Special funding to improve water quality around Fruitgrowers

A new National Water Quality Initiative (NWQI) committed to improving impaired waterways in Colorado has recently been announced. NWQI allows Natural Resources Conservation Service (NRCS) in Colorado to focus technical and financial resources in our priority watersheds.

Two watersheds in Colorado were identified including the Fruitgrowers Reservoir located in Delta County. Using funds from the Environmental Quality Incentives Program (EQIP), NRCS will manage the initiative by making funds available to farmers, ranchers and forest landowners. NRCS is accepting NWQI applications until June 15, 2012, for funding consideration, during this fiscal year.

"Water quality is important to all the farmers and ranchers in the watershed, which includes Fruitgrowers Reservoir, for the production of food and forage," says Wes Boyce, NRCS District Conservationist in Delta. "It is also critical in helping to sustain the migratory and nesting waterfowl populations that use the watershed. This is a great opportunity for agricultural producers to work together with NRCS in this watershed to have a positive impact on this valuable resource."

Using funds from the Environmental Quality Incentives Program, NRCS will provide funding and advice to producers to install conservation practices such as cover crops, filter strips irrigation water management, as well as nutrient management in watersheds with impairments where the federal investment can make a difference to improve water quality. Through this effort, eligible producers in the Fruitgrowers Reservoir watershed will invest in voluntary conservation actions to help provide cleaner water for their neighbors and communities.

"The selected watersheds were identified with the help from state agencies, NRCS partners and State Technical Committee," says Phyllis Ann Philipps, NRCS State Conservationist, Denver. "We hope by focusing our efforts we will be able to have a cumulative impact on water quality. This is an opportunity for farmers and ranchers within those watersheds to obtain a conservation plan and implement conservation practices which will benefit the sustainability of their operation and contribute to cleaner water."

NRCS accepts applications for financial assistance on a continuous basis throughout the year. If you are an agricultural producer in Delta County and are interested in participating in this initiative, please check with your local NRCS field office to see if your operation is located within a selected watershed. All applications for funding consideration, during this fiscal year, must be received by June 15, 2012, with contracts to be developed by July 1.

Since 1935, NRCS's nationwide conservation delivery system works with private landowners to put conservation on the ground based on specific, local conservation needs, while accommodating state and national interests. For more information about NRCS' programs, initiatives and services in Colorado visit us online at www.co.usda.gov

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