CLCC Steering Committee Member David Bingham Honored

Please join us in congratulating CLCC Steering Committee member David Bingham for being honored as one of eight 2013 Salem Unsung Heroes.  

David is one of the Salem Land Trust's Founders and present Vice-President.  

From the Press Release:  "David Bingham, a Salem native, has dedicated his life to preservation of the Town's rural character and natural resources. He has served on the Planning and Zoning Commission for over 30 years. He also served on the Plan of Conservation and Development Committee, Board of Assessment Appeals, Eight Mile River Watershed Committee and the Rivers Alliance of Connecticut.  He is founder and past president of the Salem Land Trust, and working with the Nature Conservancy, preserved hundreds of acres of open space in Salem.  He authored "From the Land" in Our Town Salem for over 15 years."

For a complete list and accomplishments of the nine Honorees, please click here.

All are welcome to attend the 9th Annual Salem Unsung Heroes Awards Banquet on Sunday, April 7, 1:00 pm, at the Gardner Lake Volunteer Fire Company Firehouse on Rt. 354.  Tickets are $25 per person and may be purchased from Linda Parker at (860) 859-1541 or Sue Spring, 1st Selectman's Office, Salem Town Office Building.

Policy News

State Update

CLCC Steering Committee members and Executive Director Amy Paterson have been busy at the Capitol meeting with legislators, testifying at public hearings and otherwise providing input on many bills related to land conservation funding, policies and programs.  We will continue to keep you updated with Advocacy Alerts. Your quick responses to our requests for action continue to make a difference! Thank you! To view written testimony submitted by CLCC to date, please click here. 

Federal Update

From the Land Trust Alliance --

Powerful Friends Reintroduce Tax Incentive Bill

To avert the looming expiration of the enhanced conservation easement tax incentive, Senate Finance Committee Chairman Max Baucus (D-MT) has introduced the Rural Heritage Conservation Extension Act (S. 526). He is joined for the first time by the Committee's ranking Republican, Senator Orrin Hatch (R-UT). Representatives Jim Gerlach (R-PA) and Mike Thompson (D-CA) are eager to reintroduce similar House legislation, and are seeking original co-sponsors. Read more here.

At the second annual Land Trust Advocacy Day, 72 land trust executive directors and board members held an incredible 155 meetings on Capitol Hill.  Representing Connecticut were Catherine Rawson, Executive Director, The Weantinoge Heritage Land Trust, and Jim Gooch, Executive Director, Connecticut Farmland Trust and CLCC Steering Committee member.  You can meet with your members of Congress anytime of the year - they're back in the district almost every weekend. As the weather turns and trees blossom, invite them to visit a project and meet the constituents who benefit from your work. Read more here.  

Please contact CLCC Executive Director Amy Paterson if you are interested in setting up a site visit with your state and/or federal legislators.  We are interested in planning at least two such visits this year!

Spending Deal Boosts FRPP, Averts Disproportionate Cuts

Congress passed a continuing resolution late last month to fund the government for the remainder of fiscal year 2013. While it locks in the cuts of sequestration, it will actually allow the Farm and Ranch Land Protection Program to rise to a record $190 million. Most other programs, such as the Land and Water Conservation Fund, are reduced 5% by sequestration, but avoided the disproportionate cuts some had feared.  Click here to view a table of recently enacted funding levels for key conservation programs.

Dueling Budgets a Prelude to Dramatic Battles Ahead

With the ink still wet on FY 2013, the political theater of next year's budget kicked off with House and Senate passage of starkly contrasting budget resolutions. For all their differences, Budget Committee chairs Rep. Paul Ryan (R-WI) and Senator Patty Murray (D-WA) both relied on "closing loopholes" as part of tax reform to achieve their goals. Neither budget (nor President Obama's request, expected April 9th) is likely to become law, but they show that limiting the charitable deduction will remain on the table as Congress continues to debate the fiscal future over the next few months.

For further information on Alliance Public Policy Program please contact Russ Shay at [email protected].

NRCS Funding Opportunities

The USDA-Natural Resources Conservation Service sign-up period for possible funding for agricultural or forestland owners in the Long Island Sound Watershed is April 19, 2013.   Funding is available through the Multi-State Long Island Sound Watershed Partnership that will help promote farm and forest health by enhancing the environmental quality of soil, water, air, plants, and animals. Eligible conservation practices will be cost-shared in accordance with the 2013 EQIP payment schedule. 

Landowners may receive financial and technical assistance with structural and management conservation practices on agricultural land. Incentive payments may be made to encourage a farmer to adopt certain land management practices such as nutrient management, waste utilization, integrated pest management, irrigation water management, air quality improvement, and wildlife habitat management. 

There are also special provisions for beginning farmers, limited resource farmers, and historically underserved producers. In addition, farms that have prior year EQIP contracts may be eligible to apply to do additional conservation work. 

Training and Education - Alliance webinars

Governance

Securing Financial and Human Resources for Enduring Conservation

April 10, 2013 | $55 | Register

Policy

Advocacy Day at Home:

How to Build Relationships with Public Officials in Your Community

April 9, 2013 | FREE | Register

Land Protection

Save Time: Apply for FRPP Entity Certification