The Peru Gazette

Grand Isle, VT – The Lake Champlain Basin Program (LCBP) seeks proposals for services to work with farmers in the New York portion of the Lake Champlain Basin to install temporary manure stacking pads on livestock grazing farms. The LCBP will provide up to $25,000 to support this effort to reduce sediment and phosphorus inputs from farms.

Reducing phosphorus inputs from farms is a critical step in improving the health of Lake Champlain. Proper grazing of livestock and management of waste is one of the most important steps to reduce erosion. Locating temporary manure stacking pads in fields has been found to prevent nutrient and sediment pollution to waterways.

The LCBP funding will support outreach to make farmers in New York aware of the opportunity, solicitation of willing farmers to participate, and technical assistance in installing storage areas. A cost-share incentive to farms will also be included in the program. Farmers who are working fields near or adjacent to water bodies flowing into Lake Champlain will receive priority. The LCBP anticipates granting one award from this opportunity.

This project will further the goals of the Lake Champlain Basin Program’s long-term management plan Opportunities for Action. Support is provided with funds awarded to NEIWPCC on behalf of the Lake Champlain Basin Program by the U.S. Environmental Protection Agency.

The deadline for proposals is December 1, 2020. The successful applicant will be notified in January 2021 for project initiation by April 2021. Details about the Request for Proposals are available online at lcbp.org/grants or by calling the Lake Champlain Basin Program office at (802) 372-3213.