USDA/NRCS Is Accepting Applications For The Conjunctive Water Use Protects Mid-South Aquifers Regional Conservation Partnership Program (RCPP)
USDA/NRCS Is Accepting Applications For The Conjunctive Water Use Protects Mid-South Aquifers Regional Conservation Partnership Program (RCPP)
April 6, 2023 - Farmers and landowners in ten northeast, seven central, and seven southwest Louisiana parishes can now apply for the "Conjunctive Water Use Protects Mid-South Aquifers" Regional Conservation Partnership Program (RCPP). This program focuses on improving irrigation efficiencies and reducing groundwater use by developing surface water sources for irrigation. This RCPP will offer financial assistance to landowners in fiscal year 2023. Ducks Unlimited, Inc. will support this project as the lead partner.
The "Conjunctive Water Use Protects Mid-South Aquifers" RCPP focus area includes the following parishes: Acadia, Allen, Avoyelles, Beauregard, Calcasieu, Cameron, Catahoula, Concordia, Morehouse, East Carroll, Evangeline, Franklin, Iberia, Jefferson Davis, Lafayette, Madison, Ouachita, Rapides, Richland, St Landry, St Martin, Tensas, West Carroll, and Vermilion. A specific outreach focus is to ensure that historically underserved farmers and landowners participate meaningfully in this project. Farmers and landowners who submit applications to their local NRCS office by May 19th will be considered for this round of funding. Applications received after May 19th will be considered in later funding periods, subject to funding availability.
What is RCPP? RCPP promotes coordination of NRCS conservation activities with like-minded conservation partners that offer value-added contributions to expand the ability to address on-farm, watershed, and regional natural resource concerns. Through RCPP, NRCS invests with partners to implement projects that provide innovative and creative solutions to conservation challenges and provide measurable improvements and outcomes.
“The support of our conservation partners like Ducks Unlimited, Inc. in this RCPP help us accelerate our conservation efforts through non-federal investments and maximize our resources in selected focused areas to improve locally identified conservation concerns,” explained Louisiana NRCS State Conservationist Chad Kacir.
Who can apply? Individuals and other entities actively engaged in agricultural production are eligible to participate in RCPP. RCPP offers a continuous application sign-up. However, to be considered for the current funding period, applications must be received by May 19th. Applicants can sign up for the 2023 program year by contacting their local USDA NRCS service center.
All USDA Service Centers are open for business, please call your local service center to schedule an appointment. Please visit https://www.nrcs.usda.gov/contact/find-a-service-center to find your local USDA/NRCS office.
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