Lakewood — The Natural Resources Conservation Service (NRCS) in Colorado has announced its approval of the Neegronda Irrigation Project, which is located in Bent and Prowers counties in southeast Colorado. The primary objective of this project is to address water quality and water quantity concerns related to irrigation water concerns within the project area.
“Agricultural producers are the first stewards of our land and water, and NRCS in Colorado is working hard to support efforts to protect and preserve our water resources,” said John Knapp, Area Conservationist, La Junta, CO. “The funding will help producers in the Lower Arkansas watershed begin or expand projects to improve water quality.”
The project aims to increase awareness and provide viable options to address limited water resources with management structural practices through the Agricultural Water Enhancement Program (AWEP). The AWEP program is voluntary and is administered by NRCS, which enters into agreements with conservation partners to help landowners plan and implement conservation practices in project areas established through the agreements. In each project recently approved, individual farmers and ranchers may apply for benefits.
AWEP partners include federally recognized Indian tribes, states, units of local government, agricultural associations, and non-governmental organizations. To become partners, applicants submitted proposals to address the following enhancement activities:
• Water conservation or quantity restoration or enhancement projects;
• Water quality restoration or enhancement projects;
• Water quality or water conservation plan development;
• Irrigation system improvement or irrigation efficiency enhancement;
• Activities designed to mitigate the effects of drought and climate change; and
• Related activities to help achieve water quality or water conservation benefits on agricultural land
Partner proposals were selected using a competitive process that considered several factors including statutorily defined priority areas, emphasis for water conservation activities such as conversion of irrigated land to dryland farming and assistance to farmers and ranchers to meet regulatory requirements. Approved partners enter into multi-year agreements with NRCS to promote ground and surface water conservation or improve water quality on eligible agricultural lands in the project area. Once these partner agreements are in place, producers in eligible project areas may apply to participate at their local NRCS office.
The collaborating Neegronda Irrigation Partners involved in this project include NRCS, the Bent Conservation District, the Prowers Conservation District, Fort Lyon Irrigation, and the Wiley Drainage District.
Applications must be submitted to NRCS field offices in Bent and Prowers counties. Additional information about AWEP is available at http://www.co.nrcs.usda.gov/programs/AWEP/AWEP.html, or you can contact Cindy Schleining, District Conservationist, Bent County, (719) 456-0120, x102; or Susan Hansen, District Conservationist, Prowers County, (719) 336-3437, x123.
NRCS is celebrating 75 years helping people help the land in 2010. Since 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.
|
|
|
Lakewood — The Natural Resources Conservation Service (NRCS) in Colorado has announced its approval of the Neegronda Irrigation Project, which is located in Bent and Prowers counties in southeast Colorado. The primary objective of this project is to address water quality and water quantity concerns related to irrigation water concerns within the project area.
“Agricultural producers are the first stewards of our land and water, and NRCS in Colorado is working hard to support efforts to protect and preserve our water resources,” said John Knapp, Area Conservationist, La Junta, CO. “The funding will help producers in the Lower Arkansas watershed begin or expand projects to improve water quality.”
The project aims to increase awareness and provide viable options to address limited water resources with management structural practices through the Agricultural Water Enhancement Program (AWEP). The AWEP program is voluntary and is administered by NRCS, which enters into agreements with conservation partners to help landowners plan and implement conservation practices in project areas established through the agreements. In each project recently approved, individual farmers and ranchers may apply for benefits.
AWEP partners include federally recognized Indian tribes, states, units of local government, agricultural associations, and non-governmental organizations. To become partners, applicants submitted proposals to address the following enhancement activities:
• Water conservation or quantity restoration or enhancement projects;
• Water quality restoration or enhancement projects;
• Water quality or water conservation plan development;
• Irrigation system improvement or irrigation efficiency enhancement;
• Activities designed to mitigate the effects of drought and climate change; and
• Related activities to help achieve water quality or water conservation benefits on agricultural land
Partner proposals were selected using a competitive process that considered several factors including statutorily defined priority areas, emphasis for water conservation activities such as conversion of irrigated land to dryland farming and assistance to farmers and ranchers to meet regulatory requirements. Approved partners enter into multi-year agreements with NRCS to promote ground and surface water conservation or improve water quality on eligible agricultural lands in the project area. Once these partner agreements are in place, producers in eligible project areas may apply to participate at their local NRCS office.
The collaborating Neegronda Irrigation Partners involved in this project include NRCS, the Bent Conservation District, the Prowers Conservation District, Fort Lyon Irrigation, and the Wiley Drainage District.
Applications must be submitted to NRCS field offices in Bent and Prowers counties. Additional information about AWEP is available at http://www.co.nrcs.usda.gov/programs/AWEP/AWEP.html, or you can contact Cindy Schleining, District Conservationist, Bent County, (719) 456-0120, x102; or Susan Hansen, District Conservationist, Prowers County, (719) 336-3437, x123.
NRCS is celebrating 75 years helping people help the land in 2010. Since 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.
