Natural Resources Conservation Service Accepting Applications for L’Anguille River - Mississippi River Basin Initiative Project through August 1, 2010

Little Rock, Ark., July 9, 2010 – Farmers and landowners in portions of Cross and Poinsett counties in Arkansas have until August 1, 2010, to submit applications to receive cost-share assistance to implement conservation practices through the L’Anguille River - Mississippi River Basin Initiative (MRBI) project.

The L’Anguille River - MRBI project is a voluntary program that provides financial and technical assistance to agricultural producers for addressing water quality concerns in the L’Anguille River watershed.

The USDA Natural Resources Conservation Service (NRCS) in partnership with the L’Anguille River Coalition has received $540,000 in fiscal year 2010 funding for the initiative.

“The L’Anguille River has been designated as an impaired watershed by the Environmental Protection Agency due to excessive siltation and turbidity from agricultural sources,” said Mike Sullivan, NRCS state conservationist. 

Funding will be available to eligible landowners through the Environmental Quality Incentives Program (EQIP), Wildlife Habitat Incentive Program (WHIP) and Conservation Stewardship Program (CSP).  NRCS will provide cost-share for a variety of conservation practices for the purpose of reducing the amount of nutrient runoff and soil erosion associated with agricultural production.  Cropland, forestland and pasture/hayland, are eligible for the initiative.  Land and producer eligibility, adjusted gross income, and all other program criteria for participation in EQIP, WHIP and CSP must be met by participants in this initiative.

Applications may be obtained and filed with the Natural Resources Conservation Service at:

• Cross County
  Wynne Field Service Center
  810 Highway 64E, Suite 13 
  Wynne, AR 72396
  (870) 238-3285, ext. 3
                                      

• Poinsett County
  Harrisburg Field Service Center
  505 Brooks Ave.
  Harrisburg, AR 72432
  (870) 578-2444, ext. 3

Under the Mississippi River Basin Healthy Watersheds Initiative, NRCS will provide technical assistance and a total of $30 million of financial assistance during federal fiscal year 2010 for 76 projects in Arkansas, Illinois, Indiana, Iowa, Kentucky, Louisiana, Minnesota, Mississippi, Missouri, Ohio, Tennessee, and Wisconsin.

“The six projects selected in Arkansas will be implemented working with our conservation partners to accelerate conservation treatment to improve water quality, maintain productivity and enhance wildlife habitat,” Sullivan said.  “Additional funding for the six Arkansas projects could exceed $30 million over the 5-year project’s life.”

For more information about MRBI, the L’Anguille River project and a project area map, contact one of the above offices or visit the NRCS Arkansas Web site at: www.ar.nrcs.usda.gov/programs/mrbi.html.