Up to $260 million to improve the nation’s water quality, combat drought, enhance soil health, support wildlife habitat and protect agricultural viability, is being made available by the U.S. Department of Agriculture. The funding will be through the USDA Natural Resources Conservation Service’s innovative Regional Conservation Partnership Program (RCPP). Applicants must be able to match the federal award with private or local funds.

Created by the 2014 Farm Bill, RCPP investments of nearly $600 million have already driven 199 projects. The program leverages local leadership to establish partnerships that can include private companies, local and tribal governments, universities, non-profits and other non-government partners to work with farmers, ranchers and forest landowners on landscape- and watershed-scale conservation solutions that work best for their region.

This is the third round of funding through RCPP, helping USDA build on record enrollment in all voluntary conservation programs, with more than 500,000 producers participating to protect land and water on more than 162 million hectares (400 million acres) nationwide.

USDA will be accepting proposals for Fiscal Year 2017 RCPP funding through May 10.