Chesapeake Bay Watershed Eligible for Regional Conservation Partnership Grants
New era in conservation efforts focuses on public-private partnerships
ANNAPOLIS – The Chesapeake Bay Watershed is one of eight regions now eligible for an historic new conservation program authorized in the 2014 Farm Bill.
The new conservation program, called the Regional Conservation Partnership Program (RCPP), was authorized in the 2014 Farm Bill and will benefit areas all across the nation. RCPP streamlines conservation efforts by combining four USDA programs (the Agricultural Water Enhancement Program, Cooperative Conservation Partnership Initiative, the Chesapeake Bay Watershed Initiative, and the Great Lakes Basin Program for Soil Erosion) into one.
“We applaud Maryland’s congressional delegation for their leadership in ensuring our treasured Chesapeake Bay was included as one of the eight critical conservation areas,” said Maryland Agriculture Secretary Buddy Hance. “This historic conservation program will leverage existing strong partnerships within our watershed to fund innovative projects that address conservation needs and improve water quality.”
The RCPP will competitively award funds to conservation projects designed by local public-private partners specifically for their region. Eligible partners include private companies, universities, non-profit organizations, state, local and tribal governments and others joining with agricultural and conservation organizations and producers to invest money, manpower and materials to their proposed initiatives. USDA's $1.2 billion in funding over the life of the five-year program can leverage an additional $1.2 billion from partners for a total of $2.4 billion for conservation. $400 million in USDA funding is available in the first year. Through RCPP, partners may propose conservation projects to improve soil health, water quality and water use efficiency, wildlife habitat, and other related natural resources on private lands.
For proposals in Maryland, priorities include: water quality, soil health, wetland restoration and easements, land easements, habitat improvement for endangered and threatened species and air quality. For more state-specific information on RCPP, visit www.md.nrcs.usda.gov.
New era in conservation efforts focuses on public-private partnerships
ANNAPOLIS – The Chesapeake Bay Watershed is one of eight regions now eligible for an historic new conservation program authorized in the 2014 Farm Bill.
The new conservation program, called the Regional Conservation Partnership Program (RCPP), was authorized in the 2014 Farm Bill and will benefit areas all across the nation. RCPP streamlines conservation efforts by combining four USDA programs (the Agricultural Water Enhancement Program, Cooperative Conservation Partnership Initiative, the Chesapeake Bay Watershed Initiative, and the Great Lakes Basin Program for Soil Erosion) into one.
“We applaud Maryland’s congressional delegation for their leadership in ensuring our treasured Chesapeake Bay was included as one of the eight critical conservation areas,” said Maryland Agriculture Secretary Buddy Hance. “This historic conservation program will leverage existing strong partnerships within our watershed to fund innovative projects that address conservation needs and improve water quality.”
The RCPP will competitively award funds to conservation projects designed by local public-private partners specifically for their region. Eligible partners include private companies, universities, non-profit organizations, state, local and tribal governments and others joining with agricultural and conservation organizations and producers to invest money, manpower and materials to their proposed initiatives. USDA's $1.2 billion in funding over the life of the five-year program can leverage an additional $1.2 billion from partners for a total of $2.4 billion for conservation. $400 million in USDA funding is available in the first year. Through RCPP, partners may propose conservation projects to improve soil health, water quality and water use efficiency, wildlife habitat, and other related natural resources on private lands.
For proposals in Maryland, priorities include: water quality, soil health, wetland restoration and easements, land easements, habitat improvement for endangered and threatened species and air quality. For more state-specific information on RCPP, visit www.md.nrcs.usda.gov.