1. Pond Development Workshops November/December 2010

2. Ag Water Resources Assistance Program (AgWRAP) Newly proposed cost share program in response to HB 1748 from the 2010 Legislative Session Focus on developing and enhancing agricultural water resources Ponds, wells, water capture/reuse, water use efficiency are examples Plan presented to the Leg. Study Commission on Water and Wastewater Infrastructure on Nov. 1 Stay tuned

3. NC Agriculture Cost Share Prog. Established in 1984 to reduce agricultural nonpoint source impacts on water quality 60+ practices eligible for funding (5 categories) Erosion/nutrient reduction practices Sediment/nutrient reduction practices Animal waste management practices Stream protection systems Agrichemical pollution prevention practices Apply through local soil and water conservation districts Cost share rate Typically up to 75% cost share Up to 90% if qualify as beginning farmer, limited resource farmer, or participant in Enhanced Voluntary Ag District

4. Funding for Ponds Presently funding for ponds is limited Renovation of existing agricultural ponds Sediment basins Agricultural water supply pond (drought response only) Must be sited to provide benefit for water quality

5. Agricultural Pond Restoration/Repair Renovation of leaking/damaged dams, spillways, and overflow pipes capped at $15,000 + $12,000 for professional engineer support, if needed Removal of accumulated sediment capped at $3,000 Pond must be a low Hazard-class pond Since July 2008, contracts approved for 168 pond restoration projects (mostly sediment removal)

6. Agricultural Pond Restoration – Sediment Removal

7. Sediment Basin Constructed to trap and store waterborne sediment Can only be used where physical conditions or land ownership preclude treatment of a sediment source by the installation of other erosion control measures to improve water quality. Sized based upon needed sediment trapping, not water supply need, but can be expanded without cost share Water supply need is not adequate justification for this practice Since July 2008, 1 contract approved

8. Agricultural Water Supply Pond Construct agricultural ponds for water supply for existing irrigation or livestock watering requirements (not expansion of the operation) Capped at $15,000 + $12,000 for professional engineer support, if needed Limited to funding under the Agricultural Drought Response Project Contracts approved for 3 ponds since July 2008 Potential to be funded under proposed AgWRAP

9. Other Water Resource Practices Wells for pasture-based livestock (stream protection) for irrigation (drought only) for confined livestock (drought only)

10. Conservation Irrigation Micro-irrigation conversion Conservation irrigation retrofit High-pressure to low pressure Travelling gun to center pivot

11. Agricultural Water Enhancement Program (AWEP) Partnership between USDA-NRCS and Division of Soil and Water Conservation Assist conversion to more efficient irrigation methods Micro-irrigation Conversion of Center pivots/lateral moves to low- pressure/drop nozzles Conversion of traveling gun systems to center pivots with low pressure/drop nozzles Apply in local soil and water conservation district in Spring 2011