Funding Opportunities
If you have a project, and want to know if the RCD or the NRCS can help you identify funding sources, please Contact Us.
- Planting cover crops
- Compost application
- Hedgerows & Wind breaks
- Prescribed grazing
- Riparian Plantings
Application
Potential Funding Sources
- Natural Resources Conservation Service (NRCS)
- ACRCD Grant Funding
- CDFA Healthy Soils Program
Primary Contact(s)
Partners
- Environmental Quality Incentives Program – EQIP
- Wildlife-Friendly Livestock Pond Initiative (see section below)
- Conservation Stewardship Program – CSP
- Agricultural Conservation Easement Program – ACEP
Environmental Quality Incentives Program
The Environmental Quality Incentives Program (EQIP) is a voluntary USDA conservation program for farmers and ranchers to treat natural resource concerns with technical and financial assistance. EQIP provides cost-share funding to promote agricultural production and environmental quality as compatible goals.Examples of eligible projects include:
- Rangeland Management (cross-fencing, water developments, pipelines, tanks, troughs, prescribed grazing)
- Cropland Management (water conservation, cover crop, pest management)
- Wildlife Habitat improvement (pond enhancements, habitat management)
- Vineyards
Eligible farmers and ranchers may apply for EQIP program benefits during open application periods. Application ranking periods are established to allow evaluation of projects and awarding of contracts based upon an environmental score for each application that achieves the natural resource benefits identified by local, state and national priorities.
Eligibility
Read the Program Eligibility Information here.
Application Dates
Year Round
Primary Contact(s)
Links
Partners
Note: The Urban Farm Conservation Mini-Grant program is currently on hold. Please check back periodically for updates.
The Alameda County Resource Conservation District in partnership with UC Cooperative Extension facilitates an Urban Farm Conservation Mini-Grant program, with funding from the Alameda County Flood Control and Water Conservation District. This program is intended to support conservation on urban and urban-edge farms in Western Alameda County while improving yields and enhancing overall production. Successful applicants will receive financial support as well as technical assistance, if needed, to facilitate the installation of conservation practices that will enhance soil and water quality as well as habitat, both on-site and in the surrounding community.Primary Contact(s)
Partners
Applications are now being accepted for Livestock Pond Improvements through the USDA-Natural Resources Conservation Service’s Environmental Quality Incentives Program (EQIP).
The Wildlife-Friendly Livestock Pond Initiative is a voluntary program for people who want to rehabilitate livestock ponds for habitat and to provide a reliable source of drinking water for livestock. The program provides cost-share payments to landowners under agreements that are usually vary in duration, depending upon the types of practices to be installed.
Ranchers are critical to maintaining populations of two listed amphibians that occur primarily on rangelands: the California red-legged frog (Rana draytonii) and California tiger salamander (Ambystoma californiense). Livestock ponds provide alternative, high-quality aquatic habitat for these species and have become a vital feature on the landscape as the amphibians’ natural habitat is lost due to land development and conversion to cropland.
We offer several incentives to support ranchers who want to repair, restore, and manage stock ponds and uplands for habitat, we are offering several incentives:
- Cost share that leverages funds from granting agencies including: USFWS, the Wildlife Conservation Board and the California Coastal Conservancy
- Programmatic environmental permitting through our Permit Coordination Program
- Cost-share through the NRCS’ EQIP program
Apply
Year-round