Producers and agricultural organizations interested in improving water quality and conserving surface and ground water on their agricultural land are invited to apply for some of the $61.2 funding recently made available by the Natural Resource Conservation Service for Agricultural Water Enhancement Program projects. This funding will help producers conserve surface and ground water and improve water quality on agricultural land.
Program projects are implemented by the service entering into partnership agreements with federally recognized eligible entities such as American Indian tribes, states, agricultural associations and producer groups such as irrigation associations, agricultural land trusts, or other nongovernmental organization. The service works with these partners to help landowners plan and implement conservation practices in project areas established through the agreements. Eligible water enhancement projects include:
Types of water enhancement activities intended with this request for proposal are: Water quality or water conservation plan development; water conservation restoration or enhancement projects; water quality or quantity restoration or enhancement projects; irrigation system improvement and irrigation efficiency enhancements; activities designed to mitigate the effects of drought; and related activities determined to help achieve water quality or water conservation benefits on agricultural land.
Of the $61.2 million, approximately $40.4 million will be made available to program partners whose projects were approved during last fiscal year and approximately $20.7 million will be available for new project proposals. Deadline for partner organizations to submit a proposal is 3 p.m. May 17. For more information, visit (www.nrcs.usda.gov) or your local NRCS office.