Conservation Innovation Grants, Chesapeake Bay

United States Department of Agriculture
Natural Resources Conservation Service
1221 College Park Drive, Suite 100
Dover, Delaware 19904

For More Information:

NRCS in Delaware, 302/678-4179
NRCS in Maryland, 443/482-2902

Federal Grants PROVIDE $5 MILLION TO PROTECT WATER QUALITY IN the Chesapeake Bay Watershed
$1.5 million to benefit agricultural producers in Delaware and Maryland

Dover, DE, June 11, 2008—U.S. Department of Agriculture’s Natural Resources Conservation Service (NRCS) Chief Arlen Lancaster today announced that $5 million will be used to fund 11 innovative conservation projects to protect water quality, recycle nutrients and improve wildlife habitat in the Chesapeake Bay watershed.

Three of the Conservation Innovation Grants (CIG) projects, receiving $1.5 million in Federal funding, will help farmers in Delaware and Maryland jointly sustain natural resources and maintain agricultural viability to improve their operation within the watershed. Grant recipients provided matching funds totaling $2.9 million for the three CIGs combined.

Projects in the Chesapeake Bay watershed will also address emerging natural resource issues including energy conservation and market-based approaches to conservation. The 64,000 square-mile Chesapeake Bay watershed covers parts of Delaware, Maryland, New York, Pennsylvania, Virginia, West Virginia and the District of Columbia.

CIG, a component of USDA-NRCS’ Environmental Quality Incentives Program, provides competitive grants to state and local governments, non-governmental organizations and individuals to promote the development and adoption of innovative conservation approaches and technologies. CIG funds pilot projects and field demonstrations that can last from one to three years. Federal funds awarded to these grants cannot exceed 50 percent of the total project cost. Awards of up to $1 million can be made to organizations working directly with farmers to improve water quality and restore habitat in watersheds throughout the Chesapeake Bay basin. These projects demonstrate conservation approaches that make economic sense to farmers.

Following is a list of 2008 Conservation Innovation Grants (CIG) in the Chesapeake Bay that will directly affect Delaware and Maryland producers:

Recipient	Project Title/Description	Funding
Pinchot Institute for Conservation	*Implementing the Bay Bank –* The Bank will be an innovative online marketplace for environmental services that will connect private landowners in Delaware and Maryland to non-traditional markets such as forest conservation, carbon sequestration as well as traditional conservation programs.	$450,000 NRCS; $656,000 in matching funds
University of Delaware (UD)	*Nitrogen Management During Corn Production*- UD will develop a performance-based nutrient management system designed to help corn growers fine tune nitrogen application rates.	$550,000 NRCS; $999,400 in matching funds
The Chesapeake Bay Foundation	*The Chesapeake Nutrient Neutral Fund-* Project partners will develop a fund for private investment in high quality nutrient pollution reduction projects.	$500,000 NRCS; $1.27 million in matching funds

A complete list of all projects and funding throughout the six-state watershed is available online along with additional information about the Conservation Innovation Grants. Please visit http://www.nrcs.usda.gov/programs/cig.

...NRCS in DE - Chesapeake Bay Website

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