In Colorado today, Agriculture Secretary Tom Vilsack announced the availability of up to $235 million to improve conservation efforts through the Regional Conservation Partnership Program (RCPP).

This will be the second round of projects funded through RCPP, the newest conservation tool of the USDA’s Natural Resources Conservation Service (NRCS) included in the 2014 Farm Bil. “This is a new, innovative approach to conservation,” said Vilsack. “This initiative allows local partners the opportunity to design and invest in conservation projects specifically tailored for their communities. These efforts keep our land and water clean, and promote tremendous economic growth in agriculture, construction, tourism, and other industries.”

Vilsack made the announcement in Denver at a ceremony for the Colorado Pressurized Small Hydropower Partnership Project, a 2015-funded project that focuses on water quantity resource concerns in Colorado. The project, which will receive $1.8 million in NRCS support alongside local partner investments, will facilitate the conversion of flood irrigation systems to more resource-efficient pressurized irrigation systems with integrated hydropower.

Another project, “The Tri-State Western Lake Erie Basin Phosphorous Reduction Initiative” brings together more than 40 partnering organizations from Michigan, Ohio and Indiana to reduce the runoff of phosphorous to waterways in the western basin of Lake Erie.

Listen to press conference with Vilsack and Colorado Commissioner of Agriculture Don Brown: [wpaudio url=”http://www.zimmcomm.biz/usda/usda-rcpp-5-15.mp3″ text=”USDA Regional Conservation Partnership announcement”]