State Conservationist Craig Derickson announced the launch of a new National Water Quality Initiative committed to improving four impaired watersheds in Nebraska.  USDA’s Natural Resources Conservation Service (NRCS) will manage the initiative by making funds available to farmers, ranchers and forest landowners in the selected watersheds.
“NRCS has been working to provide voluntary, incentive-based conservation assistance to Nebraska landowners.  That has included working with partner agencies to help landowners and operators improve and protect watershed health.  This new Water Quality Initiative will carry on the tradition of this partnership effort that has been highly effective in Nebraska,” Derickson said.
 
Through this effort, eligible producers in the selected watersheds will invest in voluntary conservation practices to help provide cleaner water for their neighbors and communities.  These watersheds were identified with help from state agencies, partners, and the NRCS State Technical Committee and include:

• Cottonwood Creek in Saunders County (area includes Czechland Lake near Prague, Neb.)
• Holmes Creek/Conestoga Reservoir in Seward and Lancaster counties (area includes Conestoga State Recreation Area southwest of Lincoln, Neb.)
• Upper Cub Creek in Jefferson County (area includes Cub Creek Recreation Area northeast of Fairbury, Neb.)
• Big Indian Creek in Gage County (area includes Lower Big Blue Recreation Area south of Blue Springs, Neb.)

Using funds from the Environmental Quality Incentives Program, NRCS will provide funding and expertise to producers interested in installing conservation practices such as cover crops, filter strips, terraces and other erosion control practices to improve water quality.
 
Participating in the announcement of the National Water Quality Initiative for Nebraska were representatives from the Nebraska Department of Environmental Quality, Lower Platte North, Lower Platte South and Lower Big Blue NRDs, the Nebraska Game and Parks Commission, and a landowner who farms in one of the targeted watershed areas.
 
Tom Mountford, assistant manager of the Lower Platte North NRD was encouraged to hear that Cottonwood Creek was selected to receive assistance through the initiative.  Mountford said, “These kinds of partnerships are so important.  We have a lot of good conservationists in the area, but with 50% of the watershed as highly erodible land, there is still more work to be done to protect water quality.”
 
Burdett Piening, a landowner in the Conestoga watershed said he was excited to have the opportunity to improve some of the conservation practices on his cropland.  “I like these programs because they help keep soil where it belongs.”
 
Interested participants may apply for financial assistance through the National Water Quality Initiative on a continuous basis throughout the year.  Landowners and operators should check with the local NRCS office to see if their farm or ranch is located in one of the targeted watersheds.  All applications for funding consideration, during this fiscal year, must be received by June 15, 2012.  NRCS will notify all applicants of the results and begin developing contracts with selected applicants.