Enrollment opens for Glacial Lakes Conservation Project

By Scout Nelson

The United States Department of Agriculture's Natural Resources Conservation Service (NRCS) in South Dakota is calling on local landowners and agricultural producers to participate in the Glacial Lakes project, part of the Regional Conservation Partnership Program (RCPP).

This initiative targets the improvement of water quality in the glacial lakes and streams across northeast South Dakota, encompassing Day, Deuel, Grant, Marshall, and Roberts counties.

The project's objective is to safeguard and upgrade the water quality of these natural resources, ensuring they fulfill their beneficial uses as defined by state standards.

Efforts will also focus on combating erosion, enhancing wildlife habitat, addressing degraded plant conditions, and overcoming challenges in livestock production and soil quality.

Applications are open year-round, with a special review deadline for Fiscal Year 2024 funding set for April 5, 2024.

Landowners interested in contributing to the preservation of South Dakota's natural beauty and environmental stability are urged to reach out to their local USDA service center for further details and application procedures.

Matt Morlock, RCPP Coordinator based in Brookings, highlights the project's significance, emphasizing collaborative efforts to mitigate runoff and erosion issues in the Glacial Lakes region.

The initiative is a collective endeavor, featuring partnerships with the Roberts Conservation District, Ducks Unlimited, the South Dakota Department of Agriculture and Natural Resources, among others, all dedicated to conserving the state's precious natural resources.

Through the RCPP, the NRCS facilitates targeted conservation assistance, blending program contracts, partnership agreements, and easement agreements under the guidance of the Environmental Quality Incentives Program.

This program exemplifies the power of cooperation in achieving substantial environmental improvements, particularly in areas critical to water quality and ecosystem health.

Photo Credit -usda