Contact:
John George
406-449-5000 ext. 101
Helena, Mont., Dec. 8, 2015--District Conservationist John George today announced the availability of funds to help landowners protect and restore key private forestlands across Lewis & Clark and Meagher counties. The funding is provided through the Environmental Quality Incentives Program (EQIP), a program offered by the USDA Natural Resources Conservation Service. EQIP is targeted funds from the Farm Bill to protect critical resources across multiple land uses and encourages private owners to maintain land for farming and ranching. Through voluntary participation, landowners steward those lost land uses to protect these key resources.
“The benefits of stewarding these working forest lands cannot be overstated,” George said. “The Natural Resources Conservation Service (NRCS) is committed to assisting private landowners in improving stewardship on working all agricultural lands to improve the long-term viability of private lands across the county as well as improving the overall health and fire resiliency of private forestlands in Lewis & Clark and Meagher counties.”
The Helena Field Office is accepting applications for the Environmental Quality Incentives Program continually for projects throughout the county, however targeted dollars are currently available from Interstate 15 to the Continental Divide, north to Highway 12 and south to Jefferson City. Applicants must contact the Helena or Whitehall field offices to be considered for this year’s priority funding.
“The Program is an opportunity for private landowners to ensure the long-term use and vitality of private working lands in Lewis & Clark and Meagher counties,” said George. “I encourage private landowners to contact our local NRCS office to see how this program can help them achieve their management goals.”
The Environmental Quality Incentives Program allows landowners to identify natural resources issues on their lands and then organize a line of attack as to how to address those issues. Eligible landowners can contact the local NRCS field office at 790 Colleen St., Helena, MT 59601 or at 406 449 5000 x 101 to learn more.
Learn more about opportunities in Lewis & Clark and Meagher counties and Montana by visiting the NRCS Montana EQIP webpage at: http://www.nrcs.usda.gov/wps/portal/nrcs/main/mt/programs/financial/eqip/ .
Learn more about the Two Chief's Joint Landscape Restoration Partnership.
