The District serves as a nexus of information exchange between private landowners and state and federal assistance programs designed to protect and conserve open space, farmland and wildlife habitat.

In partnership with the USDA Natural Resources Conservation Service, the District promotes conservation and stewardship practices to agricultural producers and private landowners through use of federal cost-share programs. The District also encourages use of state farmland preservation and open space protection programs.

USDA cost-share programs include:

• Agricultural Management Assistance Program (AMA)
• Environmental Quality Incentives Program (EQIP)
• Farm and Ranch Lands Protection Program (FRPP)
• Grassland Reserve Program (GRP)
• Wetlands Reserve Program (WRP)
• Wildlife Habitat Incentives Program (WHIP)

These programs are designed to address natural resource concerns on farmland, promote environmental quality, address water quality and quantity concerns, protect prime farmland, and protect valuable wetland ecosystems and wildlife habitat on private lands.

Up-to-date information, including current levels of funding, management practices supported, and application deadlines and procedures, can by found on the Connecticut NRCS website (Exit CRCCD).