Since the Dust Bowl of the 1930's, NRCS has worked through conservation districts and others throughout the U.S. to help landowners, as well as Federal, State, tribal, and local governments and community groups conserve natural resources on private lands. NRCS uses the watershed approach to address resource conservation, which means providing information and assistance to encourage and enable locally-led, watershed-scale conservation. In Rhode Island, NRCS has several programs relating to watershed conservation.

• The Watershed Protection and Flood Prevention Act (PL 83-566), August 4, 1954, as amended, authorized NRCS to cooperate with States and local agencies to carry out works of improvement for soil conservation and for other purposes including flood prevention; conservation, development, utilization and disposal of water; and conservation and proper utilization of land.
  
• Agricultural Management Assistance provides cost-share payments to agricultural producers to voluntarily address issues such as water management, and wildlife controls by incorporating conservation into their farming operations. Producers may construct or improve irrigation systems, develop or improve water supply through wells or ponds, install fencing to protect crops or livestock from wildlife damage, and mitigate risk through production diversification or resource conservation practices, including soil erosion control, integrated pest management, or transition to organic farming.
  
• The Wetlands Reserve Program is a voluntary program that provides technical and financial assistance to eligible landowners to address wetland, wildlife habitat, soil, water, and related natural resource concerns on private lands in an environmentally beneficial and cost-effective manner. The program provides an opportunity for landowners to receive financial incentives to enhance wetlands in exchange for retiring marginal land from agriculture.

Natural Resources Conservation Service - RI
Natural Resources Conservation Service - National