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</o:shapelayout></xml><![endif]--></head><body lang=EN-US link=blue vlink=purple><div class=WordSection1><p class=MsoNormal><span style='color:#1F497D'>This message is forwarded on behalf of the USDA Natural Resources Conservation Service.<o:p></o:p></span></p><p class=MsoNormal><span style='color:#1F497D'><o:p> </o:p></span></p><p class=MsoNormal><span style='color:#1F497D'>Kevin Weeks<o:p></o:p></span></p><p class=MsoNormal><span style='color:#1F497D'>Oregon Department of Forestry<o:p></o:p></span></p><p class=MsoNormal><o:p> </o:p></p><p class=MsoNormal><!--[if gte vml 1]><v:shapetype id="_x0000_t75" coordsize="21600,21600" o:spt="75" o:preferrelative="t" path="m@4@5l@4@11@9@11@9@5xe" filled="f" stroked="f">
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</v:shape><![endif]--><![if !vml]><img width=160 height=74 src="cid:image002.jpg@01CCDC34.AF3B2200" align=left hspace=12 v:shapes="Picture_x0020_1"><![endif]><a name="OLE_LINK2"></a><a name="OLE_LINK4"></a> <span style='font-size:32.0pt'> </span><b><span style='font-size:36.0pt;font-family:"Arial","sans-serif";letter-spacing:-.2pt'>N<span style='text-transform:uppercase'>ews Release</span></span></b><span style='font-size:32.0pt'> <o:p></o:p></span></p><p class=MsoNormal style='margin-left:2.0in'><b><span style='font-size:8.0pt;font-family:"Arial","sans-serif"'> </span></b><span style='font-size:8.0pt;font-family:"Arial","sans-serif"'>United States Department of Agriculture · Natural Resources Conservation Service<o:p></o:p></span></p><p class=MsoNormal style='margin-left:2.0in'><span style='font-size:8.0pt;font-family:"Arial","sans-serif"'> 1201 NE Lloyd Blvd., Suite 900, 1201 NE Lloyd Blvd., Suite 900, Portland, OR 97204 <o:p></o:p></span></p><p class=MsoNormal style='margin-left:2.0in'><span style='font-size:8.0pt;font-family:"Arial","sans-serif"'> </span><a href="file:///C:\Documents%20and%20Settings\sara.magenheimer\Local%20Settings\Temporary%20Internet%20Files\sara.magenheimer\Local%20Settings\Local%20Settings\Temporary%20Internet%20Files\OLKC2\www.or.nrcs.usda.gov"><span style='font-size:8.0pt;font-family:"Arial","sans-serif"'>www.or.nrcs.usda.gov</span></a><span style='font-size:10.0pt;font-family:"Times New Roman","serif"'><o:p></o:p></span></p><p class=MsoNormal style='margin-left:2.0in'><!--[if gte vml 1]><v:line id="_x0000_s1026" style='position:absolute;left:0;text-align:left;z-index:1' from="-.95pt,3.2pt" to="476.05pt,3.2pt" /><![endif]--><![if !vml]><span style='mso-ignore:vglayout;position:relative;z-index:1;left:-2px;top:3px;width:638px;height:5px'><img width=638 height=2 src="cid:image003.png@01CCD9DE.FC7A1C90" v:shapes="_x0000_s1026"></span><![endif]><a name="OLE_LINK1"></a><a name="OLE_LINK3"></a><b><span style='font-family:"Arial","sans-serif";text-transform:uppercase'><o:p> </o:p></span></b></p><br style='mso-ignore:vglayout' clear=ALL><p class=MsoNormal style='text-autospace:none;vertical-align:baseline'><b><span style='font-family:"Cambria","serif"'>Release No. 2012.01-002 <o:p></o:p></span></b></p><p class=MsoNormal style='text-autospace:none;vertical-align:baseline'><b><span style='font-family:"Cambria","serif"'><o:p> </o:p></span></b></p><p class=MsoNormal style='text-autospace:none;vertical-align:baseline'><b><span style='font-family:"Cambria","serif"'>CONTACT:<o:p></o:p></span></b></p><p class=MsoNormal style='text-autospace:none;vertical-align:baseline'><span style='font-family:"Cambria","serif"'>Loren Unruh, State Programs Leader, (503) 414-3235, </span><a href="mailto:loren.unruh@or.usda.gov"><span style='font-family:"Cambria","serif"'>loren.unruh@or.usda.gov</span></a><span style='font-family:"Cambria","serif"'><o:p></o:p></span></p><p class=MsoNormal style='margin-bottom:12.0pt;text-autospace:none;vertical-align:baseline'><span style='font-family:"Cambria","serif"'>Sara Magenheimer, State Public Affairs Officer, (503) 414-3250, </span><a href="mailto:sara.magenheimer@or.usda.gov"><span style='font-family:"Cambria","serif"'>sara.magenheimer@or.usda.gov</span></a><span