Agriculture Conservation Assistance Program (ACAP)

Agriculture Conservation Assistance Program (ACAP)

Purpose: Assist farmers and landowners in the design and installation of agricultural Best Management Practices (BMPs) that reduce or prevent nutrient and sediment losses from farms and improve water quality and soil health across Pennsylvania.

Funding Source: Created through the Clean Streams Fund established by the FY2022-23 General Funds State Budget ($154 million program total).

Geographic Scope: Pennsylvania statewide; administered by the State Conservation Commission (SCC) and delegated to participating conservation districts. Lancaster County's apportionment is approximately $15,525,000 ($5,175,000 per annual allocation).

Status: Active; all funds must be committed by December 31, 2024 and spent by December 31, 2026.

Eligibility

• Farmers and landowners in Pennsylvania
• Projects must be part of a Conservation Plan or Agriculture Erosion & Sedimentation Control Plan
• Must include a Manure Management Plan or Nutrient Management Plan

Funding Criteria

• BMPs must meet goals of applicable Watershed Implementation Plan (WIP) or Countywide Action Plan (CAP)
• Priority given to BMPs controlling nitrogen, phosphorus, or sediment
• All Animal Concentration Areas (ACA) on farm must be treated
• Buffer installation required if existing plan includes buffers and project proposes manure storage or Heavy Use Area
• Projects with proximity to surface waters, public drinking water sources, or Karst Geology given priority
• Must meet PA Technical Design Guide or SCC-established standards
• Maximum grant award: $500,000 (unless approved by SCC)
• Cost share: 90% in Lancaster County
• PA State Prevailing Wages required for projects exceeding $25,000
• Funding can be paired with other programs

Eligible Project Costs

• Project design engineering and associated planning
• Project construction or installation (including applicant-provided labor)
• Equipment, materials, and other project components
• Post-construction inspections
• Services from Conservation District or private sector technical service providers
• Private sector technical assistance reimbursable up to 10% of estimated construction cost

Bidding Requirements

• Micro-Purchase (< $10,000): No quotes required; consider price reasonable and distribute equitably
• Small Purchase ($10,000-$249,999): Obtain/document price or rate quotations from reasonable number of qualified sources
• Sealed Bids ($250,000+): Publicly advertised; minimum 15 days response time; adequate qualified sources; publicly opened; award to lowest responsible bidder; firm, fixed price

Contact Information

Lancaster County Conservation District 1383 Arcadia Road, Room 200 Lancaster, PA 17601 Phone: (717) 299-5361 ext. 5 Business Hours: Monday-Friday 7:30am-4:00pm

Eric Cromer, ACAP/CEG Coordinator
Phone: 223-666-2556
Email: ecromer@pa.gov