East Central Florida Landowners and Producers Encouraged to Apply for 2026 Conservation Financial Assistance
July 1, 2025
Gainesville, FL - – Alachua Conservation Trust (ACT) is accepting applications July 1, through Thursday, July 31, 2025, for land management financial assistance contracts through the Lake to Lagoon project. Funding is available through the Regional Conservation Partnership Program (RCPP) for 2026. The project area includes Volusia and portions of East Lake, and South Flagler Counties.
ACT leads the project which also includes collaboration with Volusia County and is focused on improving habitat for wildlife, implementing practices to enhance weather resiliency, and protecting water quality. Eligible lands include non-industrial forests, grazing lands, and some crop lands. Land management practices to address resource concerns include but are not limited to cropland conversion to forest, pasture or hay land, well decommissioning, prescribed grazing, and nutrient management. Forest management practices include but are not limited to prescribed burning, tree planting and brush management.
“NRCS is proud to support the RCPP projects led by Alachua Conservation Trust. Their collaborative efforts are making a positive impact on conservation in Florida, protecting working lands and natural resources for future generations,” said Juan Hernandez, NRCS State Conservationist, Florida.
The U.S. Department of Agriculture (USDA) Natural Resources Conservation Service (NRCS) and ACT partner through RCPP to address on-farm, watershed, and regional natural resource concerns in the Lake to Lagoon RCPP Project Area. By leveraging collective resources and collaborating on common goals, RCPP demonstrates the power of public-private partnerships in delivering results for agriculture and conservation.
ACT will hold a webinar Tuesday, July 8 at 1p.m. EST to review the program for landowners and conservation partners. To register visit this link.
RCPP contracts are administered by USDA-NRCS and are similar to the Environmental Quality Incentives Program (EQIP). Landowners must register with the Farm Service Agency. Payment rates are higher than EQIP and adjusted gross income requirements are waived. ACT staff will assist landowners with understanding USDA procedures, taking applications and planning, prior to contracting.
Interested landowners in the Lake to Lagoon RCPP project area can contact ACT at (352) 373-1078 or by email at l2lrcpp@alachuaconservationtrust.org. ACT staff is available to assist landowners with understanding USDA procedures, submitting applications and planning prior to contracting.
