Memorandum of Understanding
For
Coordinated Resource Management and Planning in California
I. Purpose. The purpose of this memorandum of understanding is to define the organizational structure and establish guidelines for interagency coordinated resource management and planning in California.
II. Coordinated Planning. Coordinated resource management planning is a process designed to achieve compatibility between the uses being made of natural resources, energy and mineral resources, livestock production, watershed, wildlife habitat, wood products, and recreation; and that such resources are improved, if necessary, and perpetuated in a condition of high quality for future generations. A coordinated resource management plan affects all ownerships of the planned area. All major uses of the area are considered and coordinated to avoid unacceptable and unnecessary conflicts. Each plan should become a coordinated management program administered by the principal owners, managers, and users of the resources addressed by the planning process.
III. Policy. The signatory parties agree to develop and apply coordinated resource management plans on operating units, allotments, sub-watershed, and other appropriate resource areas which may include Federal, State, and private ownership or administration. The agencies or organizations involved in a particular plan will depend on the land ownership within the area and the uses to be made of the resources. The signatory agencies will seek to cooperate with the resource owners or managers within each specific planned area. Other agencies, organizations, and individuals will be asked to participate as appropriate.
IV. Authority. Authority for the Federal agencies is contained in a national Memorandum of Understanding for Coordinated Resource Management between the Forest Service, Bureau of land Management (BLM), the Soil Conservation Service (SCS), and Extension Service signed by the heads of each agency in 1987. This Memorandum supersedes the original 1971 agreement between BLM and SCS; the January 21, 1975 agreement between SCS, BLM and Forest Service; and the November 1980 agreement between the Forest Service, Soil Conservation Service, Bureau of Land Management, and the Science and Education Administration. Authority for agencies involved to participate in this effort is covered by existing Federal or State statutes or delegations of authority.
V. General Considerations. This Memorandum does not modify or supersede other existing agreements and/or memoranda of understanding.
A. The resource management agencies whose lands or resource responsibilities are included in a particular planning area will retain the primary responsibility for meeting all requirements of law and regulation pertaining to the use and management of the lands or resources under their respective jurisdictions.
B. The agency or organization having primary planning responsibility, as mutually agreed, will serve as the “lead agency” for the purposes of contact and follow-up assistance with other agencies cooperating in a plan.
C. When any land treatment practices, structures or projects are to be applied to or installed upon public lands under the jurisdiction of a public agency, authorization must be obtained from the appropriate agency prior to initiation of the action.
D. The priorities and management objectives for Federal or State lands will be determined primarily by the agency responsible, by law, for the administration of such lands. However, every effort will be made to coordinated resource management planning activities with agencies having related jurisdictions.
E. Individual Resource Conservation Districts will be encouraged to have memoranda of understanding with appropriate Federal, State, and other land and resource agencies.
F. The Soil Conservation Service may provide technical assistance on public lands included in a coordinated resource management plan when private lands also benefit from that assistance.
VI. Organization at State Level
A. Executive Council – The Executive Council is comprised of: Regional Forester, Pacific Southwest Region – USDA Forest Service; State Conservationist, USDA Soil Conservation Service; California State Director, Bureau of Land management; Regional Director, Bureau of Reclamation; Regional Director, U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service; State Executive Director, California Agricultural Stabilization and Conservation Service: President, California Association of Resource conservation Districts; Vice-President – Agriculture and Natural Resources, University of California; Executive Officer, California State Lands Commission; Director, California Department of Fish and Game; Director, California Department of Conservation; Director, California Department of Forestry and Fire Protection; Director, California Department of Water Resources; and Director, California Department of Food and Agriculture. The Executive Council will direct interagency coordinated resource management and planning activities in California, review progress and problems, and facilitate this program by providing for training and scheduling of personnel, establish guidelines for determining priorities for planning, and otherwise achieve agency cooperation and coordination throughout the State. They will meet at least annually to conduct these functions. The chairperson of this group will rotate bi-annually providing each active public entity the opportunity to function as the lead agency to facilitate coordinated resource management. Representatives of other appropriate State and Federal agencies or organizations will be invited to participate in the meeting of this group.
B. Technical Advisory Council – The Technical Advisory Council will consist of a technical representative of each signatory agency. This group will promote coordinated resource management planning, provide training and guidance in operating procedures to field personnel, review selected plans, monitor effectiveness, follow up on plans, identify and resolve field problems, and carry out specific assignments received from the Executive Council. The Technical Advisory Council will meet as needed but not less than twice annually to conduct the above functions, and prepare and submit progress reports to the Executive Council. The Technical Advisory Council chairperson will be the representative of the Executive Council chairperson.
C. Sponsor – A sponsor may be any special interest group or organization of geographic diversity in California that supports the purpose and intent of this Memorandum of Understanding. Sponsors will be expected to promote CRMP through their membership and activities. Sponsor representatives are welcome to attend and participate in any Executive Council or Technical Advisory Council meeting or activity. Sponsorship should enhance consensus and participation in local CRMP efforts for the use and management of the natural resources of California.
