IL NRCS Announces 2023 RCPP Application Cutoff Date: Lake Springfield Source Water Protection Project

State Conservationist Ivan Dozier announced that the USDA Natural Resources Conservation Service (NRCS) will offer Regional Conservation Partnership Program (RCPP) funding for the Lake Springfield Source Water Protection Project throughout the Lake Springfield watershed. Illinois NRCS has partnered with City, Water, Light, and Power to help producers address resource concerns such as reducing erosion on farmland and protecting aquatic habitat.     

Landowners can apply for assistance through RCPP to implement practices, such as cover crops, grassed waterways, and riparian forest buffers. The project focus is to improve water quality and increase aquatic habitat in the Lake Springfield watershed, located in the following three Illinois counties: Macoupin, Morgan, and Sangamon.  

NRCS financial assistance will be available to Illinois producers who have land in the above-mentioned counties. While applications are accepted throughout the year, interested producers should submit by March 3, 2023 a signed application (NRCS-CPA-1200 form) to the local NRCS field office, or through the Farmers.gov website using their account, to ensure their applications are considered for 2023 funding.  

A blank NRCS-CPA-1200 application form may be obtained from the local office or the NRCS website. Producers wishing to use Farmers.gov, can sign in or create an account by clicking on “Sign up” in the upper portion right of the website.

To see if you are eligible to participate in the program, producers should contact their local NRCS field office or visit the Illinois NRCS website.