Bayou Plaquemine Brulé is in USDA water quality projects

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Bayou Plaquemine Brulé in Acadia Parish is among water quality projects to be funded by the U.S. Department of Agriculture.
Plaquemine Brule and Bayou Du Portage located in Iberia and St. Martin parishes are sharing $501,723 for water quality projects.
The USDA announced $56 million this year to help agricultural producers improve water quality in more than 300 high-priority watersheds across the country.
Three other Louisiana projects are funded for a total of $1,540,103. Those projects are:
— Hill Bayou – Bayou Macon Baxter Bayou located in East Carroll and West Carroll parishes;
— Bieler Bayou Tensas River and Wildhorse Bayou Tensas River located in Tensas and Franklin parishes; and
— Tiger Bayou located in Catahoula parish.
Chad Kacir, Louisiana state conservationist, said, “We’ve learned that when we partner with producers to deliver conservation practices to critical watersheds, we see a positive impact. Through these partnerships we maximize the delivery of our conservation efforts which yields greater results to water quality and benefits the public, our natural resources and farmers’ bottom lines.”
USDA’s Natural Resources Conservation Service began the Mississippi River Basin Healthy Watersheds Initiative in 2009 and the National Water Quality Initiative in 2012.
The Natural Resources Conservation Service offers technical and financial assistance to farmers and ranchers to implement practices that avoid, control and trap nutrients and sediment, which in high quantities negatively impact water quality. Practices include filter strips, cover crops and manure management, which promote soil health, reduce erosion and lesson nutrient runoff.