Farmers and landowners in Chatham County have been presented with an opportunity to enhance their environmental stewardship through various cost share programs, which aim to mitigate nonpoint source pollution through the installation of Best Management Practices (BMPs). According to Chatham County's recent announcement, these programs can provide financial and technical aid for projects aimed at waste management, stream protection, and more.
Specifically, the North Carolina Ag Cost Share Program (ACSP) is open to agricultural owners and renters who have confronted water quality complications on their farm and maintained business operations for a minimum of three years; cost share opportunities under ACSP include projects for waste management, stream defences against erosion and agrichemical runoff prevention all with the goal of promoting responsible agricultural practices, and increasing operational sustainability the program also encourages the installation of protective measures alongside streams and measures to curb soil erosion.
The Ag Water Resources Assistance Program (AgWRAP), geared towards those looking to bolster water use efficiency and storage, counts well construction, irrigation pond establishment, and transitioning to micro-irrigation systems among the BMPs for which it provides assistance. Meanwhile, the Community Conservation Assistance Program (CCAP) extends its support beyond farms, offering aid to a variety of establishments, including schools, churches, and homeowners, with practices designed to better manage runoff and protect local waterways.
