The U.S. Department of Agriculture's Natural Resources Conservation Service (NRCS) announced that financial assistance is available for conservation projects within the Central Platte Natural Resources District (CPNRD) and Twin Platte Natural Resources Districts (TPNRD). These funds are available through the Regional Conservation Partnership Program (RCPP). The project “RCPP 2271 - Ogallala Aquifer & Platte River Recovery” is funded through a partnership with the CPNRD, with further support from the TPNRD, Thirty Mile Irrigation District, Cozad Ditch Company, and Southside Canal Company. The project is in its 5th and final year.

The purpose of this project is to reduce water consumption and related depletions to surface water flows and groundwater withdrawals within the boundaries of the CPNRD & TPNRD by converting irrigated land to non-irrigated land uses on a permanent or temporary basis. This partnership project provides financial and technical assistance to agricultural producers to adopt practices contributing to this goal. Producers within the Central Platte and Twin Platte NRD boundary are eligible to receive financial assistance (Figure 1). Interested landowners and agricultural producers are encouraged to contact their local USDA service center for more information and to apply. The final date to apply for project funding is Thursday, January 15, 2026. 
 

The RCPP promotes coordination between NRCS and its partners to deliver conservation assistance to producers and landowners. The NRCS aids producers through partnership agreements and through program contracts or easement agreements. Assistance is delivered in accordance with the rules of the Environmental Quality Incentives Program. To learn more about NRCS programs, producers can contact their local USDA Service Center. Producers can also apply for NRCS programs, manage conservation plans and contracts, and view and print conservation maps by logging into their Farmers.gov account. If you don’t already have an account, visit Farmers.gov and sign up today.

#