USDA Invests More Than $7.5M In A Partner-Driven Project That Protects Natural Resources In Wisconsin

USDA’s Natural Resources Conservation Service (NRCS) today announced that it is investing $7,503,896 in Wisconsin for a partner-driven conservation project through its Regional Conservation Partnership Program (RCPP). NRCS will leverage $11,025,000 in partner contributions in Wisconsin.

“I’m excited to announce the first RCPP awards under the 2018 Farm Bill,” said Angela Biggs, State Conservationist in Wisconsin. “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. We’re excited to continue the Milwaukee River Watershed Conservation Partnership with the Milwaukee Metropolitan Sewerage District through RCPP.”

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.

In Wisconsin, the Milwaukee River Watershed Conservation Partnership aims to use conservation easements, land management and short-term land rental activities to help preserve the viability of the agricultural economy in the watershed and reduce sediment and nutrient losses to surface waters. The partnership will focus its outreach efforts on historically underserved producers and non-operator female landowners.

NRCS in Wisconsin will invest $7,503,896 and the conservation partner, Milwaukee Metropolitan Sewerage District, with its long list of contributing partners, will invest $11,025,000, with the project benefiting the Great Lakes Region.

View this multimedia story for a full list of projects.

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 $300 M 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, including a project in Wisconsin with the City of Oconomowoc in the Oconomowoc River watershed. A separate RCPP Alternative Funding Arrangements (AFA) funding announcement is currently open until May 18.

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.