NRCS In Tennessee Offers RCPP Assistance To Producers To Address Soil And Water Resource Concerns
NASHVILLE, TENN.
The United States Department of Agriculture Natural Resources Conservation Service (NRCS) in Tennessee, recently announced $1.2 million funding availability to expand assistance services to address resource concerns and improve the quality of Tennessee waters across the state. Producers are encouraged to sign up for assistance through the Regional Conservation Partnership Program (RCPP). The deadline to submit applications is January 19, 2018.
“RCPP serves as a valuable vehicle for matching federal investment and private capital. We are seeing positive results in our natural resources and in agricultural production,” said Kevin Brown, Tennessee NRCS State Conservationist. “These locally-led efforts from our partners are having an impact on both conservation and production.”
The RCPP funds awarded will finance cost-share on conservation projects that will address factors contributing to the watershed being listed on the state 303(d) List – a section under the Clean Water Act that requires states to submit lists of impaired waters, or waters that are too polluted or otherwise degraded to meet water quality standards.
The listing identifies more than 10,000 stream miles across Tennessee that are impaired from some agricultural concern, such as crop production, livestock impacts, pasture grazing, etc. Treatment of primary resource concerns will address and minimize impacts from siltation/sedimentation, nutrients and pathogens.
The State of Tennessee, Tennessee Department of Agriculture, is the lead partner in this RCPP effort.
For more information on Tennessee RCPP projects, visit the Tennessee NRCS website or for National RCPP projects, the National RCPP website. ∆