NRCS and U.S. Army Corps of Engineers (USACE) National Partnership

Last Modified: 07/28/2008

Introduction

The NRCS/USACE Partnership Agreement, signed July 7, 2005, promotes a long-term working relationship to improve the management of water and related natural resources under the missions and authorities of NRCS and USACE.  The agencies have pledged to work together in the following areas:  1) watershed planning; 2) wetlands creation, restoration and enhancement; and 3) natural disaster recovery.  Activities related to Wetlands Conservation and Regulatory Compliance (The “Swampbuster” Provision of the Farm Bill and Section 404 of the Clean Water Act) will also be coordinated. 

An interagency team has worked on the development of mechanisms for strengthening working relationships between NRCS and USACE.  A draft action plan has been circulated at both the national and field level for review, and this action in itself has stimulated increased collaboration between staff.  It has also yielded a great deal of thoughtful input, information on how the agencies are currently working together and suggestions for new joint activities and projects.