| Franklin County Conservation District |
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Kansas Cost-Share Programs
We are the local source for financial assistance for the installation of best management practices to preserve and improve water quality, water quantity, soil health, wildlife habitat, and range health. We provide technical assistance, financial assistance and educational services related to the conservation of our natural resources to the public free of charge, thanks to our county and state operating funds. As a grassroots, locally lead organization we are dedicated to getting conservation on the ground in order to provide environmental and economic benefits direct to Franklin County and all residents.
We work directly with the Kansas Department of Agriculture Division of Conservation (DOC), to administers voluntary cost share programs including:
The goal of cost-share administration is the effective and efficient expenditure of limited funds to improve and protect Kansas’ water resources. The local conservation district board established local priority areas in order to target financial assistance to practice or areas that provides the highest water quality and/or water conservation benefit. Conservation districts are not regulatory agencies, so participation in our programs is 100% voluntary.
Cost share funding is provided by the Kansas Department of Agriculture Division of Conservation, through appropriation from the Kansas Water Plan. Cost share funds are not loans or grants; they are payments to landowners for a share of the practice implementation cost.
Landowners receiving over $600 will receive a 1099 for tax purposes.
- Water Resources Cost-Share Program
- Non-Point Source Pollution Control Program
- Riparian and Wetland Protection Program
- Kansas Reservoir Protection Initiative
The goal of cost-share administration is the effective and efficient expenditure of limited funds to improve and protect Kansas’ water resources. The local conservation district board established local priority areas in order to target financial assistance to practice or areas that provides the highest water quality and/or water conservation benefit. Conservation districts are not regulatory agencies, so participation in our programs is 100% voluntary.
Cost share funding is provided by the Kansas Department of Agriculture Division of Conservation, through appropriation from the Kansas Water Plan. Cost share funds are not loans or grants; they are payments to landowners for a share of the practice implementation cost.
Landowners receiving over $600 will receive a 1099 for tax purposes.
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Before you apply:
How to Apply:
Application dates for Franklin County:
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Cost share is NOT available for:
State Cost share requires original signatures on all documents. We are unable to accept electronic or scanned signatures.
Technical assistance for planning, design, construction inspections for all cost share projects is provided through our federal partners at NRCS as their staffing allows. Kansas NRCS have experienced a 34% reduction in staff since February 2025.
Landowners do have the option of contracting with a private engineer on the USDA Approved Technical Service Providers List for these services to expedite designs. Landowners may contract with any contractor of their choice. A contractors list is provided as a service, no endorsement or recommendation is given to any one contractor. | ||||||
Learn more about assistance and other resources available through KACD
Specialty funds available for high priority areas in Franklin County
Incentive payments related to the installation of best management practices (BMPs) within certain high priority areas of Franklin County will once again be available in 2025. As part of the Watershed Restoration and Protections Strategy, or WRAPS, watershed assessments to study water quality were completed on watersheds across the state. The Marais des Cygnes watershed is one of many watershed to have a completed assessment plan that outlines resource concerns directly related to watershed health. There are many sub-watersheds within the MdC basin with water quality impairments that are considered high priority areas, and therefore will be eligible for incentive payments.
Specific impairments to be targeted include dissolved oxygen in Pottawatomie Creek in southeast Franklin County; and bacteria in the Marais des Cygnes River, and drainage into the MdC, in central Franklin County. Eligible BMPs to be implemented may include vegetative filter strips; relocation of feeding pens; relocation of pasture feeding sites; off stream watering systems; implementation of rotational grazing; riparian area protection fence; terraces and grass waterways; vegetative and riparian buffers; grade stabilization structures; and nutrient management plans/soil testing.
The priority areas are shown in green and brown on the map to the right. Green area are eligible for both livestock AND cropland incentives. Brown area is only eligible for livestock related incentives.
The Hillsdale watershed also has a completed watershed assessment and is offering similar payments within Hillsdale watershed. There may also be incentive payments for implementation of no-till practices and use of cover crops within priority areas in the Hillsdale watershed.
Landowners within any of these priority area who have resource concerns related to soil health and water quality on their land are encouraged to contact the Conservation District for information on incentive payments.
