Texas NRCS announces additional FY24 EQIP opportunities

The Department of Agriculture’s Natural Resources Conservation Service in Texas has announced an additional sign-up period for the National Water Quality Initiative through the Environmental Quality Incentives Program for Fiscal Year 2024.  

Applications for this funding opportunity will be accepted until May 17, 2024. 

Priority watershed areas for FY24: 

For this funding cycle, the NWQI will target four priority Hydrologic Unit Code-12 watershed areas in Texas:  

• Aransas River – Covering 12 HUC-12 watersheds across Bee, Refugio and San Patricio counties. 
• Big Elm Creek – Encompassing seven HUC-12 watersheds in Bell, Falls, Milam and McLennan counties. 
• Lake Lavon – Including nine HUC-12 watersheds in Grayson, Fannin, Collin and Hunt counties. 
• Lampasas River – Spanning eight HUC-12 watersheds in Lampasas and Burnet counties. 

 Application process and deadlines: 

While NRCS accepts applications for its conservation programs year-round, those submitted by the May 17 deadline will be considered for FY24 funding.  

Applications received post-deadline will automatically be deferred to the next funding cycle. NRCS has streamlined the approval process for conservation programs by employing its “Act Now” authority, allowing for pre-approval of applications that achieve a minimum ranking score of 30. This expedited process aims to deliver funding decisions swiftly, enabling earlier commencement of conservation projects. Producers, landowners, and forest managers interested in applying should contact their local NRCS service center.