WASHINGTON — USDA Agriculture Secretary Tom Vilsack announced that $2 million in conservation funds will be sent to Ohio to assist in implementing conservation techniques to help increase water quality, and the USDA is also partnering with the National Fish and Wildlife Foundation (NFWF) to expand the area’s "boots-on-the-ground" capacity, according to a press release.
The release reported that the USDA is also contributing an additional $1 million in technical assistance that will in turn, be leveraged by the NFWF alongside other private and public entities.
The USDA has invested roughly $46 million in the Lake Erie Watershed since 2009, noted the release.
"The voluntary conservation efforts supported by this new funding will help improve water quality in Lake Erie," said Vilsack. "Many farmers have consistently stepped up to the plate on efforts to protect our water, and we want to provide support and incentives for continued action. Along with these resources, we will be offering technical and financial assistance through our direct relationships with farmers, and by partnering with private and public groups on continuing conservation efforts in the Great Lakes basin."
Read the entire release here.
