USDA Invests $15 million To Improve Water Quality In California
Agriculture Secretary Tom Vilsack today committed $15 million to help California agricultural producers improve water quality in their state.
This funding is being made available through the Agricultural Water Enhancement Program (AWEP), which helps agricultural partners with both conservation and enhancement of water quality.
“This action will provide much needed assistance to California’s agricultural producers in their efforts to improve the quality of water and help with a critical need for water conservation measures in the state,” said Vilsack.
“I applaud Secretary Vilsack and USDA for offering this important assistance to farmers in California, many of whom have suffered heavy crop losses due to drought,” Senator Barbara Boxer said. “This funding will help agricultural producers conserve water and improve water quality in our state.”
“California until recently was in the grip of a three-year drought,” said Senator Dianne Feinstein. “Today’s announcement will help Central Valley farmers to purchase much-needed water and implement water saving techniques during this difficult time. I commend the USDA for recognizing the unique challenges facing California farmers, and I look forward to continuing to work with the Department to fund practical and environmentally responsible drought assistance programs in the coming months.”
“Our farmers need a dramatic increase in water supply,” Congressman Jim Costa said. “Most Valley farmers already use the most sophisticated irrigation and conservation technology. This is a proven program that will allow Valley farmers to continue making full use of every drop of water.”
USDA’s Natural Resources Conservation Service (NRCS) implements AWEP by entering into partnership agreements with eligible entities and helps landowners plan and implement conservation practices in project areas established through the partnership agreements.
Federally recognized Indian Tribes, states, units of local government, agricultural associations and other groups of producers with experience working with agricultural producers are eligible to submit proposals for funding. When an AWEP project area has been approved and announced, individual producers may apply for program benefits through their local NRCS office.
For more information visit: www.ca.nrcs.usda.gov.
Using the AWEP program, USDA NRCS is making a $15 million commitment to water conservation and water quality-with many of these projects targeted to the water-short regions affected by the cutbacks in water deliveries. USDA will work with partners in California to balance the funds available through the drought initiative, AWEP and other sources to optimize strategies to continue the important conservation work begun in 2009. USDA will be consulting with the California State Technical Committee in the coming weeks on how to best allocate the money to projects around the state.
This money is in addition to $10 million USDA made available to California producers for drought assistance to help reduce or prevent dust and wind erosion in fallowed areas and to keep trees and vines alive. This money was through USDA’s Environmental Quality Incentives Program (EQIP).
For information about other USDA NRCS conservation programs online, visit: www.nrcs.usda.gov, or visit the nearest USDA Service Center in your area.
2010 represents the 75th year of NRCS helping people help the land. Since its inception in 1935, the NRCS conservation delivery system has advanced a unique partnership with state and local governments and private landowners delivering conservation based on specific, local conservation needs, while accommodating state and national interests.
Topics: 2010, agricultural producers, Agricultural Water Enhancement Program, agriculture, America, AWEP, benefits, business, California, Central Valley farmers, conservation, crop losses, Department of Agriculture, drought, economic development, economic growth, Economy, employment, environment, farmers, farms, financial aid, food, food security, funding, Governance, government, irrigation, jobs, local government, money, monitor, national interests, news, NRCS, partnership agreements, private landowners, Secretary Tom Vilsack, Senator Barbara Boxer, Senator Dianne Feinstein, U.S., United States, USDA, water, Water Quality Assistance, water supply
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