MD.180.8.2, CPA - Participation on Maryland's Tributary Teams

Maryland Bulletin: 180-8-2
Subject: CPA - Participation on Maryland's Tributary Teams
Date: February 14, 2008

Purpose. To clarify NRCS's role concerning participation on Maryland's local Tributary Teams

Expiration Date. September 30, 2008.

Explanation. 

Tributary Teams meet regularly in each of the Chesapeake Bay's ten major Maryland tributaries to help identify pollution prevention measures that will address local water quality problems. The major focus of the Tributary Teams’ efforts is reducing nutrient inputs from point and non-point sources on rural and urban lands.

The Maryland Department of Natural Resources (DNR) provides technical support and coordination for the Tributary Teams. DNR encourages each Tributary Team to have representatives from a cross-section of the watershed, including rural and urban areas. Representatives are typically from businesses and local governments, and also include farmers and other private citizens. DNR encourages each Tributary Team to include at least one representative who can address issues concerning agricultural conservation practices. Representation is usually from the Soil Conservation District, Maryland Department of Agriculture, or NRCS.

NRCS participation with the Tributary Teams complements our watershed approach to identifying resource concerns and implementing programs. NRCS employees are not required to become members of their local Tributary Team, but are encouraged to participate with approval from their supervisor. Compensatory time may be requested and approved for meetings that occur outside of normal working hours. NRCS employees may not serve as Chair of a Tributary Team, due to the additional workload involved and also the potential role of the Chair in lobbying elected officials. Guidance on political activities for NRCS employees can be found on the home page of my.NRCS under Legislative Affairs Guidance. I encourage Soil Conservationists to consider attending Tributary Team meetings as a way to gain experience in public speaking and coordinating with other agencies. It is also a good opportunity to see how the counties and general public perceive the work we do.

Contact. Patty Engler will be serving as the NRCS state-level contact to exchange information with the DNR state-level contacts, Mike Bilek and Claudia Donegan. Please contact Patty if you have questions about the Tributary Teams.

JON F. HALL
State Conservationist

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