CONSERVATION FUNDING AVAILABLE TO LANDOWNERS

Federal Funds Available to Address Natural Resource Concerns

Palmer, February 19, 2009 – State Conservationist Bob Jones announced the USDA-Natural Resources Conservation Service in Alaska will be taking applications for 2009 preliminary conservation program funding until Friday, March 27.  

NRCS provides financial and technical assistance to landowners to help people reduce soil erosion, enhance water supplies, improve water quality, increase wildlife habitat, and reduce damages caused by floods and other natural disasters. Public benefits include enhanced natural resources that help sustain agricultural and substance productivity and environmental quality while supporting continued economic development, recreation, and scenic beauty.

With financial assistance from NRCS, Alaskans can replace culverts that impede salmon passage, erect fencing that keeps livestock out of sensitive wetland areas, and construct ATV trails to prevent soil from eroding into waterways. Past projects receiving NRCS financial assistance improved forestland health, irrigated a commercial strawberry operation, and enhanced wetland areas for migratory waterfowl.

“While this funding allocation is only preliminary, we currently have over 7 million dollars available to assist landowners in conservation,” says Jones. Landowners can be private individuals, business partnerships, tribal corporations, and village corporations.

The cost-share funds are available through the Environmental Quality Incentives Program (EQIP) and the Wildlife Habitat Incentives Program (WHIP), two of the 2008 Farm Bill programs administered by NRCS. EQIP assists landowners in improving soil, air and water quality and other related resource conditions on working lands. WHIP helps landowners create, restore and enhance wildlife habitat on their land. Additional information on these and other conservation programs is available at http://www.nrcs.usda.gov/programs/farmbill/2008/index.html .

For information regarding program participation or to apply for programs, contact an NRCS Field Office. The Alaska NRCS office phone numbers are: Aniak (907) 675-4269, Copper Center (907) 822-4484, Delta Junction (907) 895-4241, Dillingham (907) 842-3240, Fairbanks (907) 479-3159, Homer (907) 235-8177, Juneau (907) 586-7220, Kenai (907)283-8732, Kodiak (907) 486-5598, Nome (907) 443-6096, and Wasilla (907)373-6492. Contact information for the offices in Alaska is also available at www.ak.nrcs.usda.gov/contact/fieldoffices.html, or by calling (907) 761-7760.

Since 1935, the Natural Resources Conservation Service (originally called the Soil Conservation Service) has provided leadership in a partnership effort to help America's private land owners and managers conserve their soil, water, and other natural resources.

NRCS employees provide technical assistance based on sound science and suited to a customer's specific needs. We provide financial assistance for many conservation activities. Participation in our programs is voluntary and non-regulatory.

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