1. Private Lands Conservation: 499 new EQIP contracts on over 53,000 acres were obligated in FY 2014 through the LRP. Many of these contracts were with new program participants. Practices in these contracts will reduce wildfire risk, improve water quality, and restore ecosystems. Most frequently contracted practices are Forest Stand Improvement, Heavy Use Area Protection, Prescribed Burning, Firebreaks, and Tree/Shrub Site Preparation and Establishment. Public Lands Conservation: More than 65,000 acres of national forest land will be treated for hazardous fuels reduction and 148,000 acres for invasive species and over 46 stream miles of aquatic habitat will improved based on FY 2014 investments. Over 1,300 acres of timber sales were completed and over 4,000 CCF of timber sold. Overall accomplishments are still being verified through USFS information systems and are expected to exceed what is reported here. FundingFY 2014 AllocationFY 2014 Obligations EQIP Financial & Technical Assistance $14,596,898$14,466,330 National Forest System $12,014,738$12,380,706 State and Private Forestry $4,290,182$3,604,555 Total $30,901,818$30,451,594 Thirteen projects in twelve states were funded in the first year of the partnership. While each project is it’s own success story, investment in the LRP program clearly enabled USFS and NRCS partnerships to design and implement treatment where private and public lands meet, and where restoration objectives cross ownership boundaries. Joint Chiefs’ Landscape Restoration Partnership FY 2014 Accomplishments After DRAFT 2/9/2015

3. FundingFY 2014 AllocationFY 2015 Allocation EQIP Financial & Technical Assistance$2,180,000$1,435,000 National Forest System$1,300,000 State and Private Forestry$470,000 (3 years) Project Goal: Improve ecosystem heath by accelerating implementation of forest conservation practices on private lands, restoring Indiana bat habitat and conducting watershed restoration activities on the Ozark/St. Francis and Ouachita National Forests. Western Arkansas Woodland Restoration Project FY 2014 Accomplishments Realignment of a water crossing has reduced erosion and sedimentation to the Ouachita River. Before After Conservation Highlight: Local high school students were employed through the Youth Conservation Corps to clean sediment basins, clear trail corridors, improve and maintain trails, monitor streams, and clean up trash in and around water courses. Key Partners: Arkansas Game and Fish Commission, Arkansas Forestry Commission, The Nature Conservancy, Conservation Districts from Stone, Yell, and Scott Counties, and the Youth Conservation Corps Wildfire Mitigation: Fuel reduction treatments completed on 9,326 acres Water Quality: 2 miles of stream corridors improved, 2.5 miles of road decommissioned and restored, and 520 acres treated to improve soil and water resources Habitat Improvement: 533 acres of habitat restored and 35,690 acres treated for invasive species (including feral hogs) Private Lands Conservation: 107 new EQIP contracts on 13,939 acres and 7 new forest management plans developed. Education & Outreach: Four landowner workshops hosted KEY ACCOMPLISHMENTS

4. Project Goal: Increase community safety by reducing hazardous fuels in the Wildland Urban Interface adjacent to communities along the Klamath River from the Scott River to Dillon Creek in northern California. Middle Klamath River Communities (CA) FY 2014 Accomplishments Thinning of overly dense forest stands will play a critical role in reducing hazardous fuels loads. Conservation Highlight: Community members and Fire Safe Councils helped NRCS and USFS identify high priority treatment areas to target with FY 2014 funding. Unfortunately, a complex of wildfires ignited in the project area in August, reinforcing the need for landscape level treatment but delaying planned work on public and private lands. Key Partners: Karuk Tribe, local Fire Safe Councils, Mid-Klamath Watershed Council, Salmon River Restoration Council, and the Northwest Youth Corps Wildfire Mitigation: Fuel reduction and hand thinning treatments completed on 27 acres; contracts awarded to treat an additional 3,467 acres in 2015. Engaging Northwest Youth Corps to accomplish fuels mitigation work. Private Lands Conservation: 13 new EQIP contracts on 314 acres and 7 new conservation plans on about 300 acres. Grants: Awarded grants for fire risk reduction activities will be awarded to landowners and residents in at-risk communities to restore and maintain resilient landscapes and create fire-adapted communities (S&PF). KEY ACCOMPLISHMENTS FundingFY 2014 AllocationFY 2015 Allocation EQIP Financial & Technical Assistance$660,000 National Forest System$1,872,000$1,300,000 State and Private Forestry$382,000$100,000

