The Genesee County Soil and Water Conservation District (SWCD) in coordination with the Natural Resources Conservation Service (NRCS) is available to provide information about the Great Lakes Restoration Initiative and the special funding that is available to farmers within the Oak Orchard, Oatka and Black Creek watersheds.
The two funding sources that are available to eligible farmers within the Great Lakes priority watersheds include the Black and Oatka Creeks Sediment Reduction Grant and the Environmental Quality Incentives Program.
Funding from both programs will provide financial and technical assistance for installing conservation practices aimed at protecting water quality in the streams and tributaries of Lake Ontario.
“The Great Lakes are an important part of our region supplying drinking water to more than 40 million people and supporting many different sectors including manufacturing, tourism, energy, and agriculture,” said Heath Eisele, district conservationist for the Batavia NRCS field office. “Continued protection of the Great Lakes will take a multipronged approach."
Applications are currently being accepted for both funding programs. The deadline for submitting applications for the Environmental Quality Incentives Program is July 1. The deadline for submitting applications for the Black and Oatka Creek Sediment Reduction Grant is Aug. 1.
To contact the Genesee County Soil and Water Conservation District, phone 343-2363. For more details or additional conservation program information contact Heath Eisele at heath.eisele@ny.usda.gov.
