Orange County NC Website
Browse       Search
From: _ Brent Bogue <br />To: ocmail:OCMAILOCMAIL(gwilder) <br />Date: 5/2/00 ~:4ppm <br />Subject: Orange County Legislative Goals •• 2000 •Reply <br />Greg, <br />The N.C. Division of Soil and Water Conservation which is a division of the Department of Environment and Natural <br />Resources administers the N.C. Agricultural Cost•Share Program. This program provides direct cost•share assistance to <br />landowners to install best management practices (BMP) to improve water quality throughout N.C. The funding for this and <br />many other water quality initiatives is allocated by the N.C. General Assembly. <br />As part of this program Orange County receives revenue to offset one half the cost of two technical positions which assist <br />in the administration and implementation of the cost•share program. <br />This year the Division of Soil and Water has indicated that there may not be sufficient legislative funding to maintain or <br />increase technical assistance for all Soil Conservation Districts. The Orange Soil and Water Conservation District Board <br />and the N.C. Association of Soil and Water Conservation Districts are working diligently to increase or sustain the funding <br />levels which will allow adequate staffing levels to carry out water quality improvement initiatives in N.C. Currently the <br />Orange Soil and Water District is requesting additional funding through Orange County to maintain the tw'o posi#ions <br />which have been in place for over 10 years. Funding levels for BMP installation has been adequate in Orange County over <br />the,past several years but same counties have not received nearly enough funding to implement' needed practices. <br />Any assistance that the Orange BOCC could give in increasing or at least maintaining funding levels for Conservation <br />Districts across the state would greatly increase the ability to implement water quality Improvement initiatives. Funding <br />provided through the N.C. Ag. Cost•Share Program and other IJ.S. Department of Agriculture initiatives plays a major role <br />in enabling farmers and landowners to continue production while improving water quality. <br />If you need additional information you can contact me by email or at extension 2750. <br />