Milford Lake Regional Conservation Partnership Program (RCPP)
Purpose
Nutrient runoff within the Milford Lake watershed in Kansas is a source of nutrient loading contributing to aquatic conditions which promote formation of harmful algal blooms (HABs) within Milford Lake. This Regional Conservation Partnership Program (RCPP) project through Natural Resources Conservation Service (NRCS) will implement best management practices within the Milford Lake watershed to decrease nutrient runoff, thus decreasing the introduction of new nutrient loading contributing to the formation of HABs in Milford Lake.
History
HABs have been an issue dating back to at least 2011, when the Kansas Department of Health and Environment first listed Milford Lake as a public lake with confirmed harmful blue-green algal blooms. HABs have been detected within Milford Lake every year since 2011, and in 2015 the lake was divided into three zones (Zones A, B and C) to define in greater detail particular segments of the lake which are affected by HABs. Zones A, B and C all experienced HABs in 2015 and 2016.
Timeline
- April 21, 2017: Pre-proposal applications due
- Week of June 26, 2017: Announcement of selected pre-proposals
- August 31, 2017: Full proposal applications due
- December 2017: NRCS announces Milford Lake Watershed RCPP Project has been selected for funding. NRCS pledges $2.88 million in financial and technical assistance towards the project.
- January 2018 - Present: KWO is working with project partners and NRCS to further develop the scope of work for the project.
- October 2018: NRCS funds are anticipated to be available for first signup period for project.
- Fall 2023: The project renews for another 5 year period.
For upcoming events and more information visit the Milford RCPP website
Funding
The Environmental Quality Incentives Program (EQIP) will be utilized as the primary USDA -NRCS program to provide cost share funding to producers within the Milford Lake watershed. Project partner direct financial assistance, technical assistance, and in-kind contributions will be utilized to provide the partner portion of project funding.