assist the responsible state agency in promoting forest land management practices on private forest lands.
2. The USDA Natural Resources Conservation Service provides technical assistance to conservation district cooperators and participants in United States Department of Agriculture cost-share programs for planning and applying authorized conservation programs on privately controlled lands.
3. The Washington State Conservation Commission, an agency of state government, assists and guides Conservation District supervisors and their organizations, state, and local agencies, and the citizenry to plan and implement resource management systems needed to bring about an improvement in the quality of the resource base, environment, and life itself. Assistance and guidance include (1) Providing for technical expertise to individuals and groups; (2) Facilitating citizen involvement in community development activities and concerns to assure accelerated progress in the protection of the resource base and improvement of the quality of our environment and life.
4. The Washington Department of Natural Resources manages state-owned trust lands so as to generate revenue in perpetuity for the specific trust beneficiaries designated at statehood. The department manages trust lands to assure full and continual economic productivity, protect ecological and social values, and provide multiple uses.
5. The Washington Department of Fish and Wildlife develops and implements management programs, statewide, designed to protect, restore and enhance fish and wildlife and their habitats, while providing sustainable fish and wildlife-related recreational and commercial opportunities. All land or resource management programs, particularly on Department of Wildlife-owned and controlled lands are centered on these objectives.
6. WSU Cooperative Extension has the responsibility for and provides leadership in all general educational programs of the U. S. Department of Agriculture. Administrative and technical personnel serve as liaisons between departmental research and action agencies and the administrative and extension technical staffs at land-grant universities. County extension agents, located in nearly all counties, make the results of research conducted by the U. S. Department of Agriculture, land-grant institutions, and other research agencies, available to farmers, homemakers, youth, and others.
7. Washington Rangeland Committee coordinates with rangeland development committees of the western United States; provides statewide leadership and coordination for rangeland classification, inventory, management and improvement; identifies and evaluates major problems and opportunities for range use and management; promotes educational programs; and identifies and sponsors rangeland research.
8. The Washington Association of Conservation Districts represents the Conservation Districts that develop long-range programs; secures and coordinates assistance from appropriate agencies and organizations; encourages and enters into cooperative agreements to assist individuals, groups, and units of government in conservation planning and application; provides means for determining local attitudes and objectives; and serves as catalysts to develop and maintain local interests in and support for conservation and development of resources.
9. The Washington Department of Agriculture serves the people of Washington State by supporting the agricultural community and promoting consumer and environmental protection.
10. The Washington Department of Ecology protects, preserves and enhances Washington's environment, and promotes the wise management of our air, land and water for the benefit of current and future generations. The agency’s goals are to prevent pollution, clean up pollution, and support sustainable communities and natural resources.

V. Initiation, Planning and Scheduling General Considerations

1. This Memorandum of Understanding does not modify or supersede existing agreements and/or memorandums of understanding except that this agreement revises and supersedes the current Washington State agreement.
2. The resource management agencies whose lands are included in any planning area will retain responsibility for meeting all requirements of the laws and regulations pertaining to the use and management of the lands under their respective jurisdictions. The agencies and all landowners retain final authority to make management decisions on their land involved in a Coordinated Resource Management plan.
3. Contacts and follow-up assistance with those cooperating in a plan will normally be made by the agency having primary planning responsibility or will be mutually agreed upon by the local planning group.
4. When any practices, structures, or projects are to be applied or installed upon lands under the jurisdiction of a public agency, authorization must be obtained from the appropriate agency prior to initiation of the action.
5. The priorities and management objectives for federal or state-administered lands will be determined through the responsible agency's planning system. However, special consideration normally will be given to resource areas presenting opportunities for Coordinated Resource Management planning.
6. The Conservation Districts and the signatories of this Memorandum of Understanding are encouraged to communicate with each other to the end that each Conservation District, which has the opportunity to increase conservation effort through Coordinated Resource Management planning, enters into memorandums of understanding with the appropriate agencies.
7. When requested by the administering agency, the Natural Resources Conservation Service may provide technical assistance on public land intermingled or adjacent to private lands covered by a Coordinated Resource Management plan.
8. Where state and private foresters managing related lands are involved, the Forest Service will discharge its responsibilities for forestry technical assistance through the Cooperative Agreement with the Washington State Department of Natural Resources.

VI. Initiation, Planning and Scheduling

1. Initiation -- The State Executive Committee members will acquaint field personnel with this Memorandum of Understanding to assure mutual understanding and interpretation.
2. Planning -- Individual planning groups will include representatives of landowners and/or managers, resource agencies and other appropriate organizations that are significantly involved in the operating unit, allotment, or resource area. A moderator to lead the planning process should be selected by the local group for each Coordinated Resource Management plan. Where full-time agency participation is not warranted, suitable arrangements for review should be made at the local level so planning can proceed with reasonable assurance that the final plan will be acceptable to all.
3. Scheduling -- Coordinated Resource Management planning should be made acceptable to each participant's schedule. This requires a reasonable amount of give-and-take between participants in the selection and assignment of priority.
4. Progress Reporting -- The Task Group will annually report progress to the Executive Group.

VII. Committees

1. State Executive Committee -
   

   Regional Forester - USDA Forest Service
   Chair - Washington State Conservation Commission
   Commissioner of Public Lands - Washington State DNR
   Director - Washington Department of Fish and Wildlife
   Director - WSU Cooperative Extension
   District Manager - USDI Bureau of Land Management
   State Conservationist - USDA Natural Resources Conservation Service
   Chair - Washington Rangeland Committee
   President - Washington Association of Conservation Districts
   Director - Washington Department of Agriculture
   Director - Washington Department of Ecology

   The Executive Committee will direct interagency planning activities in Washington; review progress and problems; facilitate this program by providing for training and scheduling of personnel; establish guidelines for priorities in planning; and otherwise achieve agency cooperation and coordination throughout the state. They will meet at least annually to conduct these functions. The chairmanship of this group will rotate annually, normally in the order listed above. Representatives of other appropriate state and federal agencies or organizations will be invited to participate in the meetings of this group.

2. State Task Group -- This group will consist of agency and organization designated representatives. The Task Group may also invite representatives of the public at large or other groups not represented at the executive level to participate in Task Group activities. The group will promote Coordinated Resource Management planning; provide training and guidance to field personnel in planning procedures; and carry out specific assignments of the Executive Committee. The group will meet at least quarterly to conduct the above functions and prepare and submit progress reports to the Executive Committee chair. Normally, the Task Group chair will be the person selected as the agency representative corresponding to the Executive Committee chair.

VIII. Modification

This agreement shall remain in effect until modified by the parties in writing, and is renegotiable at the option of any one of the parties.

Signatures