TALT invites new applications for USDA NRCS conservation funding
The Texas Agricultural Land Trust has a new application window for landowners in the Nueces River Watershed to access funding from the U.S. Department of Agriculture’s Natural Resources Conservation Service Regional Conservation Partnership Program.
This substantial grant aims to support landowners in securing conservation easements, providing critical protection to Texas’s working lands and water resources.
The Nueces River Watershed is a cornerstone of Texas’s ecological and water systems, spanning five ecoregions, including the Edwards Plateau and South Texas Plains. Known for its exceptional biodiversity, the Edwards Plateau’s unique karst landscape plays a vital role in recharging the Edwards Aquifer, which supplies water to San Antonio and sustains a fragile ecosystem of rare and endangered species.
The South Texas Plains Ecoregion, with its rich confluence of desert and subtropical ecosystems, is a sanctuary for diverse wildlife, drawing birdwatchers and naturalists from around the world. However, the watershed faces significant threats: since 1997, more than 210,000 acres of working lands have been lost to rapid population growth and urban expansion. These losses jeopardize water resources and the region’s vibrant ecological heritage.
“The RCPP grant is an incredible opportunity to safeguard the Nueces River Watershed and its critical resources,” said Darren Clark, TALT director of land conservation. “By working alongside landowners, we can ensure the protection of these vital lands and their ecosystems for future generations.”
Landowners in the Nueces River Watershed are invited to apply for this conservation initiative during the open application window until Feb. 28. Funding is available to eligible landowners regardless of which land trust will hold the conservation easement.
For more information or to begin the application process, contact Clark at dclark@txaglandtrust.org.
