The Missouri Department of Natural Resources has joined the federal Natural Resources Conservation Service to deliver a Regional Conservation Partnership Program (RCPP) in three Missouri watersheds: Blackwater, Cahokia-Joachim and South Fork Salt.

According to a news release, this RCPP will provide cost-share assistance to farmers to implement agricultural practices that improve water quality by addressing sediment, nutrient and pathogen loss occurring on agricultural fields. The cost-share assistance will be provided to farmers in 16 Missouri counties, including Cooper, Johnson, Lafayette, Pettis, and Saline in the KMMO listening area. More than $500,000 in federal financial assistance is budgeted for 2022.

“This project’s objective is to identify specific areas within a watershed where the most economically efficient soil loss reductions can be achieved and install conservation practices there,” said Jeremy Redden, environmental manager with the department’s Soil and Water Conservation Program. “The targeted watershed approach allows agencies to complete specific water quality protection and soil erosion reduction goals by accelerating the conservation efforts in high-priority areas.”

Applicants from all three watersheds will compete for funding, and the applications that best address the project objectives will be selected for assistance. The application deadline for the first round of funding is April 29, 2022.