style='font-family:"Cambria","serif"'><o:p></o:p></span></p><p class=MsoNormal align=center style='text-align:center'><b><span style='font-size:16.0pt;font-family:"Cambria","serif"'>NRCS Funding Available for Wetland Protection and <o:p></o:p></span></b></p><p class=MsoNormal align=center style='text-align:center'><b><span style='font-size:16.0pt;font-family:"Cambria","serif"'>Habitat Improvement Projects in Oregon<o:p></o:p></span></b></p><p class=MsoNormal align=center style='text-align:center'><i><span style='font-size:12.0pt;font-family:"Cambria","serif"'>Proposals due on or before February 10, 2012<o:p></o:p></span></i></p><p class=MsoNormal align=center style='text-align:center'><i><span style='font-family:"Cambria","serif";color:black'><o:p> </o:p></span></i></p><p class=MsoNormal><b><span style='font-size:12.0pt'>PORTLAND, Ore.</span></b><span style='font-size:12.0pt'> <span style='color:black'>(Jan. 23, 2012) </span>—</span> <span style='font-size:12.0pt'>USDA Natural Resources Conservation Service (NRCS) Oregon State Conservationist Ron Alvarado today announced a funding opportunity for wetland protection, restoration and enhancement activities on eligible lands in Oregon. Proposals for projects are due by Feb. 10, 2012. Funding comes through the agency’s <a href="http://www.or.nrcs.usda.gov/programs/wrep/index.html">Wetlands Reserve Enhancement Program (WREP)</a>, with up to $17 million available nationwide.</span><span style='font-size:12.0pt;font-family:"Times New Roman","serif"'><o:p></o:p></span></p><p class=MsoNormal><span style='font-size:12.0pt'><o:p> </o:p></span></p><p class=MsoNormal><span style='font-size:12.0pt'>“This is a great opportunity for Oregon stakeholders to carry out high-priority wetland protection and improve wildlife habitat,” Alvarado said. “WREP is an important conservation tool for our Oregon partners and I encourage eligible organizations to apply.”<o:p></o:p></span></p><p class=MsoNormal><span style='font-size:12.0pt'><o:p> </o:p></span></p><p class=MsoNormal><span style='font-size:12.0pt'>WREP is a voluntary conservation program that works through partnership agreements with states, nongovernmental organizations and tribes, as defined in section 501(c)(3) of the Internal Revenue Code. WREP is a component of the <a href="http://www.or.nrcs.usda.gov/programs/wrp/index.html">Wetlands Reserve Program (WRP)</a> through which NRCS enters into agreements with eligible partners to leverage resources to carry out wetland protection and improve wildlife habitat. <o:p></o:p></span></p><p class=MsoNormal><span style='font-size:12.0pt'><o:p> </o:p></span></p><p class=MsoNormal><span style='font-size:12.0pt'>Benefits to partners in WREP agreements include:<o:p></o:p></span></p><p class=MsoNormal style='text-indent:.5in'><span style='font-size:12.0pt'>• Wetland Restoration in high-priority areas;<o:p></o:p></span></p><p class=MsoNormal style='text-indent:.5in'><span style='font-size:12.0pt'>• The ability to cost-share restoration or enhancement components beyond those required by NRCS;<o:p></o:p></span></p><p class=MsoNormal style='text-indent:.5in'><span style='font-size:12.0pt'>• Participating in management or monitoring of selected project locations; and<o:p></o:p></span></p><p class=MsoNormal style='text-indent:.5in'><span style='font-size:12.0pt'>• Opportunities to use innovative restoration methods and practices. <o:p></o:p></span></p><p class=MsoNormal><span style='font-size:12.0pt'> <o:p></o:p></span></p><p class=MsoNormal><span style='font-size:12.0pt'>Eligible partners may submit general WREP proposals for individual, watershed-wide or larger geographical area projects. WREP partners are required to contribute a financial or technical assistance fund match. <o:p></o:p></span></p><p class=MsoNormal><span style='font-size:12.0pt'><o:p> </o:p></span></p><p class=MsoNormal><span style='font-size:12.0pt'>Oregon NRCS will use a competitive process to evaluate the proposals. Recommended proposals will then be competed nationally for final selection and funding.