Installing conservation practices on your land can be an expensive task; thus, the District will work with you as you attempt to secure cost share dollars to support your conservation efforts. Cost Share can come from local, state, and federal sources.
Local
 | Cost Share money may be available to you from your local watershed project, Pheasants Forever Chapter, or other sources. Please contact your watershed coordinator for more information. |
State
| Pollution Abatement cost share dollars from the state of Ohio may be available for sediment reduction, livestock waste management practices, and livestock mortality composting. These funds are limited and depend on allocations in the state budget, contact the SWCD office at 419-586-3289 for more information. |
| Conservation Reserve Enhancement Program (CREP) - combines an existing Federal program, the Conservation Reserve Program (CRP), with State programs to provide a framework for USDA to work in partnership with State and local interests to meet state-specific environmental objectives. CRP is a CCC program implemented through the Farm Service Agency. Under CREP, the Lake Erie landowners and operators enter into 14 to 15-year contracts with CCC to convert cropland to native grasses, trees, and other conservation practices. In return, they receive annual rental payments, incentive payments for certain activities, and cost-share assistance to establish the conservation practices. CREP participants are eligible for five types of payments: annual rental payments, incentive payments, maintenance payments, cost-share assistance payments, and State one-time payments. Annual rental payments will be based on the soil rental rate. The first three of these will be combined into a consolidated annual CRP rental payment. |
Federal
The following programs are offered through the USDA Natural Resources Conservation Service (NRCS) and/or Farm Service Agency (FSA). For more information, call 419-586-2548.
| Environmental Quality Incentives Program (EQIP) - reauthorized in the 2002 Farm Bill to provide a voluntary conservation program for farmers that promotes agricultural production and environmental quality as compatible national goals. EQIP offers financial and technical help to assist eligible participants install or implement structural and management practices on eligible agricultural land. EQIP may cost-share up to 75% on certain conservation practices. In Ohio, EQIP practices address four major resource concerns including water quality, soil erosion and soil quality, wildlife habitat recovery for "at risk" species, and air quality. |
| Conservation Reserve Program (CRP) - a voluntary program available to agricultural producers to help them safeguard environmentally sensitive land. Producers enrolled in CRP plant long term, resource conserving covers to improve the quality of water, control soil erosion, and enhance wildlife habitat. In return, FSA provides participants with rental payments and cost share assistance while NRCS provides technical assistance. Offers are subject to competitive bidding. |
| Conservation Reserve Program (CRP) Continuous Sign-Up - certain conservation practices may be enrolled at anytime and offers are not subject to competitive bidding. |
| Conservation Security Program (CSP) - a voluntary program that provides financial and technical assistance to promote the conservation and improvement of soil, water, air, energy, plant, and animal life, and other conservation purposes on Tribal and private working lands. |
| Wetlands Reserve Program (WRP) - a voluntary conservation program that offers landowners the means and opportunity to protect, restore, and enhance wetlands on their property through perpetual easements, 30 year easements or Land Treatment Contracts. |
| Wildlife Habitat Incentives Program (WHIP) - a voluntary program for people who want to develop or improve wildlife habitat on private lands. This program provides both technical assistance and cost sharing to help establish and improve fish and wildlife habitat. |
| Other Federal Conservation Programs - Click here to read details about other federal cost share programs including the Grassland Reserve Program (GRP) and the Farm and Ranch Lands Protection Program (FRPP) which are outlined in the 2002 Farm Bill. |