Rappahannock stream bank restoration funds now available

The Culpeper Soil and Water Conservation District currently has funding available for restoring and stabilizing eroding stream banks through its funding for the Virginia Agricultural Best Management Practices Cost Share Program (VACS).

Commonly known as “the cost share program”, VACS provides up to 75 percent reimbursement and up to 25 percent tax credit for engineer designed practices that are approved by the district board prior to commencing any construction.

Eligible expenses for reimbursement include stream bank grading and shaping costs, slope toe stabilization with riprap costs (if required), vegetative plantings that are temporary, permanent, shrubs and/or trees and any engineering costs to design and verify the installation.

The funds cannot be utilized for in-channel design or construction although tax credits may be available if the project includes such. Neither the cost share program or tax credit program support stream straightening projects.

Any lands under consideration for funding must meet basic program requirements, must be at least 5 contiguous acres, must have verifiable gross receipts in excess of $1,000 from the production or sale of agricultural, horticultural or forest products per year for each of the past 5 years, and must be in the Culpeper District that includes Rappahannock County.

Non-industrial private forest lands are exempt from the $1,000 requirement. Maximum cost share available per project is $70,000 provided no other cost share is received by the applicant the same year. Maximum tax credit available is $17,500. A district board approved application and cost estimate are required.

For more information on this and other available agricultural cost share and tax credit programs contact the Culpeper Soil and Water Conservation District at 540-8258591 and ask for David Massie or Amanda McCullen or 540-308-6301 and ask for Spencer Yager.