<o:p></o:p></span></p><p class=MsoNormal><span style='font-size:12.0pt'><o:p> </o:p></span></p><p class=MsoNormal style='text-autospace:none;vertical-align:baseline'><span style='font-size:12.0pt'>To submit a proposal or receive information about General WREP, visit <a href="http://www.or.nrcs.usda.gov/programs/wrep/index.html">http://www.or.nrcs.usda.gov/programs/wrep/index.html</a> or contact Loren Unruh, State Programs Leader, (503) 414-3235, <a href="mailto:loren.unruh@or.usda.gov">loren.unruh@or.usda.gov</a>. WREP proposals submitted by fax or through Grants.gov will not be accepted. <o:p></o:p></span></p><p class=MsoNormal><span style='font-size:12.0pt'><o:p> </o:p></span></p><p class=MsoNormal><span style='font-size:12.0pt'>For more information about NRCS and other programs, visit <a href="http://www.or.nrcs.usda.gov/">http://www.or.nrcs.usda.gov/</a>.<o:p></o:p></span></p><p class=MsoNormal><span style='font-size:12.0pt'><o:p> </o:p></span></p><p class=MsoNormal align=center style='text-align:center'><span style='font-size:12.0pt;font-family:"Arial","sans-serif"'>###<o:p></o:p></span></p><p class=MsoNormal align=center style='text-align:center'><i><span style='font-size:8.0pt;font-family:"Arial","sans-serif"'><o:p> </o:p></span></i></p><p class=MsoNormal align=center style='text-align:center'><i><span style='font-family:"Arial","sans-serif"'>Originally established by Congress in 1935 as the Soil Conservation Service (SCS), </span></i><a href="http://www.nrcs.usda.gov/about/"><i><span style='font-family:"Arial","sans-serif"'>NRCS</span></i></a><i><span style='font-family:"Arial","sans-serif"'> has expanded to become a conservation leader for all natural resources, ensuring private lands are conserved, restored, and more resilient to environmental challenges. The NRCS works with landowners through conservation planning and assistance designed to benefit the soil, water, air, plants, and animals that result in </span></i><i><span style='font-size:10.0pt;font-family:"Arial","sans-serif"'><o:p></o:p></span></i></p><p class=MsoNormal align=center style='text-align:center'><i><span style='font-family:"Arial","sans-serif"'>productive lands and healthy ecosystems.<o:p></o:p></span></i></p><p class=MsoNormal align=center style='text-align:center'><i><span style='font-size:8.0pt;font-family:"Arial","sans-serif"'>________________________________________________________________________<o:p></o:p></span></i></p><p class=MsoNormal align=center style='text-align:center'><i><span style='font-size:8.0pt;font-family:"Arial","sans-serif"'><o:p> </o:p></span></i></p><p class=MsoNormal align=center style='text-align:center'><i><span style='font-family:"Arial","sans-serif"'>NRCS is an agency of the U.S. Department of Agriculture. USDA is an equal opportunity provider, employer and lender. To file a complaint of discrimination, write: USDA, Director, Office of Civil Rights, </span></i><i><span style='font-size:10.0pt;font-family:"Arial","sans-serif"'><o:p></o:p></span></i></p><p class=MsoNormal align=center style='text-align:center'><i><span style='font-family:"Arial","sans-serif"'>1400 Independence Ave., S.W., Washington, D.C. 20250-9410 <o:p></o:p></span></i></p><p class=MsoNormal align=center style='text-align:center'><i><span style='font-family:"Arial","sans-serif"'>or call (800) 795-3272 (voice) or (202) 720-6382 (TDD).<o:p></o:p></span></i></p><p class=MsoNormal align=center style='text-align:center'><i><span style='font-family:"Arial","sans-serif"'>Local contact information is located in the telephone book under the federal government listing or can be found online at: </span></i><span style='font-family:"Arial","sans-serif"'> </span><a href="http://www.or.nrcs.usda.gov"><span style='font-family:"Arial","sans-serif"'>www.or.nrcs.usda.gov</span></a><span style='font-family:"Arial","sans-serif"'>.<o:p></o:p></span></p><p class=MsoNormal><span style='font-family:"Cambria","serif";color:black'><o:p> </o:p></span></p><p class=MsoNormal><o:p> </o:p></p></div></body></html>