NRCS Provides Nearly $1 Million to Expand Conservation in the Monterey Bay Region

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USDA - Natural Resources Conservation Service

Feb 06, 2013, 12:23 ET

Applications are due to NRCS Offices by March 15 for consideration

SALINAS, Calif., Feb. 6, 2013 /PRNewswire-USNewswire/ -- The USDA Natural Resources Conservation Service (NRCS) in California will again provide approximately $1 million in technical and financial assistance to farmers and ranchers to protect the Monterey Bay Region. The Monterey Bay Conservation Program is being made available through the Environmental Quality Incentives Program to protect water resources in this important region. The application deadline is March 15, 2013.

"NRCS is committed to protecting the Monterey Bay region and this expanded assistance allows us to work in partnership with local agricultural producers to help protect water resources and wildlife," said NRCS California State Conservationist Carlos Suarez.

This program was created in 2011 as a result of the Obama Administration announcing that the Monterey Bay region was selected as one of NRCS's three special America's Great Outdoors initiative areas. NRCS worked directly with local partners to determine how best to invest additional technical and financial resources in this region.

NRCS staff will work with farmers and ranchers to develop conservation plans to improve soil health, wildlife habitat and water quality, and address excessive runoff and flooding on farms, ranches and private non-industrial forestland. Applications will be ranked according to conservation benefits addressed in the conservation plan.

"Working with NRCS has helped me a lot," said Rong Zhen Liang, a Santa Clara County farmer and funding recipient in 2012. "This program has helped me to improve my irrigation system which is saving water, energy and other farming inputs."

Eligible counties include: Monterey, San Benito, Santa Clara, Santa Cruz, San Luis Obispo and San Mateo. Interested farmers and ranchers should visit http://www.ca.nrcs.usda.gov/programs/ or contact their local NRCS office for additional information and to submit an application.

NRCS has provided leadership in a partnership effort to help America's private land owners and managers conserve their soil, water and other natural resources since 1935. For more information on NRCS, visit www.nrcs.usda.gov.

SOURCE USDA - Natural Resources Conservation Service