The U.S. Department of Agriculture is seeking public input on the National Water Quality Initiative through a 30-day comment period. 

The Natural Resources Conservation Service is inviting feedback on how to improve the initiative by better targeting program benefits, quantifying impact and enhancing program delivery and outreach, according to a March 8 news release.

“In watersheds across the country, we have seen the benefits of targeting resources, working one-on-one with farmers and ranchers to voluntarily implement conservation practices that improve water quality and often have climate co-benefits,” NRCS Chief Terry Cosby said in the release. “We’re proud of what the National Water Quality Initiative has accomplished, and we look forward to continuing to improve our efforts to ensure they provide the greatest impact for producers, communities and our nation’s waterways.”

Public comments are sought to help the NRCS identify and prioritize improvements to the initiative starting in fiscal year 2024, the release reported.

The NWQI, which began in 2012, is a voluntary partnership among the NRCS, state water quality agencies and the U.S. Environmental Protection Agency, according to the release. Its aim is to identify and address impaired water bodies through voluntary conservation. Through the NWQI, the NRCS offers targeted funding for financial and technical assistance to help farmers apply conservation practices to protect water resources.

Those interested in voicing their opinions about the program should submit their comments through the Federal Register notice by April 7, the release said. Those with questions about the initiative should send an email to SM.NRCS.LandscapeConservationInitiatives@usda.gov.