The Agriculture Conservation Assistance Program (ACAP) was created through the Clean Streams Fund established by the FY2022-2023 Pennsylvania State Budge. 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 and delegated to participating conservation districts for local implementation of the program.
ACAP was dedicated $154 million from the Clean Streams Fund to reduce non-point source (NPS) pollution in Commonwealth streams, rivers and waterbodies. SCC is required to allocate ACAP funding to participating county conservation districts based on written apportionment criteria developed by the SCC that is focused on preventing nutrient and sediment pollution. The SCC’s apportionment criteria must consider:
- Agriculturally Impaired Stream Miles
- Number of Cropland Acres
- Number of Farms
- Number of Livestock and Poultry
- Other criteria established by SCC
https://www.agriculture.pa.gov/Plants_Land_Water/StateConservationCommission/ACAP/Pages/default.aspx