ARKANSAS, USA — The United States Department of Agriculture (USDA) has awarded $2.4 million to the Beaver Watershed Alliance's War Eagle Creek Watershed (WECW) initiative to assist in efforts of landscaping and source water protection for Northwest Arkansas residents.
The funding stems from the Natural Resources Conservation Service's 'Regional Conservation Partnership Program' (RCPP). RCPP promotes the coordination of conservation activities with local partners nationwide that offer valuable contributions to help address on-farm, watershed, and regional natural resource concerns.
WECW is one of seven sub-watersheds in Beaver Lake and serves as the largest tributary in the watershed system.
With the use of awarded funds, the initiative seeks to reduce the amount of sediment and other nutrients that are being contributed from the watershed. Reduction of these materials will help WECW meet state standards.
In addition, at least one large stream restoration project will be implemented along War Eagle Creek.
“Our partners are experts in their fields and understand the challenges in their own backyards,” said Agriculture Secretary Tom Vilsack in a news release. “Through RCPP we can tap into that knowledge, in partnership with producers and USDA, to come up with lasting solutions to the challenges that farmers, ranchers, and landowners face. We’re looking forward to seeing the results of public-private partnership at its best, made possible through these RCPP investments.”
An interactive map with all the Regional Conservation Partnership Program projects can be found here.
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