Kansas Cost-Share Programs

We are the local source for financial assistance for the installation of conservation practices to preserve and improve water quality, water quantity, soil health, wildlife habitat, and pasture/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 county and state operating funds.  As a locally led organization, we are dedicated to providing environmental and economic benefits directly to Franklin County residents.  
Ks Dept of Ag logo
​We work directly with the Kansas Department of Agriculture Division of Conservation (DOC) to administer voluntary cost share programs, including:
  • 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 Franklin County Conservation District board of Supervisors establishes local priority areas in order to target financial assistance to provide the highest 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 conservation practice implementation cost.

​Landowners receiving over $600 will receive a 1099 for tax purposes.  
Before you apply: 
  1. Farmer or rancher meets with staff at the conservation district or Natural Resources Conservation Service to develop a conservation plan to determine the resource concerns to be addressed on their land.
  2. Field visits will be scheduled with technical assistance experts to document field conditions to aid in determining the best plan for addressing the resource concerns.  
  3. Staff will review funding options available with the farmer or rancher. 
  4. If the state cost-share program is the best option for the resource concern and for the farmer or ranchers objectives, a state cost-share application can be completed.
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How to Apply: 
  1. Application must be in the name of the landowner and must be completed through the conservation district where the ground is physically located.  *Cover Crop applications may be made in the name of the operator of record.
  2. Applications must be made and approved PRIOR to any work on the project being started.
  3. A complete application includes the application form, W9 for all owners, and a project map. *The pasture assessment is also required with applications for pasture projects.​ 
  4. Original signatures are required on all state cost-share documents. ​

Application Dates for Franklin County: 
  • Applications received in January and February will be grouped and ranked for possible funding on July 1. 
  • Applications received from March 1 to November 30 will be grouped and ranked monthly, if funds remain available from the July 1 allocation.
  • Applications will NOT be accepted in December. 
  • All unfunded applications on file as of December 1 will be notified that they must fill out a new application beginning January 1.
Cost-share is NOT available for:
  • Property or land use perimeter fence
  • Pond construction
  • Pond clean out
Cost-share IS available for:
conservation_practices.pdf
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application_2026.pdf
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_w-9_blank.pdf
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pature_assessment.pdf
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Applicants may contract with any contractor of their choice.  Franklin County Conservation District can provide a contractors list if requested.
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​ *No endorsement or recommendation is given to any one contractor.

On-Site Waste Water System Repair Program

Graphic showing home septic system
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 can only pay for repairs or upgrades of existing systems that do not currently meet county code.  The project limit set by the State Conservation Commission is $2,500.  We cannot pay for new systems in conjunction with new construction. We require an approved contract BEFORE any work is done, perk test is not considered "work". 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:
  1. 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. 
  2. Failing system is located 500 ft. or less from perennial or intermittent streams as shown on a USGS 7.5 min topographic map. 
  3. Failing system is located within a two-mile radius of a public water supply well.
  4. Failing system is located within an alluvial aquifer area shown on the state alluvial aquifer map which is available at the FCCD office.

Learn more about assistance and other resources available through the Kansas Association of Conservation Districts (KACD)

Watershed Restoration and Protection Strategy (WRAPS) Funds Available for High Priority Areas in Franklin County 

Franklin Co Kansas Map with TMDLs
Incentive payments related to the installation of best management practices (BMPs) within specified high priority areas of Franklin County are available.  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 (MdC) Watershed is one of many watersheds 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. 
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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.
Visit the NRCS Services tab at the top of this page to learn more about
Federal Farm Bill Conservation Programs.