NRCS invites potential conservation partners to submit project applications for fiscal year (FY) 2018 federal funding through RCPP. Project pre-applications are due on or before April 21, 2017. Through this fourth RCPP Announcement for Program Funding (APF), NRCS will award up to $252 million dollars to locally driven, public-private partnerships that improve the nation’s water quality, combat drought, enhance soil health, support wildlife habitat and protect agricultural viability. Applicants must match or exceed the federal award with private or local funds.
Press release about the RCPP APF
Application requirements, process and due dates
The Wisconsin DNR is pleased to announce that application materials for 2018 Targeted Runoff Management (TRM) projects are now available on our website. Details are in the Ag Sector Team update, below.
The Wisconsin DNR is pleased to announce that application materials for 2018 Urban Nonpoint Source & Storm Water Management (UNPS) Planning projects are now available on our website! Details are in the Stormwater/MS4 Sector Team update, below.
The Wisconsin DNR is pleased to announce that application materials for 2018 Targeted Runoff Management (TRM) projects are now available on our website. For more information about TRM grants, including what makes a good project, and how to write a strong application, please save the date for an upcoming TRM Grant Webinar, scheduled for February 23, 1:00-2:00 pm.
The Targeted Runoff Management (TRM) Grant Program offers competitive cost share grants to local governments for controlling nonpoint source (NPS) pollution. Grants reimburse costs for agriculture or urban runoff management practices in targeted, critical geographic areas with surface water or groundwater quality concerns. Eligible applicants include cities, villages, towns, counties, regional planning commissions, tribal governments and special purpose lake, sewerage and sanitary districts.
- Small scale TRM grants can fund up to 70% of eligible project costs, up to a maximum $150,000 grant award
- Large-scale TRM grants can fund up to 70% of eligible project costs, up to a maximum $1,000,000 grant award. Large Scale TRM project areas can be between 8 and 39 square miles.
Applications for projects starting in 2018 must be postmarked no later than Monday, April 17, 2017.
As part of the effort to address groundwater issues and protect drinking water and public health across Wisconsin, the Department of Natural Resources is working with key public and agriculture industry stakeholders, state agencies, the State Legislature, the governor and the general public to update ch. NR 151, Wis. Adm. Code [exit DNR].
Nutrient Management Farmer Education Grant cover costs for
entities to conduct farmer nutrient management training courses that
enable farmers to become qualified to write their own nutrient management plans
for their farms. Producer-led groups that meet the qualifications in the
Request for Applications are also eligible to apply for this funding. Deadline: April 15, 2018.
Rachel Rushmann, Program Manager: 608-224-4622
Matt Ruark, UW Extension, explains what cover crops are and how they are
used in farming systems.
http://fyi.uwex.edu/news/2017/01/27/what-are-cover-crops/
Insight from 2,020 farmers from across the country reflected enthusiasm for cover crops and — for the fourth year in a row — found a yield boost in corn and soybeans following cover crops. Multiyear data shows the yield boost increases as cover crops are planted year after year, a revelation that points to an appealing long-term benefit of the conservation practice. Read the full summary
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Koshkonong Creek Targeted Assessment (TWA)
Field 2016 was completed with sampling of the Koshkonong
Creek TWA. Sampling involved conducting fish
index of biotic integrity sampling on 22 sites in the watershed. Scores ranged from Fair to Excellent, and
high lights included the finding of several species of Darters (Johnny, banded,
blackside, rainbow, and Iowa) other habitat sensitive species like blackstripe
topminnows. Surveys also included
qualitative habitat evaluations at 22 sites scores ranged from Poor to
Excellent. Macroinvertebrates were also
sampled at 14 locations within the watershed, those results won’t be available
till 2017. We had intended to sample
more places for fish but due to the nature of sections of Koshkonong Creek
water depth and depth of fine sediments prevented us from sampling the middle
and lower section of the watershed. These
areas are channelized and have historically been dredged in the past. The wet summer also played a role in
increasing flows .
