ELLENSBURG, Wash. – The Kittitas County Conservation District will accept applications starting Oct. 21, 2024, until Nov. 22, 2024 for the “Upper Yakima River Water Supply and Fish Habitat Improvements” Regional Conservation Partnership Program (RCPP) project. This RCPP project includes lands in Kittitas County and prioritizes farm and ranch operators on-farm and delivery irrigation practices and habitat practices to improve water use efficiency, water quality and fish habitat availability.

The project can provide financial and technical assistance with on-farm irrigation system improvements, and riparian and instream habitat. The RCPP funding is provided by the USDA Natural Resources Conservation Service (NRCS) through land management contracts with farmers and ranchers. The contract payment rate pays for a portion of the cost of the contracted conservation practices implemented by the farmer or rancher. 

The District is accepting applications immediately. Interested farmers, ranchers or landowners should contact the District at 509-925-3352 or 2211 W Dolarway Road, Ellensburg. Interested parties must meet all requirements of the USDA NRCS. Each applicant must establish themselves as a USDA customer and complete all Farm Service Agency (FSA) eligibility requirements to participate in the program. For more information about those requirements, contact the local USDA Service Center field office at 2211 W Dolarway Road, Suite 6, Ellensburg or 509-925-8585 ext. 115.

RCPP funding is limited, and applications will be subject to a ranking system. This is the first annual sign-up in Kittitas County occurring as part of the Upper Yakima River Water Supply and Fish Habitat Improvements project. The project was one of 81 high priority projects across the country that was approved for more than $1 billion in funding through the NRCS Regional Conservation Partnership Program solicitation for fiscal year 2023. 

For more information, visit the project webpage here.