Cost Share Programs

Wilkes Soil & Water Conservation District has a variety of cost share programs available. Each program offers best management practices targeted to meet specific program goals. These programs offer assistance to address agricultural, rural and urban water resource issues. Typically 75% cost share assistance is provided to an applicant to install best management practices that benefit all citizens by improving water resources in North Carolina.

Agriculture Cost Share
Program (ACSP)

The major cause of water quality problems in North Carolina and in much of the United States is nonpoint source pollution. In many places, damage to our water resources comes from soil erosion, excessive fertilizer use, animal waste contamination, and improper use of agricultural chemicals. The North Carolina Agricultural Cost Share Program (ACSP) helps address nonpoint source pollution by providing technical and financial resources through a voluntary, incentive-based program designed to improve water quality through the installation of various best management practices (BMPs) on agricultural lands directly involved with agriculture production.

How does the Program Work?

Together with farmers and producers we work to:

Develop and approve individual conservation plans.
Identify the best management practices (BMPs) best suited for your particular operation.
Design BMPs and help ensure their longevity.
Acquire preliminary approval of a Cost Share contract.

What you need to do:

Submit an application to your local soil and water conservation district. The applications are ranked based on resource concerns identified in the county. Applicants can be reimbursed up to 75 percent of a predetermined average cost for each BMP installed. The applicant is responsible for 25 percent of the costs. This may include the use of existing material and labor.

Applications are accepted throughout the year and ranked annually in October.

Who is Eligible?

If you are a landowner or renter of an existing agricultural operation that has been operating for more than three years, you are eligible to participate in the North Carolina Agriculture Cost Share Program.

Most Common ACSP BMPs in Wilkes County:

Poultry Drystacks
Poultry Composters
Livestock Trail
Livestock Exclusion Systems - including stream fencing, water tanks, pipeline, etc.

AgWRAP

I&I Survey

Wilkes Soil & Water Conservation District has allocated more than $1.43 Million in Cost Share Dollars since 2020.

Agricultural Water Resources Assistance Program (AgWRAP)

The purposes of the AgWRAP are to:

Identify opportunities to increase water use efficiency, availability and storage
Implement best management practices (BMPs) to conserve and protect water resources
Increase water use efficiency
Increase water storage and availability for agricultural purposes

By taking action to increase water use efficiency, storage and availability as well as conserve and protect water resources, landowners are directly contributing to the long-term resilience and sustainability of agriculture in North Carolina.

How does AgWRAP work?

Just like with Ag Cost Share Programs we work with farmers and producers to:

Develop and approve individual conservation plans.
Identify the best management practices (BMPs) best suited for your particular operation.
Design BMPs and help ensure their longevity.
Acquire preliminary approval of a Cost Share contract.

What you need to do:

Submit an application to your local soil and water conservation district. Applicants can be reimbursed up to 75 percent of a predetermined average cost or actual cost up to a cost cap for each BMP installed. The applicant is responsible for 25 percent of the costs. This may include the use of existing material and labor.

Applications are accepted throughout the year and ranked annually in October.

Who is Eligible?

If you are a landowner or renter of an existing agricultural operation that has been operating for more than one year, you are eligible to participate. Cooperator must make less than $250,000 or have 75% or more of their income supported through agricultural operations.

Most Common AgWRAP BMPs in Wilkes County:

Agricultural Water Supply Well
Poultry Water Storage Tanks

ACSP

I&I Survey

Wilkes Soil & Water Conservation District has allocated more than $176,100 in AgWRAP since 2020.

Impaired & Impacted Streams Initiative

The Impaired and Impacted Streams Initiative initially began as the Agricultural Sediment Initiative in 1999. That year, a handful of districts surveyed waters impaired by agricultural sediment on the 1998 303(d) list. Information collected through the survey process was used for an EPA 319 grant that funded several projects to address agricultural nonpoint source pollution in assessed waters.

While the Impaired and Impacted Streams Initiative (IISI) has since grown statewide, the program’s intention remains the same: to encourage Districts to survey waters with documented impaired or deteriorating water quality from agricultural activity and identify opportunities for targeted projects and Best Management Practice (BMP) installation to improve water quality. Since the 2007 Program Year, based on an Association adopted resolution, a portion of Agriculture Cost Share Program (ACSP) funds are annually directed to the Impaired and Impacted Streams Initiative (IISI) to fund projects identified through the survey process.