U.S. Department of Agriculture's Natural Resources Conservation Service in New Mexico set April 28 as the deadline to sign up for the state’s Ogallala Preservation and Conservation project Regional Conservation Partnership Program.
RCPP is touted as providing a “targeted, science-based approach” to restoring and guarding habitats while strengthening rural economies and cultivating teamwork among conservation partners, according to a March 28 news release.
"RCPP plays a critical role in connecting partners with producers to design and implement conservation solutions that benefit both natural resources and agriculture,” State Conservationist Xavier Montoya said in the release. “The Farm Bill is the largest source of federal funding for private lands conservation, and RCPP is contributing innovative conservation solutions to communities across the country and here in New Mexico."
The plan calls for the New Mexico Association of Conservation Districts to offer land management contracts and entity-held easements through the New Mexico Ogallala Preservation and Conservation project, the release reported. All of it is aimed at aiding Eastern New Mexican farmers in converting irrigated cropland to dryland crops, pasture or native grasslands to reduce groundwater pumping from the Ogallala Aquifer and maintain the sustainability of agricultural communities.
With other partners including Curry County, Cannon Air Force Base and Central Curry Soil and Water Conservation District, the land use conversions are also being sold as moves that will significantly reduce tillage and soil erosion, as well as sequester carbon, the release said.
If current conditions persist, the Ogallala Aquifer, which is known to be losing water, is not expected to be a viable source of water for all users in 10-15 years, according to the release. Since irrigation began, local farmers have witnessed declines of more than 50 feet. Some areas have only 30 feet or less of saturated thickness left in the aquifer.
"NRCS provides leadership in a partnership effort to help people conserve, maintain and improve our natural resources and environment," the release reported.