For up to date information landowners are encouraged to follow our Facebook page “Franklin County Conservation District”
Specific impairments to be targeted include dissolved oxygen in Pottawatomie Creek in southeast Franklin County; and bacteria in the Marais des Cygnes River, and drainage into the MdC, in central Franklin County. Eligible BMPs to be implemented may include vegetative filter strips; relocation of feeding pens; relocation of pasture feeding sites; off stream watering systems; implementation of rotational grazing; riparian area protection fence; terraces and grass waterways; vegetative and riparian buffers; grade stabilization structures; and nutrient management plans/soil testing.
The priority areas are shown in green and brown on the map to the right. Green area are eligible for both livestock AND cropland incentives. Brown area is only eligible for livestock related incentives.
The Hillsdale watershed also has a completed watershed assessment and is offering similar payments within Hillsdale watershed. There may also be incentive payments for implementation of no-till practices and use of cover crops within priority areas in the Hillsdale watershed.
Landowners within any of these priority area who have resource concerns related to soil health and water quality on their land are encouraged to contact the Conservation District for information on incentive payments.
For up to date information landowners are encouraged to follow our Facebook page “Franklin County Conservation District”
Cost share and incentives available for cover crops
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We are again offering cost share payments to help with the cost of implementing cover crops. This funding for cover crops comes from the Non-Point Source Pollution Control Program, allocations received through the Kansas Water Plan Fund. Cover crops may be grazed, but not mechanically harvested, and may be drilled, broadcast/aerial application.
Producers interested in multi year cover crops, as part of a no till system, should contact the NRCS office at 785-241-7190 to discuss a possible EQIP application. We also have a partnership with KACD through the Climate Smart Initiatives that offer up to $25 per acre incentive payments on cover crop acres. |
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On-Site Waste Water System Repair Program
The purpose of the Franklin County Conservation District's On-site Waste Water System (OSW) repair program is to upgrade failing on-site waste water systems (Lagoon/Septic Tanks) to help improve water quality. The OSW program is a component of the NPS program administered by the Kansas Department of Agriculture; Division of Conservation.
We now have a special fund pool available just for on site waste system repairs so the timing of applications will be much more flexible this FY than in the past. We used to limit applications just to one month, but now should be able to accept applications on an ongoing basis, as long as funds remain available through the state so hopefully we can assist more landowners.
We can only pay for repairs or upgrades of existing systems that do not currently meet county code. We can not pay for new systems in conjunction with new construction. We do require an approved contract BEFORE any work is done, perk test is not considered "work" so that is one limitation. Application dates and other procedures as described above for the NPS Program apply to the OSW program, in addition to the following:
Eligibility requirements for the OSW Repair program:
Project limit set by the State Conservation Commission for OnSite Waste System projects is $2,500.
We now have a special fund pool available just for on site waste system repairs so the timing of applications will be much more flexible this FY than in the past. We used to limit applications just to one month, but now should be able to accept applications on an ongoing basis, as long as funds remain available through the state so hopefully we can assist more landowners.
We can only pay for repairs or upgrades of existing systems that do not currently meet county code. We can not pay for new systems in conjunction with new construction. We do require an approved contract BEFORE any work is done, perk test is not considered "work" so that is one limitation. Application dates and other procedures as described above for the NPS Program apply to the OSW program, in addition to the following:
Eligibility requirements for the OSW Repair program:
- System must be failing according to County Environmental Health Codes (must contact County Environmental Health Office for inspections and permits, 785-229-3590); AND
- The current system is at least 10 years old; AND must also meet at least one of the following four criteria which have been established by the State:
- Failing system is located at a site where the drinking water for human consumption is supplied from a domestic water well AND at least one of the following (1A-1D) are present at the site.
1A) Current system is a rat hole, cesspool or seepage pit.
1B) Current system is within 100 ft. of a domestic well.
1C) Current system is up gradient from the domestic well and is within 400 ft. of the well.
1D) The domestic well has tested positive for fecal coliform bacteria OR has elevated nitrate levels (over 10 ppm) and the failing system is determined by the local sanitarian to be a possible source of the contamination. - Failing system is located 500 ft. or less from perennial or intermittent streams as shown on a USGS 7.5 min topographic map.
- Failing system is located within a two-mile radius of a public water supply well.
- Failing system is located within an alluvial aquifer area shown on the state alluvial aquifer map which is available at the FCCD office.
Project limit set by the State Conservation Commission for OnSite Waste System projects is $2,500.
Visit the NRCS Services tab at the top of this page to learn more about
Federal Farm Bill Conservation Programs.
Federal Farm Bill Conservation Programs.