Grassed waterways protect water quality by capturing soil and filtering nutrient run-off from farm fields. Even with regular maintenance, all waterways will eventually silt in and cease to function. Gullys in and along the edges of the waterway, erosion of berms, filling in with soil, and lack of adequate grass are all signs of a non-functioning waterway.

Delaware River WRAPS (Watershed Restoration and Protection Strategy) is currently accepting applications for cost share funds to build or re-build grassed waterways on agricultural lands. Delaware WRAPS will cover 90% of the actual cost to build or re-build a grassed waterway for approved applications.

Eligibility Requirements:

·       Waterway must fall within the cropland priority/targeted area of the Delaware Watershed

·       Delaware WRAPS does not fund projects on sod-busted fields

·       Cost of tree removal from waterways is not eligible for cost share

Program Application Details:

·       Applications are reviewed every 6-8 weeks (next meeting is mid-September) and will be accepted until all of the funding has been allocated

·       Applications are prioritized according to severity of the natural resource concern, and whether or not the waterway is located within a targeted area of the watershed

·       Funding decisions are made by a Stakeholder Leadership Team, comprised of area landowners, producers, and natural resource professionals

Interested landowners should act quickly to take advantage of this program.  Contact Melissa Arthur, Delaware River WRAPS Coordinator at 785-284-3422 or delawarewatershed@gmail.com or visit http://www.delawarewraps.com to get more information, find out if land is in a watershed targeted area or to get an application.  This information is also available at conservation district offices in Atchison, Brown, Jackson, Jefferson and Nemaha counties.   

The WRAPS program helps landowners meet their conservation goals while reducing sediment, nutrient and bacteria pollution of streams and lakes in the watershed. WRAPS works closely with FSA, NRCS and local Conservation Districts to leverage available conservation program funding and to promote similar conservation goals.