Special Projects
The Faulkner County Conservation District (FCCD) is actively working to improve the water quality and to reduce soil erosion in our county and local watersheds. The Natural Resources Conservation Service (NRCS), an agency under the U.S. Department of Agriculture (USDA), administers nationwide, special initiative programs. FCCD has used these funds to increase conservation in the county. These cost-share programs allow farmers to improve their operations in an affordable manner while simultaneously improving the quality of their land and livestock.
The programs FCCD has participated in are the Mississippi River Healthy Watersheds Initiative (MRBI) and the Regional Conservation Partnership Program (RCPP). The funding from these programs concentrates federal cost-share dollars to the specific project area. When an operator, landowner, producer, farmer, etc applies for these programs, they are ranked against each other. General ranking with the NRCS is statewide, which means that many of these individuals will be out competed by other farmers in Arkansas. Special project ranking is for that project area only. Individuals who apply for these programs are ranked against other farmers in the local area of the special project. This means these individuals have a higher chance for funding.
Mississippi River Healthy Watersheds Initiative (MRBI)
Brewer Lake - Cadron Creek
The Brewer Lake - Cadron Creek MRBI is the newest water quality project administered by FCCD and the NRCS. We have secured six million dollars in funding to implement in the project area from federal fiscal year 2020 through 2024. We plan to install conservation practices and conservation systems through a special MRBI cost-share program. If you are a producer who owns land in this area, then feel free to contact us about this program.
The purpose of this MRBI project is to increase surface water quality by reducing nutrient and sediment runoff through the installation of conservation systems on pastured farms and confined animal operations in the project area. This watershed approach is also expected to have a positive benefit to a diversity of wildlife habitat, including endangered species. Without conservation actions, damage to the wildlife within the watershed may be irreparable.
The purpose of this MRBI project is to increase surface water quality by reducing nutrient and sediment runoff through the installation of conservation systems on pastured farms and confined animal operations in the project area. This watershed approach is also expected to have a positive benefit to a diversity of wildlife habitat, including endangered species. Without conservation actions, damage to the wildlife within the watershed may be irreparable.
Tupelo Bayou - Beaverdam Creek
The Tupelo Bayou - Beaverdam Creek MRBI project began in 2016 and finished in 2019. Over the course of the project FCCD and the NRCS implemented over two million dollars in conservation practices. This included cropland and pasture practices. Irrigation efficiency for cropland farmers has massively increased on these farm from this project, which ultimately reduces the amount of water and soil lost to runoff in the area.
Regional Conservation Partnership Program
East Fork Cadron Creek RCPP
The East Fork Cadron Creek RCPP began in 2017. We have contracted over $800,000 in pastured practices in the area. The goal of this project is to reduce sediment runoff into Cadron Creek. In 2020, we will have an extra $600,000 to spend in the area. Be sure to give us a call if you own an operation in the area and would like to increase the productivity of your farm.