$89,000+ Awarded to Implement Best Management Practices in Croton Watershed
August 14, 2019, Yorktown Heights, NY- In partnership with Westchester County Soil and Water Conservation District, the Watershed Agricultural Council was awarded funding through the NYS Department of Agriculture and Markets’ Climate Resilient Farming Grant Program to implement 15 Best Management Practices (BMPs) to address flooding in critical farm areas and increase carbon sequestration on Muscoot Farm in Katonah, NY. The total funding awarded is $89,851, while the total cost of the project is $223,373.
This system of BMPs will prevent flooding of heavy-use areas and critical infrastructure by capturing storm water and redirecting it to a constructed wetland. Awarded funding will also be used to generate a nutrient management plan, a prescribed grazing plan and perennial forage planting to improve soil health and increase the amount of CO2 sequestered in the soil.
The Climate Resilient Farming Program helps farms reduce their operational impact on the environment and address the impacts of extreme weather events resulting from climate change. Through the four rounds of funding, NYS has provided $8 million to assist farms across the state. Read the NYS press release here.