NRCS Invests More Than $1.1M In Partner-Driven Comanche Springs Project In West Texas

USDA’s Natural Resources Service (NRCS) today announced that it is investing $1.1M in Texas for a partner-driven conservation project through its Regional Conservation Partnership Program (RCPP). NRCS will leverage nearly $1.6M in partner contributions over the next five years. 

“With the first RCPP awards under the 2018 Farm Bill, we are excited to see quality conservation being implemented to help restore spring flow to one of the most historical springs of Texas,” said Drenda Williams, NRCS acting state conservationist for Texas. “Through collaboration and aligning our resources toward a common goal, we’re making an impact for natural resource conservation that could never have been realized on our own.”

RCPP uses a partner-driven approach to fund innovative solutions to natural resource challenges. Through RCPP, NRCS and partners work together with private landowners and producers to implement a variety of conservation activities, including land management practices and systems, short-term land rentals, conservation easements and watershed structures. The mix of conservation activities carried out under each project is dependent on a project’s goals, objectives and conservation benefits.

These projects offer impactful and measurable outcomes. They will support diverse agricultural and natural resource objectives, from helping farmers and ranchers improve water quality, soil health and drought resiliency to protecting drinking water supplies and enhancing wildlife habitat.

With NRCS contributions of $1.1M and Texas Water Trade contributions of $1.5M, Texas Water Trades goal is to increase spring flow to year-round flow of Comanche Springs near Fort Stockton which was historically one of the five largest springs of Texas.

“Comanche Springs has only flowed seasonally since the 1960s when irrigation expanded in the Leon-Belding Irrigation Area. Using our extensive analysis of crop types, irrigation systems and hydrological interactions and working with NRCS field staff, we will incentivize crop switching and irrigation efficiencies in the Leon-Belding Irrigation Area to bring back year-round flow to the springs,” said Sharlene Leurig, chief executive officer for Texas Water Trade. “If we can achieve perennial flow, this will be the first-of-its-kind restoration of a spring in Texas, bringing back an ecological and recreational jewel to the region.”

View a multimedia story for a full list of projects at https://arcg.is/4HeWX   .

Nationally, NRCS is investing $206M for 48 partner-driven conservation projects across 29 states, while leveraging nearly $300M in partner contributions. 

Though RCPP was first authorized in the 2014 Farm Bill, the 2018 Farm Bill made changes to strengthen the program and simplify its rules.  RCPP is now a stand-alone program with $300M annually available for partner-driven projects.  In addition to the general RCPP projects announced today, NRCS has already awarded more than $50M for 18 renewals of 2014 Farm Bill projects. A separate RCPP Alternative Funding Arrangements (AFA) funding announcement is currently open until May 29.

Since 2015, RCPP has combined $1B in NRCS investments with close to $2B in partner dollars to implement conservation practices nationwide. There are currently 341 active RCPP projects and close to 2,000 RCPP partners.

Read more about the Regional Conservation Partnership Program.