Agriculture Conservation Assistance Program (ACAP)

What is the ACAP Program?

The Agriculture Conservation Assistance Program (ACAP) was created through the Clean Streams Fund established by the FY2022-23 General Funds Sate Budget. The purpose of the $154 million program is to assist farmers and landowners in the design and installation of agricultural BMP’s that will reduce or prevent nutrient and sediment losses from their farms and improve water quality and soil health across the Commonwealth.

ACAP is administered by the State Conservation Commission (SCC) and delegated to participing conservation Districts for local implementation of the program. Funding to participating county conservation districts is based on written apporttionment criteria developed by the SCC. The SCC’s apportionment criteria must consider:

• Agriculturally Impaired Stream Miles
• Number of Cropland Acres
• Number of Farms
• Number of Livestock and Poultry
• Other criteria established by the SCC

Each county conservation district will receive three equally-divided annual allocations. Lancaster’s apportionment is approximately $15,525,000 or $5,175,000 for each allocation. All funds must be committed by December 31, 2024 and spent by December, 31, 2026.

What are the Criteria?

• Best Management Practices (BMP’s) funded need to meet the goals of any applicable Watershed Implementation Plan (WIP) or Countywide Action Plan (CAP).
• The BMP must be part of a Conservation Plan or an Agriculture Erosion & Sedimentation Control Plan and a Manure Management Plan or a Nutrient Management Plan.
• Priority is given to BMP’s that implement BMP’s for control of nitrogen, phosphorus or sediment.
• All Animal Concentration Areas (ACA) on the farm must be treated to abate stormwater runoff, loss of sediment, loss of nutrients from the ACA, or the implementation of such BMP’s shall be included in an application for funds.
• Buffer installation is required as part of an ACAP application if the existing Conservation Plan or Ag E&S Control Plan includes a buffer as a BMP and the project proposes a manure storage or Heavy Use Area.
• BMP’s with proximity to surface waters, public drinking water sources or Karst Geology with underground drainage systems or open sinkholes are to be given priority during the ranking of projects.
• The project must meet the design and construction standards established by the PA Technical Design Guide, or other standard established by the SCC.
• Maximum grant award is $500,000 unless approved by the SCC.
• PA State Prevailing Wages are required for projects that exceed $25,000.
• Cost share percentage will be determined by each conservation district. Lancaster’s cost share is 90%.
• Funding is able to be paired with other funding programs.

Bidding Requirements

What are eligible ACAP project costs?

• Project design engineering and associated planning
• Project construction or installation – including labor provided by the applicant
• Equipment, materials and other components of eligible projects
• Post construction inspections

Any of the above costs for services that may be provided by a Conservation District or private sector technical service provider through a fee or charge are eligible costs and may be included in the ACAP project application. Private sector technical assistance can be reimbursed up to 10% of the estimated construction cost.

Applying for ACAP Grants

Applications are available through the State Conservation Commission (SCC) Website or from the Lancaster County Conservation District (LCCD) Website. The SCC website can be accessed using this link: State Conservation Commission ACAP Website

The District recommends requesting assistance from the LCCD or a private consultant as the application requires preliminary design and cost estimate.

A completed application packet needs to be submitted to Kent Bitting, PE, at the District for review, ranking and approval. Districts have 90 days to accept and review applications. There is a rolling submission deadline and projects are approved at monthly District Board meetings.

Reminders

The ACAP Program Guidelines, Application and Best Management Practice List are available in the “Application Resources” section on this page.  Please contact Eric Cromer, ACAP/CEG Coordinator, at 223-666-2556 or by email at ecromer@pa.gov with any questions.