2025 Orleans County NRCS Local Fund Pool - Slow the Spread: Invasive Plant Control

OCNRCD  conducted surveys and hosted Local Working Groups (LWG) this year and identified that invasive species support once again needs to be one of the priorities for our NRCS Local Fund Pool. 

Problem Statement/Need based on Community Input:

• The spread of invasive species threatens local ecosystems, native biodiversity, water quality, and increases erosion
• There's a need to target smaller infestations and educate the public

Goals: Work with Orleans County CISMA to minimize spread by depleting species of concern: phragmites, bush honeysuckle, Japanese knotweed, common barberry, and glossy buckthorn.

• Conduct two outreach workshops by 2027 in coordination with the Orleans County CISMA
• Collaborate with at least 30 landowners to reduce the size and number of 100 already established infestations
• Achieve at least 80% depletion of biomass in treated areas compared to baseline data

Project Area: Orleans County, Vermont

Core Conservation Practices proposed to address need:

• Brush Management (314)
• Herbaceous Weed Treatment (315)
• Conservation Cover (327)
• Tree and Shrub Establishment (612)
• Woody Residue Treatment (384)
• Tree-shrub Site Preparation (490)

Brief Timeline of Implementation:

• Summer 2025: Outreach and engagement with landowners
• By December 2025: Assist at least five landowners with assessments and conservation practice planning
• By May 2026: Develop and provide project management services for to implement 4-6 local fund pool conservation plans
• Ongoing (3-5 years and potentially beyond): Project implementation continues and OCNRCD continues to work with NRCS to maintain funding for this priority. 

Available Funding in Federal  FY2026: $200,000

Project Ranking Priorities

• Is the application addressing a recently identified infestation?
• Is the application addressing priority species?
• Does this application include more than three practices?
• Is the applicant adjacent to a property owner that is also addressing invasives?
• Does the application include all five core practices?
• Is the applicant a new NRCS customer? 
• Does the applicant produce improved riparian and forest lands?
• Is the application addressing multiple priority species?

Applicants DO NOT need to answer yes to all of the Project Ranking Priorities to apply. However, the more priorities that are addressed, the more likely the application will be selected for funding.