Ag Water Enhancement Program

Colusa Glenn Subwatershed Program and NRCS receive almost $6 million

to assist local producers in water quality and conservation efforts

Deadline for applications July 30

Recently the Colusa Glenn Subwatershed Program submitted a proposal on behalf of irrigated landowners in the Colusa and Glenn County area for the Agricultural Water Enhancement Program (AWEP). Notification was received by US Department of Agriculture that the proposal was successful and $5,999,000 in AWEP cost-share funding will be available for water quality and conservation projects over the next five years. This program will assist producers in implementing Best Management Practices (BMPs) that will increase irrigation system efficiency, decrease runoff, sediment and flooding, and improve surface and ground water quality.

Applications from individual agricultural producers must meet EQIP requirements, but do not need to have existing EQIP contracts. Producers whose applications are selected enter into individual contracts with NRCS. Application deadline for this year’s AWEP cost-share funding is July 30, 2010 at 4:30 PM. For more information about the program, contact Rob Vlach, NRCS District Conservationist in Glenn County at (530) 934-4601 x3 or Andrea Casey, NRCS District Conservationist in Colusa County at (530) 458-2931 x3. You may also contact Kandi Manhart, Colusa Glenn Subwatershed Program Outreach and Education Coordinator at (530) 934-8036 or cgsubwatershed@sbcglobal.net.

Yolo County RCD and NRCS receive $3.75 million to assist local producers in water quality and conservation efforts on rangeland

Deadline for applications is July 28, 2010

This spring, the Yolo County Resource Conservation District (RCD) submitted a proposal on behalf of landowners in an eight county area known as the Sacramento Valley Cluster, and has received notification that $3.75 million in AWEP cost-share funding will be available for water quality and conservation projects on rangeland over the next 5 years. This program is focused on rangeland and will provide financial and technical support for ranchers to carry out practices that conserve ground and surface water, and improve water quality.

The Sacramento Valley Cluster includes Shasta, Tehama, Butte, Glenn, Colusa, Yuba, Sutter, and Yolo Counties which all lie within the AWEP national priority area of the Sacramento River Basin watershed.

The AWEP program is designed to address water quality, groundwater recharge, water availability for ranching operations, and conservation issues at a regional level by leveraging federal funds with the efforts and specific concerns of local partners.

For more information: Andrea Casey, NRCS District Conservationist in Colusa County at (530) 458-2931 x3.