5. Project Goal: Reduce the threat of catastrophic wildfire to communities and natural resources and improve forest health and water quality services within and adjacent to the San Bernardino National Forest. San Bernardino and Riverside County Fuels Reduction (CA) FY 2014 Accomplishments Thinning, pruning, and slash treatment will reduce the risk of catastrophic wildfire. Conservation Highlight: Fuels reduction on both National Forest and private lands have been rapidly implemented at a time when drought conditions and wildfire risk is at an all-time high. Previously, the inability to treat land leased by members of the Southwest Shore Healthy Forest Association impacted effectiveness of landscape scale fuels reduction. Through the LRP, the Association now implemented a comprehensive conservation plan focusing on fuels reduction that also improved forest health and increased effectiveness of the ongoing Castle Rock fuels treatment project. Key Partners: USDA Farm Services Agency, San Bernardino County Fire Department, Inland Empire RCD, Mojave RCD, CALFire, Santa Rosa and Ramona Bands of Cahuilla Indians, Urban Conservation Corps Wildfire Mitigation: Contract awarded to treat 1,270 acres of land near Big Bear City for hazardous fuels; analysis for fuel break new Pine Cove completed and discussions underway with local Tribe to determine start date. Private Lands Conservation: 44 new EQIP contracts on about 5,000 acres awarded, 8 new forest management plans on 900 acres implemented, and 18 new conservation plans on 1,500 acres developed. This far exceeds NRCS’s initial expectations to treat 1,034 acres. KEY ACCOMPLISHMENTS Ladder fuels under Ponderosa pine trees increase the risk of fire spreading to the overstory. After treatmentBefore treatment FundingFY 2014 AllocationFY 2015 Allocation EQIP Financial & Technical Assistance$2,467,000$2,783,000 National Forest System$4,475,738$1,300,000 State and Private Forestry$850,182$100,000

6. FundingFY 2014 AllocationFY 2015 Allocation EQIP Financial & Technical Assistance$271,250$271,000 National Forest System$350,000$600,000 State and Private Forestry$435,000 Project Goal: Increase awareness and engage local landowners in creating fire resilient communities while continuing to address forest health and hazardous fuels issues on public and private forest land in the area. Triplett Creek (KY) FY 2014 Accomplishments Thinning of overly dense forest stands plays a critical role in reducing hazardous fuels loads. Conservation Highlight: Multiple partners have worked to expand forestry best management practices from US Forest Service land to adjacent private lands. To accomplish the goal of expanded increased awareness and engagement, NRCS added wildfire prevention and control practices to the list of EQIP-eligible practices, KDF made grant money available for landowners, Rowan County FD committed staff resources to implement the Firewise program and to improve road signage and firefighter access, and Rowan SWCD committed administrative support. Key Partners: Kentucky Department of Fish and Wildlife Resources, Kentucky Division of Forestry, The Nature Conservancy, Rowan County SWCD, and Northeast Rowan Firewise Council. Wildfire Mitigation: USFS purchased an excavator-style masticator (see photo) with which to conduct fuels treatments; NRCS treated 1,000 acres for wildfire resource concerns Water Quality: USFS invested $35,000 in road maintenance; NRCS treated 230 acres for water quality resource concerns. Habitat Improvement: USFS treated 20 acres for invasive plants; NRCS treated 1,500 acres for wildlife related resource concerns. Private Lands Conservation: 11 new EQIP contracts on 534 acres and 12 new conservation plans. Outreach: Agreement developed with KYDFWR for a project coordinator. KEY ACCOMPLISHMENTS

