Board approves ranking of Tri-County ag projects to share in $1.5 million

PALATKA, Fla., March 15, 2017 — The St. Johns River Water Management District Governing Board on Tuesday approved the ranking of projects that will share in $1.5 million in Tri-County Agricultural Area (TCAA) Ag Cost-Share Program funds for water conservation and nutrient reduction by ag operations. Proposed projects would result in an estimated 266 million gallons of water conserved each year and an estimated reduction of 6,916 pounds per year of total nitrogen and 1,426 pounds per year of total phosphorus.

“Sustainable farming practices conserve water and nutrients and also can increase growers’ production and quality,” said District Executive Director Ann Shortelle. “The TCAA has, for the first time, met its Total Maximum Daily Loads (TMDLs) due to nutrient reduction projects such as these. I’m excited to see proactive measures being taken by the agricultural community to increase irrigation efficiency for water conservation and to reduce nutrient loading to the St. Johns River and its tributaries.”

The district received 13 applications as part of the Districtwide Ag Cost-share Program for projects in the TCAA area of Flagler, Putnam and St. Johns counties. The board approved the ranking of the applications, which will provide up to $1.5 million through the Fiscal Year 2016-2017 TCAA Cost-Share Program.

Funding for the TCAA Ag Cost-Share Program is provided on a year-to-year basis by the district, the Florida Department of Environmental Protection and the Florida Department of Agriculture and Consumer Services.

For information about district cost-share programs, visit www.sjrwmd.com/funding/.