$5M Set Aside To Help Restore, Protect Wetlands

The USDA said it is investing $5 million to help farmers and private landowners restore and protect wetlands and floodplains on agricultural land. The Department said funding will support conservation projects through NRCS, including wetland restoration, maintenance, and habitat assessments.

“Producers and landowners know their land better than anyone, and these partnerships give them extra support to do what they’re already committed to — protecting their fields, keeping water clean, reducing flooding, and building a stronger future for their operations and their communities,” said NRCS Chief Colton Buckley.

USDA said the work can improve water quality, reduce flooding risks and provide wildlife habitat, while helping protect working agricultural lands. The funding is available through the Agricultural Conservation Easement Program and Emergency Watershed Protection Program. Awarded work will fall into three main categories:

Wetland and Floodplain Easement Restoration: Awardees will work with NRCS, partners and landowners to develop and implement sound easement restoration plans, to include structural practices, like levees and water control structures, or vegetative establishment practices, like tree planting.
Wetland and Floodplain Easement Stewardship: Awardees are responsible for completing easement stewardship activities on restored wetland and floodplain easements. Easement stewardship includes repair, maintenance, management, and enhancement of properties.
Easement Assessments: Awardees will complete onsite and offsite easement assessments. These assessments will document the habitat condition of easements and determine their compliance with deed terms and conditions. Awardees will use the data collected to determine the ecological condition of easements and, if necessary, develop repair, enhancement or maintenance plans to improve the condition of the assessed easements.

Applications are due November 19th. Click Here to learn more or two apply.

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