7. FundingFY 2014 AllocationFY 2015 Allocation EQIP Financial & Technical Assistance$174,750$718,000 National Forest System$350,000$600,000 State and Private Forestry$225,000 $30,000 Project Goal: Restore landscapes damaged in severe windstorms in July 2012 and recreate resilient forests and aquatic systems that will support the diverse use of the landscape and provide additional resilience to future disturbance including climate change and severe storm events. Upper Mississippi Headwaters Restoration (MN) FY 2014 Accomplishments Examples of conservation practices used to address damage done by the 2012 windstorm. Conservation Highlight: The Leech Lake Band of Ojibwe created a Tribal Weed Crew to treat non-native invasive species, thereby restoring natural ecosystems and providing employment to tribal members. Key Partners: Minnesota Department of Natural Resources, Leech Lake Band of the Ojibwe, American Bird Conservancy Wildfire Mitigation: USFS treated 229 acres through mastication or slash treatments; NRCS planned 74 acres of practices (brush management, forest stand improvement, prescribed burning) that reduce wildfire risk. Water Quality: USFS conducted site preparation for reforestation on 656 acres. NRCS planned 40 acres of site preparation and 116 acres of tree/shrub establishment, and planted 13,485 plants on 40 acres. Habitat Improvement: USFS treated 206 acres for invasive plants; NRCS planned 50,349 acres of early successional habitat development and 175 acres of invasive species control. Private Lands Conservation: 25 new EQIP contracts on 693 acres, resulting in four times more financial assistance obligated to the project area than in previous years. KEY ACCOMPLISHMENTS Site Preparation Site Preparation and Tree Planting

8. FundingFY 2014 AllocationFY 2015 Allocation EQIP Financial & Technical Assistance$1,129,863$1,710,000 National Forest System$600,000 State and Private Forestry$600,000 Project Goal: Restore the health of a watershed classified as functioning at risk through fuels reduction activities, non-native invasive species treatments, and longleaf pine ecosystem restoration through complimentary land treatments on public and private land. Upper Black Creek Watershed (MS) FY 2014 Accomplishments Control of invasive cogongrass is a high priority for the project. In addition to treating invasive species, this EQIP participant also constructed fencing to exclude animals from sensitive areas along Kirby Creek. Conservation Highlight: Over 60,000 acres of land will benefit from work conducted in 2014,, including land within USDA Strike Force Counties. Over 150 landowners attended jointly sponsored outreach events, including many new customers. Key Partners: Mississippi State Forestry Commission, Soil & Water Conservation Districts Wildfire Mitigation: USFS treated over 45,000 acres through non- mechanical fuels reduction, more than 4 times what was originally planned. 1,385 acres of other fuels reduction were implemented and 4,774 acres prepared for 2015. NRCS planned 356,699 feet of fire breaks. Water Quality: NRCS planned 9,528 acres of conservation practices to improve water quality and 435 acres to increase water supply. Habitat Improvement: USFS treated 250 acres for invasive plants and prepared ecosystem assessments on 8,819 acres. NRCS planned 7,203 acres of conservation practices that will protect and enhance wildlife. Private Lands Conservation: Wrote 102 new EQIP contracts on 17,012 acres, including contracts with 59 new customers & 102 conservation plans. KEY ACCOMPLISHMENTS Site Preparation Site Preparation and Tree Planting Before invasive species control After invasive species control

