For Immediate Release
July 23, 2002
Contact: Channell Barbour, Governor’s Office (502) 564-2611, or
               Mark York, Natural Resources, (502) 564-3350 

Governor Patton Announces Funding for Conservation Districts, Landowners

FRANKFORT, KY  - Gov. Paul Patton, while attending the 59^th Annual Convention of the Kentucky Association of Conservation Districts (KACD) in Owensboro, announced the release of nearly $11 million dollars in conservation funds to assist local conservation districts and landowners. 

The governor stated, “The state Soil Erosion and Water Quality Cost Share Program is one of the real success stories in state government, given the number of individuals assisted, in nearly every county of the state.  Its accomplishments improve the environment, and provide assistance to farmers in the planning, design and installation of best management practices.” 

During the recent sign-up period, a total of 3,627 applications were received in 118 counties across the state requesting a total of $36 million in financial assistance.  Today’s announcement releases funds to approve approximately 750 applications, for a total of $10.5 million. The money will allow farmers to begin the installation of these much needed conservation practices.  

The governor’s announcement includes funds for state support of the local conservation districts, which provide assistance to all Kentucky citizens to deal with a wide variety of environmental issues and protection of our natural resources. These funds will continue office support, partial funding of more than 100 local technical and administrative positions and $4,000 in base-level program funding per conservation district. 

While attending the KACD convention, Gov. Patton was presented with the 2002 Conservation-Person-of-the-Year Award, the conservation organization’s highest honor. Patton was acknowledged for his efforts in promoting Phase I Master Settlement funds to agriculture, signing the Green River Conservation Reserve Enhancement Program with the U.S. Department of Agriculture, and for the increase in funding to Kentucky’s 121 local conservation districts during his administration.

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