Cost Share Programs

Conservation Incentive Programs allow Virginia land owners to receive a financial benefit for helping in conservation efforts. By “sharing the costs” with government agencies, land users can undertake projects they could not afford to do on their own. These popular “cost-share” programs are listed in the table below or download this an easy-to-read list of the programs [PDF format].

If you need additional information, contact the agency sponsors.

DCR - Virginia Department of Conservation and Recreation
FSA - Farm Service Agency
NRCS - Natural Resources Conservation Service
SWCD - Soil and Water Conservation District
USFWS - U.S. Fish & Wildlife Service
VDOF - Virginia Department of Forestry

Environmental Protection

Program Name	Agency Sponsors	Eligible Areas	Sign Up Dates
Conservation Reserve Enhancement Program (CREP)	FSA, VDOF, DCR	Targeted Watersheds	Continuous
Conservation Reserve Program (CRP) Environmentally Sensitive Land	FSA	Statewide	To Be Announced
Conservation Reserve Program (CRP) Highly Erodible Land	FSA	Statewide	Continuous
Conservation Stewardship Program (CSP)	NRCS	Eligible lands include cropland, grassland, prairie land, improved pastureland, rangeland, nonindustrial private forest land, and agricultural land under the jurisdiction of an Indian tribe.	To Be Announced
Environmental Quality Incentive Program (EQIP)	NRCS	Statewide	Continuous

Flood Protection and Clean Up

Program Name	Agency Sponsors	Eligible Areas	Sign Up Dates
Emergency Conservation Program (ECP)	FSA	Targeted	Pending
Emergency Watershed Protection (EWP)	NRCS	Targeted	Pending
Watershed Protection Projects PL566/534	NRCS	Targeted Watersheds	Continuous

Water Quality

Program Name	Summary:	Eligibility:	Practices:
Forests To Faucets.	This project will study the link between rural landowners’ financial interests and their forestland management practices in the South Fork Rivanna River (SFRR) Reservoir watershed to municipal water consumers in the City of Charlottesville and the Urban Areas of Albemarle County.	Rivanna River Basin	Forests to Faucets website
Water Quality Improvement Fund (WQIF)	These Regional Grants are designed to restore and/or improve riparian health through the use of tree plantings or other vegetative techniques and may include riparian buffer tree planting, stream restoration and stabilization, rain gardens and non CREP stream tree planting. The objective is to use on the ground accomplishments to obtain measurable improvement in water quality. Funding is available on a 50/50 match basis. In-kind match including volunteer time is permissible. Funding will be on a first come first serve basis.	Private landowners, local governments, active logging contractors, others	Water quality improvement that includes tree planting Stream crossings for active logging that include temporary bridges
Logging Best Management Practices (BMP) Cost-share Program	VDOF	Statewide	Continuous
Nutrient Management Equipment Tax Credit Program	SWCD	Statewide	Continuous
Riparian Forest Buffer Tax Credit Program (RFBTC)	VDOF	Statewide	Continuous
Virginia Agricultural Best Management Practices (BMP) Cost-Share Program	SWCD	Statewide	Continuous
Virginia Agricultural Best Management Practices (BMP) Loan Program	DEQ	Statewide	Continuous
Virginia Small Business Financing Authority	DEQ	Statewide	Continuous
Virginia Best Management Practices (BMP) Tax Credit Program	SWCD	Statewide	Continuous

Wetlands

Program Name	Agency Sponsors	Eligible Areas	Sign Up Dates
Wetland Reserve Program (WRP)	NRCS	Statewide	Continuous

Wildlife

Program Name	Agency Sponsors	Eligible Areas	Sign Up Dates
Forestry Quail Habitat Recovery Program	VDOF	15 counties	July 1- April 15
Wildlife Habitat Incentives Program Information (WHIP)	NRCS	Statewide	Continuous
Partners for Fish & Wildlife (PFW)	USFWS	Statewide	Continuous

Woodlands

Program Name	Summary:	Eligibility:	Practices:
Alliance for the Chesapeake Bay and Chesapeake Forest Fund Tree Planting Program	VDOF program	Private landowners	Private landowners in counties in the Chesapeake Bay Watershed (see map in Fact Sheet) Open land only – areas without trees for the past 10 years
Pine Bark Beetle Prevention Program (PBBPP)	VDOF program	Private landowners, active logging contractors	Pre-commercial pine thinning and longleaf pine planting and restoration - Landowners First commercial thinning (small acreage) - Loggers
Emerald Ash Borer Program (EAB)	VDOF program	Private landowners, community organizations	Treatment of ash trees to protect a core surviving population of ash from devastation caused by emerald ash borer.
Reforestation of Timberlands (RT)	Provide cost-share assistance to landowners for pine reforestation. Cost-share rates shall not exceed 75% of the total cost of the project. The practices must be maintained for 10 years.	Private landowners, forest industry and large companies	Aerial and ground herbicide release application Herbicide site preparation and planting Planting pine seedlings Site preparation and planting pine seedlings

Last modified: Tuesday, 24-Mar-2020 16:36:29 EDT