Western United Dairies seeks conservation funding for Tule Subbasin

Western United Dairies (WUD) has submitted two proposals to the USDA’s Natural Resources Conservation Service to secure federal conservation funding for dairy farmers and agricultural lands in the Tule Subbasin.

The proposals utilize the Regional Conservation Partnership Program (RCPP) through two distinct pathways: RCPP Classic and an Alternative Funding Arrangement (AFA). If approved, the initiatives aim to address regional water and nutrient challenges by providing resources for irrigation efficiency, groundwater recharge, and nutrient management.

The AFA proposal specifically targets managed aquifer recharge to combat groundwater overdraft and drought, alongside vermifiltration. Vermifiltration employs earthworms and microorganisms to treat liquid manure, which can reduce organic loading and the movement of nitrates into groundwater.