WALTON, NY, August 4, 2009 - The Watershed Agricultural Council (WAC) and the Natural Resources Conservation Services (NRCS) received $2-million in federal funding to apply land conservation practices and water pollution prevention measures in the watershed region. Farmers and active agricultural landowners in the Catskill/Delaware watershed region (Delaware, Greene, Schoharie, Sullivan and Ulster counties) are encouraged to apply by August 14. The NRCS funding will be matched dollar for dollar by the New York City Department of Environmental Protection (NYC DEP).
The Agricultural Water Enhancement Program, or AWEP, sponsored by the U.S. Department of Agriculture (USDA), will provide $500,000 annually for the next four years to supplement work outlined in whole farm plans. The Federal Government has appropriated nearly $58 million for water conservation and water quality improvements on agricultural working lands. The funding was made available for 63 projects in 21 states through the Agricultural Water Enhancement Program. The WAC project is the only organization in New York State to receive the USDA AWEP funding.
The Agricultural Water Enhancement Program (AWEP) promotes ground and surface water conservation and improves water quality by helping farmers and ranchers implement agricultural water enhancement activities. With the services and resources of other conservation partners, AWEP allows the Federal Government to leverage investment in natural resources conservation. Landowners can obtain funding through AWEP for several types of projects, including:
- Water quality or water conservation plan development, including resource condition assessment and modeling;
- Water conservation restoration or enhancement projects, including conversion to the production of less water-intensive agricultural commodities or dry land farming;
- Water quality or quantity restoration or enhancement projects;
- Irrigation system improvement or irrigation efficiency enhancement;
- Activities designed to mitigate the effects of drought and climate change; and
- Other related activities deemed by the Secretary to help achieve water quality or water conservation benefits on agricultural land.
AWEP was established by the 2008 Farm Bill and funding comes from the Environmental Quality Incentives Program (EQIP). The Natural Resources Conservation Service (NRCS) administers the program for USDA. NRCS implements AWEP by entering into EQIP contracts directly with agricultural producers. All AWEP recipients must meet EQIP requirements. Though participating AWEP producers do not need to have existing EQIP contracts, they must be eligible for EQIP.
The WAC has developed whole farm plans with 248 farms located throughout the Catskill/Delaware watershed; some are already contracted through EQIP. "With help from WAC and its partnering agencies, landowners apply whole farm plan tools and recommendations to their lands and farm businesses. Whole farm plans address various environmental issues that affect water quality such as water-borne parasites; phosphorous and nitrogen from animal waste; pesticide, fertilizer and fuel storage issues; and sedimentation. These recommendations may be as simple as fencing animals out of water courses, establishing a manure spreading schedule or diverting rainwater run-off," says Brian LaTourette, WAC Agricultural Program Manager.
All AWEP projects will be coordinated through the Walton-based Watershed Agricultural Program. "Along with NRCS, we'll be working with staff from various agencies like Soil & Water and CCE to get the job done," added LaTourette. "We're lining up qualified projects that address the water quality needs of watershed farms, both small and large. Our projected costs for best management practices placed on our participant farms will total nearly $9 million by 2012...and that's just the work planned for the Catskill/Delaware watershed region."
City residents use over one billion gallons of water per day. "New York City consistently has one of the cleanest unfiltered water sources in the nation," LaTourette continued. "That is due, in large part, to the commitment of our program participants, local watershed agencies and the NYC DEP. What we do upstream really does help keep drinking water clean for nine million City residents...a proven success over the past 15 years." Watershed landowners interested in submitting an application can contact the local USDA Service Center or the Watershed Agricultural Council at (607) 865-7090, ext. 233. Visit the programs section of the NRCS web page (www.nrcs.usda.gov) for more information.
The Cat/Del Watershed includes six reservoirs west of the Hudson River and three reservoirs in Westchester County. The New York City watershed covers an area of 1.2 million acres and contains 19 water supply reservoirs and 3 controlled lakes within its two watersheds. The City's water is unfiltered, one of only five metropolitan water sources nationwide that do not undergo significant water treatment protocols. This is due, in large part, to the success of the New York City Watershed's voluntary program whereby landowners agree to apply conservation practices on their properties. The New York City Watershed supplies 1.4 billion gallons of drinking water to residents each day.
For more information on the WAC's Agricultural Program, visit www.nycwatershed.org or contact Brian LaTourette at (607) 865-7090, ext. 284.
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