Welcome to the NRCS Caribbean Area: Puerto Rico and U.S. Virgin Islands Web Site.

NRCS Helps Implement the American Recovery and Reinvestment Act (ARRA) of 2009

The Recovery Act funding for NRCS will fund projects that provide the greatest public and environmental benefits through floodplain easements and investments in watershed infrastructure improvements. Watershed rehabilitation projects will mitigate the risks of failure and threats to public safety posed by aging flood control infrastructure.  Potential projects are being evaluated and specific information will be posted as implementation proceeds.

The NRCS Caribbean Area announces new floodplain easement program in Puerto Rico and the US Virgin Islands. The deadline for sign-up is March 27, 2009.

Sign-up Extended for up to $20 Million in Fiscal Year 2009 Conservation Innovation Grants

NRCS released the fiscal year 2009 Conservation Innovation Grants (CIG) request for proposals on January 16, 2009. The CIG program is designed to stimulate the development and adoption of innovative conservation approaches and technologies. Applications must be received at NRCS National Headquarters by 5 p.m., Eastern Standard Time (EST), on Friday, March 20, 2009.

The Caribbean Area CIG Program will fund up to $75,000 for eligible projects in Puerto Rico and the U.S. Virgin Islands. Applications for Caribbean Area funds are due at the Caribbean Area State Office by May 27, 2009.

Army Corps of Engineers Recognizes Caribbean Area Soil Scientist

The U.S. Army Corps of Engineers (USCoE) recognized Samuel Ríos, Soil Scientist at the Mayagüez MLRA Soil Survey Office, for his contributions in field testing of the hydric soils portion of the Interim Regional Supplement to the CoE Wetlands Delineation Manual: Caribbean Islands Region.

V.I. RC&D "St. Croix International Year of the Reef" Project Committee Selected for 2009 U.S. EPA Environmental Quality Award!

The planning committee for the St. Croix International Year of the Reef celebration - a Virgin Islands Resource Conservation & Development Council, Inc. (V.I. RC&D) project - has been selected to receive a 2009 U.S. EPA Environmental Quality Award! The group's award is in the category of Non-Profit Organization, Environmental or Community Group.

Caribbean Area Representative Soils on Display at Smithsonian Natural History Museum

The Smithsonian Institution's National Museum of Natural History in Washington, DC has unveiled a new exhibit called 'Dig It! The Secrets of Soil.' The exhibit features Soil Monoliths for the 50 states and territories, and will be open through January 3, 2010. Included in the exhibit are the monoliths for Puerto Rico (Bayamon Series) and the U.S. Virgin Islands (Victory Series). Also featured on the Explorers page is Rudy G. O'Reilly, Jr., St. Croix District Conservationist.

Puerto Rico Field Office Closure: Guayama

The Natural Resources Conservation Service informs the public of office closure in Guayama county. The Guayama office closure was effective on September 30, 2008.