Large River Fish non-wadable sampling was completed at two
sites in the Rock River Basin at Indianford
CTH D and Jefferson CTH B, this is part of the pilot study of 2016. There are 43 sites sampled around the state
at or near the long term water quality stations, this is part of a larger
monitoring strategy. In 2017 the entire
Rock River will be sampled using the non wadable metrics. This will include 15 stations on the Rock
River, Crawfish River, Bark River, and the Yahara River. Map displaying locations will be available
after 2/15/2017 once approved by Monitoring team. This will be the first comprehensive look at
the Nonwadable Fish Community of the Rock River and its major tributaries.
The 2018 Wisconsin Consolidated Assessment and Listing Methodology (WisCALM) was open for public comment. From December 20, 2016 to January 27, 2017. These comments are being considered before the guidance is used to assess water quality in early 2017.
For more information, contact:
dnrimpairedwaters@wisconsin.gov
or via mail to:
Ashley Beranek DNR Bureau of Water Quality 101 S. Webster St. WQ/3 Madison, WI 53707
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E&O Team Update
Members of the E&O team attended the January Rock River Stormwater Group meeting to learn more about their education & outreach efforts. This includes an exciting initiative with marketing students from UW Whitewater to develop a focused outreach program and clear messaging on important stormwater and water quality topics.
We
will be finalizing plans for the next E&O team meeting.
Please email suggestions
for potential topics to include on the meeting agenda. The current agenda
includes;
- Review
of Survey Results
- Partner
Check-in/Updates,
- Review
of Potential Roles/Resources and activities (State, Local/MS4, NGO's,
etc.)
- Website Review
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The Wisconsin DNR is pleased to announce that application
materials for 2018 Urban Nonpoint Source & Storm Water Management (UNPS)
Planning projects are now available on our website! For more information
about UNPS Planning grants, including what makes a good project and how to
write a strong application, please save the date for an upcoming UNPS Planning
Grant Webinar, scheduled for February 23, 2:30-3:30 pm.
Please note that if you downloaded the UNPS
Planning Grant application or instructions on or before January 13, 2017, the
application/instructions contained an error that has now been corrected. You
should discard this version and replace it with the current version.
The UNPS Grant Program offers competitive grants for local governments (up
to 50% of eligible costs, up to $85,000 maximum grant award) of planning
projects for controlling urban nonpoint source and storm water runoff
pollution. UNPS grants can reimburse costs for planning activities such as
municipal storm water management planning, storm water utility development, local
ordinance development, illicit discharge detection and elimination, and public
information and outreach activities. Local governments are eligible to apply.
Applicants must either have jurisdiction over the project area or be required
to control storm water discharge with an inter-governmental agreement between
the municipality and the Wisconsin DNR.
Applications for projects starting in 2018 must be postmarked no later than
Monday, April 17, 2017.
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The 2017 CAFO Workshops are coming up soon! The
2017 CAFO workshops will be held at the following dates
and locations (registration opens 15 minutes before listed start time):
- January 31, 2017 – Green Bay (Meal 7:30 AM, program follows)
- January 31, 2017 – New London (Meal 11:30 AM, program follows)
- February 1, 2017 – Manitowoc (Meal 7:30 AM, program follows)
- February 1, 2017 – Fond du Lac (Meal 11:30 AM, program follows)
- February 6, 2017 – Jefferson (Meal 11:30 AM, program follows)
- February 7, 2017 – Dodgeville (Meal 11:30 AM, program follows)
- February 8, 2017 – Marshfield (11 AM)
- February 9, 2017 – Rice Lake (Meal 11:30 AM, program follows,
earlybird panel 10:30 AM)
The Department of Natural Resources conducts these
workshops along with the UW Extension. These workshops provide an update
for WPDES permitted CAFO owners and managers, nutrient management plan writers
and engineers. Workshop topics include:
- Production Site Compliance
-
Runoff control/collection from feed storage areas and animal lots
-
Monitoring & Reporting Compliance
-
Nutrient Management Compliance
-
Surface applications and cover crops requirements for CAFOs
-
DNR Panel Q&A
Registration materials and agendas for each
location can be found by clicking on the following link: http://go.wisc.edu/vztbq5
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