USDA’s Natural Resources Conservation Service (NRCS) in New Mexico announced April 28, 2023, as the deadline to sign up for the New Mexico Ogallala Preservation & Conservation project Regional Conservation Partnership Program (RCPP). RCPP provides a targeted, science-based approach to restoring and protecting habitats while strengthening rural economies and cultivating collaboration among conservation partners.
Through the New Mexico Ogallala Preservation & Conservation project, the New Mexico Association of Conservation Districts will offer land management contracts and entity-held easements to help Eastern New Mexican farmers convert irrigated cropland to dryland crops, pasture, or native grasslands to reduce groundwater pumping from the Ogallala Aquifer and maintain the sustainability of agricultural communities. The land use conversions will significantly reduce tillage and soil erosion, as well as sequester carbon. Other partners include Curry County, Cannon Air Force Base, and Central Curry Soil and Water Conservation District.
"RCPP plays a critical role in connecting partners with producers to design and implement conservation solutions that benefit both natural resources and agriculture,” said State Conservationist Xavier Montoya. “The Farm Bill is the largest source of federal funding for private lands conservation, and RCPP is contributing innovative conservation solutions to communities across the country, and here in New Mexico."
The Ogallala Aquifer in Eastern New Mexico will cease to be a viable source of water for all users, with the possible exception of domestic use, within 10-15 years if all current uses continue at the same rate. Many local farmers witnessed declines in excess of 50 feet since irrigation began. In some areas, only 30 feet or less of saturated thickness remains in the local aquifer. The Ogallala Aquifer is currently the only source of potable water for cities, industry, and agriculture in the project area. Reducing aquifer decline is critical to sustaining local economies. Creating less water-intensive agricultural economies will help ensure viable communities in the future. This initiative will assist agricultural users to conserve water, preserve the aquifer, reduce erosion, and sequester carbon.
This initiative will focus primarily on approximately 8,140 acres of irrigated cropland above the Ogallala Aquifer in Eastern New Mexico covering an area west and north of Clovis, New Mexico. This area lies within the Central Curry Soil and Water Conservation District and is known as the Paleo Channel. This channel is lower than the areas surrounding it so water ‘drains’ to the channel and as a result, the wells in this channel are some of the most productive wells in the county (see map on the next page). By targeting all 69 wells in the channel a significant amount of water will be conserved over the life of the project.
RCPP 2553 - New Mexico Ogallala Preservation Conservation Fact Sheet (1.76 MB)
Producers can apply by visiting their local USDA Service Center and submitting their Conservation Program Application (NRCS-CPA-1200). Producers who have established profiles on farmers.com may submit their applications online. Producers need to receive a farm and tract number from the Farm Service Agency (FSA) by the application deadline.
NRCS provides leadership in a partnership effort to help people conserve, maintain and improve our natural resources and environment. For more information about NRCS New Mexico visit NRCS New Mexico.
Original source can be found here.