9. FundingFY 2014 AllocationFY 2015 Allocation EQIP Financial & Technical Assistance$65,000$129,000 National Forest System$800,000 $171,00 State and Private Forestry$500,000 Project Goal: Protect the Tenmile water system infrastructure and ensure the ongoing success of an EPA superfund cleanup site. Protect public health and safety, reduce the risk of decades of erosion and flooding that could result from a wildfire. Red Mountain Flume/Chessman Reservoir (MT) FY 2014 Accomplishments Conservation Highlight: Fuels treatments designed to create a buffer along 2.7 miles of the Red Mountain Flume and Chessman Reservoir reduce the probability of high-severity wildfire impacts to soils, and mitigate effects of post-fire erosion and sediment to the flume & reservoir. Key Partners: Tenmile Watershed Collaborative Committee (TMWCC), consisting of the city, county and state government officials, fire chiefs, state and national forest representatives, timber representatives, environmental organizations, local citizens, NRCS and EPA. Wildfire Mitigation: USFS accomplished 470 acres of buffers along NFS lands to reduce the probability of high-severity burn impacts. Water Quality: 5.13 miles of road obliteration. 3.02 miles of surveying and boundary marking. Habitat Improvement: 657 acres of invasive pesticide application. Completed FY14 education plan to support education and outreach with local schools. Private Lands Conservation: NRCS obligated two EQIP contracts on 128 acres. which include 91 acres of fuel breaks. KEY ACCOMPLISHMENTS High wildfire risk

10. FundingFY 2014 AllocationFY 2015 Allocation EQIP Financial & Technical Assistance$663,745$506,00 National Forest System$250,000$860,000 State and Private Forestry$0 $75,000 Project Goal: Work across federal, state and private land ownership boundaries to meet the NH State Forest Action Plan goals of water quality improvement, forest stewardship and land protection. As a result, the water quality of numerous private wells will be protected. Drinking Water Quality Improvement (NH) FY 2014 Accomplishments Ongoing conservation activities are protecting the environment and creating recreation opportunities. Conservation Highlight: Water quality in private wells, the drinking water source for the majority of the NH population, benefited from 502 acres of conservation easements acquired by NH NRCS & adjacent to national forest lands. Key Partners: NH Division of Forests and Lands, University of NH Cooperative Extension, NH Association of Conservation Districts, and Coos, Grafton and Carroll Conservation Districts Water Quality: 13 miles of trail were improved (across six trails), one trailhead parking area and one riparian day use area were reconstructed, and one boat hand launch site was designed. This work has resulted in a direct reduction in the sedimentation of headwater streams and the reduction of impacts from damage caused by Tropical Storm Irene. Habitat Improvement: 40 acres of non native invasive species were treated on three sites. Private Lands Conservation: NRCS wrote 65 new EQIP contracts on 6,282 acres. Contracts focus on reducing erosion on forest trails and cropland, re-sizing or removing stream crossings, controlling invasive plants, timber stand improvement and early successional habitat development, as well as manure management in barnyards. KEY ACCOMPLISHMENTS NRCS is planning a riparian buffer on the Israel River to repair damage from soil erosion and sand and gravel mining. USFS trail crews are rebuilding the Dry Creek trail (damaged by Tropical Storm Irene) in a less environmentally sensitive area to protect water quality.

