I set here this morning reading the forum. And over the last two years I have seen people ask about government assistance or cash incentives for pond building. Recently a few more have asked. So, I have to ask, has anyone ever seen where our Government has provided cash to pond builders? I have not seen it. I have seen and experienced redistribution of wealth over the past 7 years or so.
Tracy
I received assistance in the past for planting pond edges and wetland areas in exchange for a time-limited conservation easement (agreement not to farm or destroy conservation value). It was a cost-share on the plants.
It is a cost share, and normal around here is 50% of the first 2000 yards of dirt, but you must build the pond to their specs. Not worth it except for a small cattle watering hole, which is what the program was designed for.
When we built an 8 ac pond on our other place in the 80s the MO DoC paid for almost the whole thing and paid for the stocking as part of a soil conservation program. There were places with 8' ravines so maybe that's what opened their pocketbooks.
We receive a small subsidy from the state for not tilling the area adjacent to the creek that runs across our property, too. We can still graze it, though.
Yep, Missouri will still contribute. However, from what I understand, the pond needs to be for erosion control. I had the guys out when I was planning my pond. They told me up front, if I built it in the woods, they couldn't help financially. The pond needed to be in the open fields. Well, I opted to build in the woods, so it was all on me.
I declined the help with fish stocking also. The Missouri Dept of Consv stocks, BG, CC, and LMB. I wanted to go a different direction, plus you have to provide them access to the pond. I wasn't to keen on that either..
I built 2 ponds with gov't "assistance" back in '03 and '07. First was 10 years interest free loan. Second was 50% cost share ($5500 from me). Both worked well and were set up NRCS, at least one came from the EQUIP program...not sure where the other was. I do know that you need to work with these folks, have them lay out (survey) the dam site and get a drawing prepared. Get your portion of the funding (if cost share) lined up. Both times I was initially told funds were all spoken for...and someone backed out. As I had all my ducks in a row with contractors ID'd I was able to grab the money and run with it. Worked well for me.
We're there any restrictions on what you could do/ stock or who owned the fish etc ?
Illinois DNR helped stock my pond for little of nothing when I built it back in '08. It cost me like 100 bucks all told to get BG, RES, LMB and CC. The NRCS office sized it and provided the numbers and the fish truck brought them to town. I had to go pick them up but that was it.
No requirement as to who can fish it/who owns the fish/etc....believe me I checked.