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Yolo County RCD and NRCS receive $3.75 million to assist local producers in water quality and conservation efforts on rangeland

Deadline for applications July 28

The U.S. Department of Agriculture (USDA) announced last Tuesday the release of over $21 million to fund the new 2010 Agricultural Water Enhancement Program (AWEP) established by the 2008 Farm Bill. Overall, 9 projects in California were approved over a five-year period for $6.27 million for water quality and quantity projects.  This spring, the Yolo County Resource Conservation District (RCD) submitted a proposal on behalf of landowners in an eight county area known as the Sacramento Valley Cluster, and has received notification that $3.75 million in AWEP cost-share funding will be available for water quality and conservation projects on rangeland over the next 5 years.

AWEP is part of the Environmental Quality Incentives Program (EQIP), which is the USDA’s largest conservation program on working lands. The new AWEP program was developed with the support of the California Rangeland Conservation Coalition (CRCC), the Audubon Landowner Stewardship Program and the RCD’s throughout the project area.  The program is focused on rangeland and will provide financial and technical support for ranchers to carry out practices that conserve ground and surface water, and improve water quality. 

[ Read the complete announcement here, and download the Conservation Priority Area map here ]