Many of the the Orleans County Natural Resources Conservation District conducted surveys and hosted Local Work Group (LWG) in-person meetings concluded that invasive species support  needs to be one of the priorities for a 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 and common barberry, and glossy buckthorn

• Conduct 2 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 eand engagement with landowners
• By December 2025: Assist at least 5 landowners with assessments and conservation practice planning.
• By May 2026: Develop and provide project amangement 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 FY 2026: $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 mulitple priority species?

Applicants DON'T need to answer yes all the ranking priorities all apply but addreassing more priories, the more likely the application will be selected for funding.