The Agriculture Department’s main conservation programs could do more to protect California water quality by changing the rules on applications for $485 million in federal funding annually, the Environmental Working Group said in an analysis released today.

The analysis of the the Environmental Quality Incentives Program (EQIP) and the Agricultural Water Enhancement Program (AWEP) “showed that these programs are primarily addressing California’s water quality issues by financing structural improvements such as irrigation systems and animal waste infrastructure, while spending too little on less costly and highly effective farming practices that would generate far greater benefits,” EWG said today.

EWG’s recommendations include:

• Revising ranking systems for funding applications to give priority to farmers who implement management and vegetative practices
• Modifying cost-share rates and payments for conservation practices
• Increasing focus on low-cost, high-impact practices in highly polluted watersheds
• Increasing outreach, training and promotion of good land management practices
• Ensuring that irrigation investments lead to significant water savings and minimize depletion of groundwater resources

• Environmental Working Group — Untapped: How Farm Bill Conservation Programs Can Do More To Clean Up California’s Water