Milford Lake Regional Conservation Partnership Program

Map of the Milford Lake Watershed RCPP ProjectPurpose

Nutrient runoff within the Milford Lake watershed in Kansas is a source of nutrient loading contributing to aquatic conditions which promote formation of harmful algal blooms (HABs) within Milford Lake. This Regional Conservation Partnership Program (RCPP) project through Natural Resources Conservation Service (NRCS) will implement best management practices within the Milford Lake watershed to decrease nutrient runoff, thus decreasing the introduction of new nutrient loading contributing to the formation of HABs in Milford Lake. 

History

HABs have been an issue dating back to at least 2011, when the Kansas Department of Health and Environment first listed Milford Lake as a public lake with confirmed harmful blue-green algal blooms. HABs have been detected within Milford Lake every year since 2011, and in 2015 the lake was divided into three zones (Zones A, B and C) to define in greater detail particular segments of the lake which are affected by HABs. Zones A, B and C all experienced HABs in 2015 and 2016.

Timeline

  • April 21, 2017: Pre-proposal applications due
  • Week of June 26, 2017: Announcement of selected pre-proposals
  • August 31, 2017: Full proposal applications due
  • December 2017: NRCS announces Milford Lake Watershed RCPP Project has been selected for funding. NRCS pledges $2.88 million in financial and technical assistance towards the project.
  • January 2018 - Present: KWO is working with project partners and NRCS to further develop the scope of work for the project.
  • October 2018: NRCS funds are anticipated to be available for first signup period for project.

Kansas Partnership Receives Water Quality Funding to Address Harmful Algae Blooms in Milford Lake

Current Updates

KWO is currently working to provide all necessary information to NRCS for the administrative portion of the project. Partner meetings have also been taking place to further refine the conservation practice implementation/technical assistance, education and outreach, and monitoring and evaluation components of the project. 

For upcoming events and more information visit the Milford RCPP website at www.milfordwatershed.org

Funding

The Environmental Quality Incentives Program (EQIP) will be utilized as the primary USDA -NRCS program to provide cost share funding to producers within the Milford Lake watershed. Project partner direct financial assistance, technical assistance, and in-kind contributions will be utilized to provide the partner portion of project funding.  

Project Manager

Matt Unruh

KWO Office
900 SW Jackson Street
Suite 404
Topeka, Kansas 66612
Phone: 785-296-3185
Fax: 785-296-0878
Toll Free: 1-888-526-9283
Email the Office
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