Environmental and Public Protection Cabinet
Governor Fletcher announces disbursement of $597,812 in grants to conservation districts

FRANKFORT, Ky. (Jan. 12, 2007) - Governor Ernie Fletcher today announced that the Kentucky Division of Conservation (DOC) recently disbursed $597,812 to local conservation districts.

The funds, in the form of Best Management Practices (BMP) grants, were awarded in 33 counties for projects to mitigate the effects of agriculture on the environment. DOC, an agency of the Environmental and Public Protection Cabinet, administers the funds on behalf of the Soil and Water Conservation Commission, which oversees the Kentucky Soil Erosion and Water Quality Cost Share Program. The grants include:

$348,528 for practices to reduce water, land or air pollution caused by agricultural waste. Eligible activities include covering manure stackpads, creating manure holding ponds, and creating poultry and livestock waste composting facilities.

$126,617 for establishment of rotational grazing systems, which enable better erosion control and protect surface water and groundwater from non-point source pollution.

$77,550 for practices to reduce erosion, soil degradation and pollution caused by heavy agricultural use and concentrated livestock traffic.

$45,117 for other practices such as stream bank stabilization, sinkhole clean-up and erosion control.

"Agriculture is ingrained in our economy and our culture," Governor Fletcher said. "These grants help our farmers prosper while also helping to protect our natural resources, especially water."

In addition, seven counties received $13,346 for Forest Land Enhancement Program projects, bringing total disbursements to $611,158.

Incentives are paid to non-industrial private forest landowners who complete forestry cost-share practices. The Kentucky Division of Forestry provides the cost-share funding levels to DOC, which coordinates disbursement of the cost-share payments to local conservation districts and landowners.