Colorado Open Lands announces a funding opportunity for Aquifer Recovery through the Colorado Natural Resources Conservation Service's (NRCS ) Regional Conservation Partnership Program (RCPP). Producers within the project area (see map below) of the Rio Grande Water Conservation District or the Trinchera Subdistrict, who are interested in implementing conservation projects on their private agricultural operation have until December 9th to submit an application to their local NRCS field office, to be considered for this funding opportunity.
To be eligible for consideration for this funding opportunity, agricultural producers must have updated farm records with the Farm Service Agency (FSA), and meet all RCPP eligibility requirements.
The goal of this special funding opportunity is to support management transition for producers who are reducing their groundwater consumption through participation in a groundwater conservation easement or other voluntary program. Specifically, this program offers payment for practices such as cover crop or establishment of permanent vegetation cover or other practices that may be needed as a producer transitions their operation to less groundwater use.
Interested participants must meet the specific funding pool required criteria to be considered for funding in this funding cycle. To be considered in this FY2023 funding cycle, applications must be received in an NRCS office prior to the cut-off date of December 9, 2022. NRCS field offices are located with USDA Service Centers. There will be funding available in subsequent years, but it is never too early to begin planning!
To determine if your application is eligible for this select fund pool and for additional information about applications contact Sarah Parmar, Colorado Open Lands Groundwater RCPP Project Manager at 303-988-2373 ext. 220 or NRCS office staff at 719-672-3673.
To find out more information about RCPP, the NRCS and other programs and opportunities, please visit www.co.nrcs.usda.gov
Original source can be found here.
