RCPP, Regional Conservation Partnership Program
Drought and flood mitigation added to eligible resource concerns. Partnership agreement requirements streamlined. Funding maintained at $450M annually FY2027–FY2031. Wildlife connectivity added as a critical conservation area priority.
What RCPP does
The Regional Conservation Partnership Program (RCPP) leverages partnerships with eligible entities (states, Indian Tribes, conservation organizations, NGOs) to address conservation concerns at a regional or watershed scale. Federal funds flow through partners; partners contribute matching resources and expertise.
RCPP allows USDA to support projects that wouldn’t fit cleanly into single-program structures, combining EQIP, CSP, ACEP, CRP, FCEP, and Watershed Operations elements into integrated landscape projects.
What changed in the Farm Bill 2.0
1. Drought and flood mitigation added
Resource concerns eligible for RCPP now explicitly include drought mitigation and flood prevention. This was a quiet but consequential addition, RCPP is increasingly being used for water security projects.
2. Wildlife connectivity added
Critical Conservation Areas under RCPP now include wildlife connectivity and wildlife migration corridors as priority resource concerns.
3. Partnership agreements streamlined
- Partnership agreements must now be entered into within 180 days of selection
- Payments must be made within 30 days of request (under funding agreements)
- Up to 10% of funds can reimburse partner administrative expenses
- Time limit removed for advanced funding
4. FCEP added to covered programs
The Forest Conservation Easement Program (Title II’s new program) is now an RCPP-covered program. HFRP is removed (since it’s repealed).
5. Funding maintained
RCPP gets $450 million annually for FY2027–FY2031, net increase of $110M over 10 years.
6. Other changes
- EQIP irrigation history exclusion: RCPP partnerships using EQIP can’t consider prior irrigation history when determining eligible land
- Streamlined partner-led projects: alternative funding agreements have more flexibility
- Public reporting required for RCPP project status
Who RCPP matters for
- Watershed-scale conservation projects: multi-county or multi-state initiatives
- State and tribal conservation programs: leveraging federal funds for state priorities
- Agricultural NGOs and conservation organizations: accessing federal resources for landscape work
- Wildlife habitat connectivity initiatives: newly prioritized
How RCPP differs from EQIP
| Factor | EQIP | RCPP |
|---|---|---|
| Application | Direct to USDA | Through eligible partner |
| Scale | Individual operation | Landscape/watershed |
| Matching | Producer cost-share | Partner contribution + producer cost-share |
| Best for | Specific practices | Coordinated regional efforts |