Indianapolis, IN, August 30, 2024– Damarys Mortenson, State Conservationist for Indiana’s USDA Natural Resources Conservation Service (NRCS) announced today they are accepting first round applications to improve water quality in the Kankakee River watershed by establishing 800 acres of wetland easements to help improve water storage capacity.
Dollars are available for farmers through the Kankakee Watershed Regional Conservation Partnership Program (RCPP). Through this multistate project led by the Indiana State Department of Agriculture (ISDA), forty-three partners in Illinois and Indiana will work together to improve the overall health of the iconic Kankakee watershed which drains approximately 3,000 square miles in portions of Lake, Porter, LaPorte, St. Joseph, Elkhart, Kosciusko, Marshall, Starke, Jasper and Newton counties across northern Indiana.
“This project is a great example of public, private and non-profit organizations working together to solve local problems,” said Mortenson. “The group is addressing critical water quality and quantity issues in the watershed. By targeting RCPP dollars and leveraging partner resources, we can make a greater impact on the health of waterbodies in the Kankakee watershed and downstream.”
Frequent flooding, erosion, and sedimentation of the Kankakee River and its downstream effluences all pose significant environmental challenges. One of the central goals of this multi-state initiative is to address excess water by establishing voluntary wetland easements on land throughout the watershed. These easements will help facilitate water storage and improve water quality in an effort to reduce flooding and nutrient runoff entering the Kankakee River or its many tributaries.
“Our department is excited to lead this multistate project alongside our fellow Midwestern neighbors and other partners,” said Don Lamb, Director of the ISDA. “Excess water can cause major issues for surrounding areas to the Kankakee watershed, so the opportunity to provide landowners with cost assistance in installing wetland easements is something we are happy to support.”
For wetland easements, NRCS pays all costs associated with recording the easement in the local land records office, including recording fees, charges for abstracts, survey and appraisal fees, and title insurance. NRCS pays a fair market value for the easement rights based on several various factors including soil types, types of crops capable of being grown, production history, location, real estate market values, and tax rates and assessments. Land eligible for wetland easements includes privately held farmed or converted wetland that can be successfully and cost-effectively restored.
While applications are accepted on a continuous basis, all applications for this round of funding consideration must be received by October 4. Contact us to see if you are eligible for this funding opportunity.
To learn more about RCPP in Indiana, visit: https://www.nrcs.usda.gov/programs-initiatives/rcpp-regional-conservation-partnership-program/indiana/RCPP.
コメント