NRCS to hold National Water Quality Initiative meeting

    HOULTON — The Nickerson Lake Sub-watershed, which is located in the Meduxnekeag River Watershed, is one of two priority watersheds in Maine that have been selected to participate in the National Water Quality Initiative (NWQI).
    To inform producers in the Nickerson Lake Watershed about the NWQI, the Natural Resources Conservation Service (NRCS) and the Southern Aroostook Soil & Water Conservation District are sponsoring a public meeting from 6-7 p.m. Thursday, June 7, at the New Limerick Town Office located at 11 Old Station Road. 
    “The Water Quality Initiative will further NRCS’ partnership efforts to improve water quality using voluntary actions on private lands,” said Juan Hernandez, NRCS state conservationist. “This initiative is a focused approach in areas facing significant natural resource challenges.  It bolsters the positive results of landscape conservation initiatives NRCS and its partners already have under way.”
    Through this effort, eligible producers in the Nickerson Lake Watershed will invest in voluntary conservation actions to help provide cleaner water for their neighbors and communities. The selected watersheds were identified with help from state agencies, partners, and the NRCS State Technical Committee.
    Using funds from the Environmental Quality Incentives Program, NRCS will provide funding and advice to producers to install conservation practices such as cover crops, filter strips and stream crossings in the watersheds where the federal investment can make a difference to improve water quality.
    NRCS accepts applications for financial assistance on a continuous basis throughout the year. To be considered for funding in 2012, applications for the National Water Quality Initiative must be received by June 15, 2012. This summer, NRCS will notify all applicants of the results and begin developing contracts with selected applicants.  Remember to check with your local NRCS office at 304 North Street in Houlton, or call 207-532-2087, ext. 3, to see if you are located in the selected watershed.
    Those with questions about the meeting or who may require special accommodations, can contact the Houlton NRCS office. For more information about the National Water Quality Initiative, go to www.me.nrcs.usda.gov.