Colorado Open Lands is announcing a funding opportunity through the Colorado Natural Resources Conservation Services (NRCS) and their Regional Conservation Partnership Program (RCPP). Producers within the project area identified in the map that are interested in implementing conservation projects or enrolling in a permanent conservation easement on their private agricultural operation have until March 3, 2023 to submit an application to the San Luis NRCS Field Office to be considered for this funding cycle. There will be funds available in future years, but it is never too early to begin planning!
If you are an agricultural producer wishing to enroll in a conservation easement, please know that you will need to work with an eligible land trust to submit an application by the deadline.
To be eligible for consideration for this funding opportunity, an agricultural producer must have updated farm records with the Farm Service Agency (FSA), must irrigate from a recognized acequia, and must meet all program eligibility requirements. We encourage projects that benefit more than one producer. Interested participants must meet the specific funding pool required criteria to be considered for funding.
The goals of this special funding opportunity are to:
- Assist acequias with infrastructure improvements, such as headgate replacement, or installation of measuring devices,
- Assist producers with cross fencing, riparian fencing, and installation of livestock watering tanks to support grazing management,
- Support implementation of projects identified by the Culebra Watershed Assessment
Original source can be found here.
