Palouse River Watershed
Regional Conservation
Partnership Program (RCPP)
In 2021, USDA’s Natural Resources Conservation Service (NRCS) renewed the Palouse River Watershed (WRIA 34) Implementation Partnership and provided an additional $5.5 million to improve water quality, soil health, and habitat in the Palouse River Watershed. This builds on the $5.5 million that was awarded to the Partnership at the program's inception in 2014.
NRCS, local Conservation Districts, and partners will co-invest this funding to implement projects that demonstrate innovative solutions to conservation challenges and provide measurable improvements and outcomes tied to the resource concerns within the Palouse River Watershed.
Eligibility
If you are a landowner or producer within the WRIA 34 Palouse River Watershed interested in creating or updating your conservation plan, you may be eligible for RCPP funding. Eligible areas exist in parts of Whitman, Adams, Lincoln, and Spokane Counties in Washington, and parts of Latah County in Idaho.
Please contact Palouse Conservation District or your local Conservation District, NRCS Office, or partner organization to learn more.
Riparian buffer and filter strip installed by RCPP
"I signed up for the reduced minimum tillage program to basically try to establish into a more no-till program for future years to maintain soil and organic matter. Working with the partners was easy... I'm hoping to see benefits like higher organic matter, which then may allow water to absorb into the ground and not run off, and build up that long-term organic matter to hopefully see increased yields."
- Ryan Kile, Whitman County farmer, on his experience working with Conservation Districts as part of the RCPP Program
Palouse River Watershed RCPP Accomplishments
77,265 acres of conservation tillage
966 acres of conservation easements
354 acres of
riparian buffers
165,787 tons of
soil saved
14 Farmed Smart certified producers
Additional Project Outcomes
16,134 acres of applied nutrient management
107.4 acres of cover crops
5,530 feet of streambank stabilization
52 acres of Palouse prairie remnants maintained
74 acres of riparian buffer maintained
Riparian Buffer Incentive Program
One-time signing incentive payment
Yearly soil rental rates
Yearly maintenance funding
Paired Watershed
Studies
Kamiache & Thorn Creeks
Cow & Thorn Creeks
Quantifying the effects of BMPs
Commodity Buffer Program
Developed by Spokane CD
Minimum $200/acre/year on eligible acres
Compensation at or above adjacent crops
Palouse River Watershed RCPP Partners
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