11. FundingFY 2014 AllocationFY 2015 Allocation EQIP Financial & Technical Assistance$651,000$1,005,,000 National Forest System$800,000$740,000 Collaborative Forest Restoration Grant$450,000 Project Goal: Reduce the potential for uncharacteristic wildfires and protect community, cultural, and natural resources by accelerating hazardous fuels treatments where the Isleta Pueblo, Chilili Land Grant, and Cibola NF meet. Isleta Project (NM) FY 2014 Accomplishments Conservation Highlight: Local crews were employed and trained on thinning practices, creating work and a useful skill set for the area. 500 cords of wood thinned from the area was returned to the Pueblo to be distributed to elderly and underprivileged community members. Key Partners: Pueblo of Isleta, Chilili Land Grant, Tajique Land Grant, Edgewood, Clauch-Pinto, and East Torrence Soil and Water Conservation Districts, Bureau of Indian Affairs, NM Division of Forestry, NM Environment Department, NM Forest Industry Association Wildfire Mitigation: Grants and agreements awarded to treat 2,451 acres for hazardous fuels. 418 cords of wood from thinned areas sold (and permit sales are increasing) and 75% of the receipts are retained by the Cibola NF to conduct additional conservation activities. Habitat Improvement: Vegetation prescriptions were developed to reduce stand densities to pre-European settlement conditions that provide a food web based approach and create stand conditions to allow old growth development and natural regeneration. Private Lands Conservation: NRCS wrote 2 EQIP contracts on 819 acres in the Pueblo of Isleta. Edgewood and Clauch-Pinto SWCDs have provided $27,000 to complete additional treatments on the Chilili Land Grant. KEY ACCOMPLISHMENTS Before thinning The Isleta Pueblo thinning crew works to complete hazardous fuels reduction in the project area. During thinning After thinning

12. FundingFY 2014 AllocationFY 2015 Allocation EQIP Financial & Technical Assistance $3,398,000$4,040,000 State and Private Forestry $400,000$200,000 Project Goal: Improve water quality in the Chesapeake Bay by increasing the acres and miles of riparian forest and herbaceous buffers in the Upper Susquehanna watershed. Susquehanna Watershed Riparian Buffers (NY) FY 2014 Accomplishments Conservation Highlight: With only 8% of expiring CREP riparian forest buffer contracts reenrolled in 2013, NRCS and FS joined forces with local partners to implement a strong outreach plan to local landowners. Key Partners: Farm Services Agency, NY Department of Environmental Conservation, Upper Susquehanna Coalition, Trout Unlimited, Northeast Brook Trout Joint Venture, and US Fish & Wildlife Service Private Lands Conservation: Two miles (49.7 acres) of riparian forest and herbaceous buffers were contracted in FY 2014. In addition, 16,426 feet of stream bank and shoreline protection, 280 feet of channel bed stabilization, 43.5 acres of tree and shrub establishment, 1,098 acres of forest stand improvement, 12.5 acres of upland wildlife habitat management, and 0.2 miles of aquatic organism passages were contracted. Once implemented, these practices will improve water quality and wildlife habitat. In total, 64 EQIP contracts were obligated. Conservation Reserve Enhancement Program: 18 acres were newly enrolled in CREP and 5 acres were reenrolled. KEY ACCOMPLISHMENTS USDA committed to restoring 900 miles of riparian buffers a year in the Chesapeake Bay Watershed as part of the federal strategy to protect and restore the watershed. This LRP project will help meet that commitment. Riparian buffer before restoration Riparian buffer after restoration

13. FundingFY 2014 AllocationFY 2015 Allocation EQIP Financial & Technical Assistance$1,680,000$300,000 National Forest System$862,00$752,000 State and Private Forestry$548,000 Project Goal: Increase fuels reduction activities on adjoining federal and/or state lands. Improve watershed management, enhance water yield and improve water quality. Improve habitat for federally threatened bulltrout, steelhead and Chinook salmon. Support the NRCS Sage Grouse Initiative. East Face of the Elkhorn Mountains (OR) FY 2014 Accomplishments NRCS works with a local landowner to provide a tailored prescription of conservation practices to meet individual needs. Conservation Highlight: By partnering with the American Forest Foundation, landowner response has increased and participation is high. Local consultants have been employed to complete data collection in the area, adding economic benefits to the community. Key Partners: OR Department of Forestry, the OR Department of,Fish & Wildlife, the Bureau of Land Management, American Forest Foundation. Wildfire Mitigation: 220 acres of commercial harvest acres completed by ODF adjacent to NFS land. Reconnaissance performed on 47,000+ acres, including 1224 acres of BLM land. Environmental Assessment being developed for proposing necessary action to achieve the goals of the National Cohesive Wildfire Strategy. Wildfire Mitigation: Awarded $200,000 service contract to complete landline survey work along 20+ miles of shared public/private boundary. Awarded several small service contracts to assist with field data collection. Private Lands Conservation: NRCS contracted $1.4M in 33 contracts for thinning and slash disposal. NRCS and ODF completed cultural resource assessments on 3,000+ acres of private land. KEY ACCOMPLISHMENTS Site Preparation Conservation on private land

