The U.S. Department of Agriculture (USDA) announced 88 conservation projects across the country to improve water quality, combat drought, enhance soil health, support wildlife habitat and protect agriculture through the agency’s Regional Conservation Partnership Program (RCPP).

RCPP was created by the 2014 Farm Bill.

The USDA’s Natural Resources Conservation Service (NRCS) is investing a total of $825 million in 286 projects, bringing together more than 2,000 conservation partners who have committed an estimated $1.4 billion in financial and technical assistance.

“RCPP plays a critical role in connecting partners with producers to design and implement conservation solutions that benefit both natural resources and agriculture,” Agriculture Secretary Tom Vilsack said in a statement. “The Farm Bill is the largest source of federal funding for private lands conservation, and RCPP is contributing innovative conservation solutions to communities across the country.”

RCPP offers new opportunities for NRCS, conservation partners and farmers and ranchers to work together to harness innovation, expand the conservation mission and demonstrate the value and efficacy of voluntary private lands conservation. The program is increasing investment in conservation from a diversity of partners, leading to cleaner and more abundant water, improved soil and air quality, enhanced wildlife habitat and stronger rural economies.

The USDA awarded $8 million to the Lower Colorado River Authority to help build a reservoir for irrigation, flood control and bird habitat. That project will provide critically needed irrigation water to farmers and Lakeside rice fields, which also provide habitat for waterfowl and water birds. The project will implement complementary Conservation Stewardship Program (CSP) enhancements in Colorado, Wharton and Matagorda counties near the Texas Gulf Coast, including outreach and funding for CSP enhancements on rice lands that provide habitat for migratory birds and other wildlife and aid in water conservation.

The Nation Turkey Federation will also receive nearly 3 million from USDA to help address the significant decline in grassland wildlife populations and loss of natural hydrologic conditions through the improvement and restoration of native grassland ecosystems in the southern great plains. The project will include dedicated staff to work side-by-side with staff from Texas Parks and Wildlife Department, Oklahoma Department of Wildlife Conservation, Texas and Oklahoma NRCS and other OPJV partner organizations to strategically deliver grassland ecosystem improvement projects on private lands.

NRCS will also invest nearly 5 million dollars to the Texas State Soil and Water Conservation Board to update the Elm Creek Watershed plan. The update will include seven floodwater retarding structures, two floodwater dikes, accelerated technical assistance for cropland erosion control and development of upland wildlife habitat.