D. Executive Officer – An Executive Officer of the Technical Advisory Council will provide continuity between the rotating lead agencies. The Executive Officer will perform the principal role as the facilitator and manager of support services to the Technical Advisory Council, as needed to maintain effective stewardship of California’s natural resources.
With the concurrence and support of the California Association of Resource Conservation Districts (CARCD) Board of Directors, the Executive Director of CARCD will function as the Executive Officer of the Technical Advisory Council.
VII. Organization at Local Level
A. The Executive Council will arrange for distribution of this memorandum and its discussion in field locations of signatory agencies to assure mutual understanding and interpretation.
B. Any local planning team should include representatives from all landowner and resource administering agencies and other appropriate organizations which are significantly involved with and area selected for a coordinated planning effort. These representatives should have authority to make decisions for the agency or group they represent. The local group should encourage full participation of organizations who have land use planning responsibilities. A moderator to lead the planning process should be selected by the local group for each coordinated plan. Land ownership patterns, location of the area, time and costs involved in the effort, may be considered in the selection of the moderator. Where full time participation of a particular agency or group is not necessary to the planning process, suitable local arrangements should be made so that interagency coordinated planning can proceed with reasonable assurance that the final plan will be acceptable to all. Active participation by all key participants, from inception to completion of the planning process, is essential. Plans should provide for annual review for the first two or three years and be scheduled periodically thereafter as needed or as requested by a key participant. Plans should identify the agency with lead responsibility for review and follow-up.
C. Each Agency and group has its own program of activities for which priorities are established. The development of each coordinated resource management plan should be dovetailed into each agency’s activity schedule. This requires cooperation between agencies, groups, and individual land managers in the selection and assignment of priority to requests for coordinated plans.
D. At the request of local organizations, representatives of agencies and organizations engaged in coordinated resource planning and management will present information about on-going and proposed resource activities or local concern. Technical Advisory Council members will be available, when appropriate, to assist.
VIII. Modification. This agreement shall remain in effect until modified by the parties in writing; it is renegotiable at the option of any one of the parties or may be terminated upon giving 90 days written notice to all parties.
Signatures
|
Ed Hastey California State Director USDI Bureau of Land Management |
Paul Barker Regional Forester - Pacific Southwest Region USDA Forest Service |
|
Pearlie S. Reed State Conservationist USDA Soil Conservation Service |
Lawrence F. Hancock Regional Director USDI Bureau of Reclamation |
|
Marvin L. Plenert Regional Director USDI U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service |
John G. Smythe State Executive Director – USDA Agricultural Stabilization and Conservation Service |
|
Jack Somerville President – California Association of Resource Conservation Districts |
Kenneth R. Farrell Director – Cooperative Extension University of California |
|
Peter Bontadelli Director Department of Fish and Game |
Harold R. Walt Director Department of Forestry and Fire Protection |
|
Randall M. Ward Director Department of Conservation |
David N. Kennedy Director Department of Water Resources |
|
Henry J. Voss Director Department of Food and Agriculture |
Charles Warren Executive Officer State Lands Commission |
|
John Wise Acting Regional Administrator – Region IX Environmental Protection Agency |
|
1/11/90
WHEREAS, historically the agency of the chairperson of the Executive Council and the California Association of Resource Conservation Districts have provided the administration services necessary to support Executive Council and Technical Advisory Council (TAC) activities; and
WHEREAS, these support activities have reached the level of about one-half a person year plus overhead, which has been found to be unduly burdensome by present and potential future service providers; and
WHEREAS, it would be more fair and less disruptive to the organization of the Executive Council Chairperson to spread the cost over all of the Signatories to the CRMP Memorandum of Understanding by employing a person to provide administrative and other support services;
THEREFORE BE IT RESOLVED THAT the CRMP Executive Officer (MOU Section VI-D) be authorized to provide the necessary services and products either through an employee or by contract; and
FURTHER RESOLVED THAT such a person perform the services and have the qualification and compensation detailed in the job description approved by the TAC on August 23, 1994; and
FURTHER RESOLVED THAT the position be half-time initially, but subject to increase by TAC if funds or other resources are found to support such increase; and
RESOLVED THAT the Signatories to the MOU be requested to pay $3,000 in October of each year representing a long term commitment until such a time as the Executive Council elects to terminate or change the agreement. Each Signatory will receive an annual report, annual CRMP conference, and copy of the CRMP registry.
Adopted August 22, 1994 by the Coordinated Resource Management Planning Council in Davis, California.
AMMENDED to increase the annual payment to $3,500 in January of each calendar year until such a time as the Executive Council elects to terminate or change the agreement. Approved by the TAC March 15, 2000.