Agriculture Conservation Assistance Program (ACAP)

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Understanding the Program

BMP Examples

Ranking Criteria

ACAP Policy

Application

• Pre-Application Site Visit
• Application
• Project Ranking

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All applicants must first schedule an on-site visit with an SCCD representative to discuss the potential project before an application is submitted for funding.  The purpose of the pre-application site visit is to work jointly with the program participant to ensure that the applicant understands the process and the potential project meets the ACAP objectives.  ​

Once a pre-application site visit has been performed, the applicant will fill out an application to the best of their abilities.  The District recommends requesting assistance from the SCCD or a private consultant as the application requires preliminary design and cost estimate.
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Projects submitted during a given quarter are ranked by a Quality Assurance Board. Based on ranking criteria & available funding, the QAB will vote on the quarterly projects and provide the SCCD board with sufficient information to make a final decision on submitted projects.

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The Agriculture Conservation Assistance Program (ACAP) was created through the Clean Streams Fund established by the FY2022-23 General Funds State Budget.

The purpose of the $154 million program is to assist farmers and landowners in the design and installation of agricultural BMP’s that will reduce or prevent nutrient and sediment losses from their farms and improve water quality and soil health across the Commonwealth.

ACAP is administered by the State Conservation Commission (SCC) and delegated to participating conservation districts for local implementation of the program. Funding to participating county conservation districts is based on written apportionment criteria developed by the SCC. The SCC’s apportionment criteria must consider:
 

• Agriculturally Impaired Stream Miles
• Number of Cropland Acres
• Number of Farms
• Number of Livestock and Poultry
• Other criteria established by the SCC

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2024 Application Deadlines

​ACAP applications will be accepted on an ongoing basis until all available funding has been allocated.  They will be ranked quarterly.  The deadlines for full applications to be considered will be as follows:
- April 1, 2024-CLOSED
- July 1, 2024-CLOSED
​- October 1, 2024

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Questions?

Have questions about the ACAP program? We’d like to hear from you! Email: Cheyenne Jenner ([email protected])