KRS 146.115: Kentucky soil erosion and water quality cost -share fund -- Uses --

Administrative regulations.

(1) There is established the "Kentucky Soil Erosion and Water Quality Cost -Share

Fund" to be administered by the Soil and Water Conservation Commission. Moneys

from the fund shall be used for cost -share programs to provide financial assistance

for implementation of best management practices for the following purposes:

(a) Providing cleaner water through the reduction in sediment loading of

Kentucky streams, rivers, and lakes;

(b) Reducing the loss of topsoil vital to the sustained production of food and

fiber; and

(c) Preventing surface water and groundwater pollution.

(2) The commission is empowered to promulgate administrative regulations

establishing practices eligible for cost -sharing funds, prioritizing applications, and

prescribing amounts and limits of cost sharing. Practices eligible for cost -sharing

funds shall include agricultural and silvicultural practices. Local conservation

districts shall determi ne the eligibility of persons to receive the funds allocated to

the districts by the commission. Priority for funding within each local conservation

district shall be given to animal waste management systems, where animal waste

has been identified as a wat er pollution problem, and to members of an agricultural

district.

(3) Any person engaged in agricultural or silvicultural production may be considered

for funding under this section if the person has had prepared a soil and water

conservation plan with the local conservation district, has had prepared a forest

management or forest stewardship plan, or has had prepared a groundwater

protection plan and agrees to maintain best management practices for a period of

time specified by the commission.

(4) Up to fi ve percent (5%) of any total annual appropriation may be used for

administrative costs of the local conservation districts and the commission.