14. FundingFY 2014 AllocationFY 2015 Allocation EQIP Financial & Technical Assistance $213,898$924,000 National Forest System $305,000$951,000 State and Private Forestry $130,000$210,000 Project Goal: Develop and enhance collaborative partnerships with a focus on restoring critical habitat for rare and sensitive species, mitigating fire risk, and improving water quality conditions in the Lake Superior Watershed. Lake Superior Landscape Restoration (WI) FY 2014 Accomplishments Conservation Highlight: Long eared bat and other bat species’ habitat were improved on Michigan Island of the Apostle Islands National Lakeshore by installing 28 bat boxes on over 200 acres. The bat boxes are beneficial because they provide critical habitat for these at-risk species. Key Partners: Bad River and Red Cliff Bands of Lake Superior Chippewa Indians, USF&WS, WDNR, UWEX, County Land Conservation Departments, Bad River Watershed Association, Northland College - Sigurd Olson Environmental Institute Wildfire Mitigation: 260 acres of hazardous fuels treatments identified in Community Wildfire Protection Plans were implemented. Water Quality: Four road stabilization and erosion control projects were completed. Habitat Improvement: 21 miles of in-stream and riparian habitat were improved for cold-water fisheries; native seed was collected for use in future restoration of habitat for Sharp Tailed Grouse and Kirtland’s Warbler; and 200 acres of bat habitat were improved on the Apostle Islands. Private Lands Conservation: NRCS saw a 5-fold increase in the number of EQIP applications in the project area. 10 new EQIP contracts on 1,518 acres were obligated in FY 2014. KEY ACCOMPLISHMENTS Roosting habitat for the proposed listed (endangered) northern long-eared bat was improved through the installation of bat boxes on Apostle Islands National Seashore. Replacing culverts reduces the sedimentation from roads and the subsequent impacts on local waterways.

15. FundingFY 2014 AllocationFY 2015 Allocation EQIP Financial & Technical Assistance $1,750,000$1,950,000 National Forest System $305,000$1,300,000 State and Private Forestry $130,000$200,000 Project Goal: Develop a strategy to identify projects in high-priority restoration landscapes that will result in measurable improvements in local water quality and wildlife habitat across private and public lands in order to accelerate ecosystem improvement. West Virginia Restoration Venture (WV) FY 2014 Accomplishments Conservation Highlight: Red spruce habitat is home to many threatened and sensitive species such as the Cheat Mountain Salamander and the northern flying squirrel. Habitat restoration efforts have been supported through development and mapping of a Red Spruce ecological site along with invasive species control and tree planting in areas that connect habitat fragments. Key Partners: Trout Unlimited, The Nature Conservancy (TNC), Canaan Valley Institute, WV Division of Forestry Wildfire Mitigation: 633 acres of prescribed burning were conducted on Hopkins Knob Water Quality: 3,300 feet of use exclusion fence were installed; 12.7 miles of road decommissioned through challenge cost share agreements; completed road and stream inventories on 200 miles of road and 55 miles of stream in order to develop watershed restoration actions. Habitat Improvement: Through 2016, 1,500 acres of red spruce restoration and 1,000 acres of NNIS will be conducted by TNC; 20,000 trees planed on 170 acres. Private Lands Conservation: 86 EQIP contracts on 9,825 acres were obligated in FY 2014. KEY ACCOMPLISHMENTS The long standing West Virginia Restoration Venture has been working to coordinate conservation and science activities across state, federal and private lands in eastern West Virginia.