H.F. 4278 Summary

• Appropriates $479,000 to the Board of Water and Soil Resources for the second year to develop a detailed plan for a working lands watershed restoration program that incentivizes perennial crops.

• Requires the plan to include pilot watershed selection, assessment of eligible agricultural land, landowner interest evaluation, and contract term recommendations with variable payment rates.

• Mandates assessment of federal funding opportunities, integration with existing conservation requirements, water quality benefit projections, and viability of cover crops for biomass processing.

• Requires outreach to local governments and farmers on economic and environmental benefits of perennial and cover crops, with detailed targeting criteria and model contracts for future implementation.

• Sets appropriation deadline as June 30, 2019, with interim report due October 15, 2018, and final feasibility study and program plan due February 1, 2019, to legislative committees and the Clean Water Council.