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COST-SHARE ASSISTANCE FOR CONSERVATION PROJECTS
The RCDMC provides free planning and other technical assistance
for eligible agricultural conservation projects on agricultural lands,
including engineering design and permitting assistance. If your project
is eligible, the RCDMC can provide access to cost-share assistance
through the USDA NRCS’ Environmental
Quality Incentives Program (EQIP) program or the PG&E Special
Environmental Projects (SEP). For
certain projects the RCDMC may also be able to apply
for other grant funds on behalf of a cooperating landowner, grower
or rancher.
ENVIRONMENTAL QUALITY INCENTIVES PROGRAM (EQIP)
The Environmental Quality Incentives Program (EQIP) offers financial
and technical assistance to eligible participants for the installation
of vegetated, structural and management practices on eligible agricultural
land. EQIP typically cost-shares at 90 percent of the costs
of eligible conservation practices Incentive payments may be provided
for up to three years to encourage producers to conduct management
practices they would not otherwise do without the incentive. Limited
resource producers and beginning farmers and ranchers may be eligible
for cost-share up to 90 percent. EQIP sign-up information is
available on-line.
PG&E SPECIAL ENVIRONMENTAL PROJECTS (SEP) FUND
The PG&E Special Environmental Projects (SEP) funds are available
for farm water quality improvement projects in North Monterey County.
Irrigated agricultural land east of the Salinas River from Chualar
in the south to the Springfield Terrace, Royal Oaks and Prunedale
hills in north Monterey County may be eligible for these grant funds.
Typical projects include: sediment basins, grade stabilization structures,
row arrangement, stream bank protection, and grassed waterways. These
funds will pay up to 75% of design and installation costs.
The SEP funds originate from a court settlement agreement between
PG&E and the Central Coast Regional Water Quality Control Board
regarding alleged violations of the company’s permit. The
SEP grants program is administered by the Community
Foundation for Monterey County.
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