Pennsylvania Agriculture Conservation Assistance Program (ACAP)

The Agriculture Conservation Assistance Program (ACAP) supports Pennsylvania farmers and agricultural landowners in their efforts to protect and enhance water quality. ACAP was created through the Clean Streams Fund established by the FY 2022−2023 Pennsylvania State Budget. ACAP provides financial and technical assistance for the implementation of best management practices (BMPs) on agricultural operations within the Commonwealth.

ACAP is administered by the State Conservation Commission (SCC) and delegated to participating county conservation districts for implementation of the program.

ACAP was initially dedicated $154 million from the Clean Streams Fund to reduce non-point source (NPS) pollution in Commonwealth streams, rivers and waterbodies. The state budget now annually dedicates over $35 million to ACAP through the Clean Streams Fund.

• Any person or other legal entity that has legal or financial responsibility for one of the following: an agricultural operation in which they are engaged; or property on which an agricultural operation takes place.

• A grantee may be either the landowner or an operator with written permission from the landowner. The Landowner Concurrence Form must be signed if the grantee is an operator.

• The implementation of a BMP or combination of BMPs which is necessary to address existing nutrient and sediment resource concerns from the agricultural operation and meets the criteria established by the Commission.

• An administratively complete conservation plan or agricultural erosion and sediment control plan must be developed and include BMPs proposed for the project. If the required plan has not been developed before application, the development of the plan must be included in the application.

• Any untreated animal concentration areas (ACA) present at the worksite address or on contiguous parcels under the applicant’s ownership or management must be addressed as part of the ACAP-funded project.

• Priority given to BMPs for control of nitrogen or phosphorus or sediment.

• Ineligible BMPs: Lime applications, equipment purchases for grantees, agrichemical handling facilities, and methane systems.

• Eligible costs (contracted services): Planning services (i.e. MMP, NMP, Ag E&S Plan, Conservation Plan). Project design, engineering and construction oversight. Project construction or installation provided by a contractor.

• Eligible costs (non-contracted services): Applicant provided labor or materials.

• Engineering services may be reimbursed for eligible, out-of-pocket engineering costs up to 10% of the final total project cost, including both ACAP-funded and non-ACAP funded portions of the project costs, unless otherwise approved by SCC.

• The Commission or district may choose to reimburse grantee based on eligible actual project costs, incentive payments for certain completed BMPs approved by the Commission or any other method deemed appropriate by the Commission.

• Funds will be fully distributed upon certification and verification that the funded project has been completed and that all design and construction standards have been met.

• Other funding sources may be used as matching funds for ACAP projects. Districts may adopt local policies establishing additional match requirements or standards.

• Approval from the SCC is required in the following situations: Applications proposing an individual contract exceeding $500,000 in ACAP funds.

• Repayment of ACAP funds is required when project Best Management Practices (BMPs) are not installed, cannot be certified as installed, or are not functioning as designed for the duration of the BMP’s expected lifespan.

• Grantees must also recognize that receiving grant funds may have tax implications and take the necessary steps to address them.

ACAP is administered on a local level. To apply for these funds and obtain local program information, please contact your County Conservation District.

A pre-application site visit with the district is recommended. The purpose of the visit is to provide a potential applicant the opportunity to discuss the size and scope of a potential project with the district. Applicants must complete and submit the ACAP Application Form to the district.

Districts must review applications for completeness on an ongoing basis and in the order received. Districts may set their own schedule for approving ACAP applications provided the guidance below is followed.

• ACAP Administrative Guidelines (PDF)

• Find your county conservation district

• Center for Agricultural Conservation Assistance Training (CACAT)

• Doing Right by the Creek: ACAP Helps a Perry County Farm