NWFWMD Launches Agricultural Cost-Share Funding Program to Protect Jackson Blue Springs MARIANNA – The Northwest Florida Water Management District recently launched a cost-share program designed to help agricultural producers improve water quality and reduce water use demands in and around Jackson Blue Spring. The District is offering more than $680,000 to help fund eligible agricultural best management practices (BMPs) as part of the Jackson Blue Spring Agricultural Best Management Practice Program. This program is one of 10 projects funded as part of Florida’s $37 million investment in springs statewide during the 2013-2014 Fiscal Year. “By helping agricultural producers implement practices designed to reduce water and fertilizer use, these projects will help improve water quality and decrease the amount of water withdrawn from this important groundwater contribution area,” said District Executive Director Jon Steverson. “The District is grateful to Governor Scott, the Florida Department of Environmental Protection (DEP) and our partners in the agricultural community for helping us move forward with this program.” By providing enhancements to irrigation systems, the program will assist producers in the basin achieve water savings up to an estimated 7.5 million gallons per day. In addition, improved fertilizer application technologies could reduce the total nitrogen use for corn, cotton and peanut crops by 20 percent, or 11,800 pounds of nitrogen fertilizer by the average farm each year, without a loss in productivity. “Protecting and improving the quality and quantity of water flowing from Florida’s springs is vital for Florida’s future, and requires partnership between state and local agencies and other interest groups,” said Drew Bartlett, DEP Deputy Secretary of Water Policy and Ecosystem Restoration. “Jackson Blue Springs is impaired by excess nitrates, and thanks to the $1.2 million investment we are tackling this issue immediately using the best science and engineering available.” Thanks to matching funds from the District, the Florida Department of Agriculture and Consumer Services, the Natural Resources Conservation Service, and participating agricultural producers, on top of the state’s $752,000 contribution, more than $1.2 million is being invested in the protection of Jackson Blue Springs this fiscal year. Under the Jackson Blue Spring Agricultural BMP Program, the District will fund 75 percent of qualifying BMPs (up to a maximum grant amount of $56,250). For example, to obtain a $75,000 upgrade, an agricultural producer would only be required to provide a match of 25 percent ($18,750), with the District funding the remaining 75 percent. Eligible BMPs include irrigation system improvements; pump upgrades (high to low pressure); remote controlling systems for irrigation; control panel upgrades; endgun controls; fertigation systems; and other precision agriculture tools and services. Requirements for eligible projects include: Must be located in Jackson County, Florida; The project site must be in compliance with all District and other permit and regulatory requirements; The producer must enroll in an applicable Florida Department of Agriculture and Consumer Services-adopted BMP program. For additional information or to apply for cost-share funding, visit the District’s website at nwfwmd.state.fl.us/rmd/jaxbluebmp.html or contact Angela Chelette at the Northwest Florida Water Management District (850-539-2650) or Lola Allard at the Jackson Soil and Water Conservation District (850-526-2610). The District has a long history of supporting agricultural best management practices as part of its mission to improve water quality and ensure a clean and sustainable water supply for the people and natural resources of the panhandle. Since 2004, the District has provided grant funding for the Northwest Florida Mobile Irrigation Lab (MIL), which serves agricultural producers in 15 counties across the panhandle. Over the past nine years, the MIL has helped the agricultural community conserve more than 2.5 billion gallons of water across Northwest Florida. The District also remains committed to ensuring the long-term protection of springs and springs-related sites across Northwest Florida. The District’s 2013-2014 Fiscal Year budget includes $3.3 million for springs restoration and protection. ### For more information on the Northwest Florida Water Management District, visit facebook/nwfwater and twitter/nwfwmd.
Posted on: Thu, 27 Mar 2014 15:05:09 +0000
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