Karen A. Woodrich, USDA Natural Resources Conservation Service (NRCS) Kansas State Conservationist, announced funding to improve water quality concerns in the Milford Lake Watershed in Kansas. The Kansas Water Office and other partners have joined NRCS in a Regional Conservation Partnership Program (RCPP) to offer financial assistance to help landowners reduce Milford Watershed nutrient loading by 31,000 pounds of phosphorus per year and to decrease the frequency and duration of harmful algal blooms (HABs) on Milford Lake.

NRCS is providing funding through the Environmental Quality Incentives Program (EQIP). There will be two fiscal year 2019 EQIP application evaluation periods for this RCPP project.

The first application evaluation period will be for applications received by December 21, 2018. The second application evaluation period will be for applications received by March 15, 2019.

In Kansas, portions of Jewell, Republic, Washington, Mitchell, Cloud, Clay, Riley, Dickinson, and Geary

Counties are the targeted areas where EQIP funds will be available for agricultural producers interested in implementing conservation practices. Funding will go toward water quality improvement best management practices such as nutrient management, cover crops, residue management, terraces, filter strips, grass plantings, as well as others.

For more information, go to the Kansas NRCS website www.ks.nrcs.usda.gov/programs or visit your local U.S. Department of Agriculture (USDA) Service Center. To find a service center near you, go to offices.usda.gov. USDA is an equal opportunity provider, employer, and lender.