USDA-NRCS Announces 2023 Water Quality Improvement funding for farmers within the Sakonnet River Watershed

The USDA Natural Resources Conservation Service (NRCS) in Rhode Island is pleased to announce funding availability to help farmers improve water quality in the Sakonnet River watershed through the National Water Quality Initiative (NWQI). We encourage Rhode Island farmers within the watershed to submit applications for assistance by March 3, 2023.

“We see a positive impact – both here in Rhode Island and across the country – when we partner with farmers to deliver conservation practices to critical watersheds,” said R. Phou Vongkhamdy, NRCS Rhode Island State Conservationist. “These focused partnerships allow us to maximize the delivery of our conservation efforts and achieve greater improvements to water quality, which benefits the participating producers, the public, and our nation’s natural resources.”

NWQI was initiated in 2012 to address agricultural contributions to surface waters impaired by nutrients, sediment, and pathogens. NWQI is a partnership among NRCS, state water-quality agencies including the RI Department of Environmental Management (DEM), and the U.S. Environmental Protection Agency to identify and address impaired surface water bodies through voluntary conservation.

Through NWQI, NRCS provides targeted funding for financial and technical assistance to help farmers apply conservation practices to protect water resources. NWQI includes protection for both surface and ground sources of drinking water. Technical and financial assistance from NRCS helps farmers to apply practices that avoid, control, and trap nutrients and sediment that can impair water quality. Practices include, but are not limited to, filter strips and buffers, cover crops, and manure management, which promote soil health and reduce erosion and nutrient runoff.

NRCS accepts applications for conservation programs year-round, but applications are ranked and funded by enrollment periods that are set locally. Producers interested in technical and financial assistance should contact their local NRCS field office.

For questions or to apply for NWQI Sakonnet River watershed funding, please contact RI Eastern District Conservationist, Ghyllian Alger at Ghyllian.Alger@usda.gov or 401-822-8835, or visit www.ri.nrcs.usda.gov.

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