Requires additional 10% funding of agricultural environmental programs implemented in watersheds deemed critical to recreational fishing

BILL NUMBER:S2442

Title of bill

An act to amend the agriculture and markets law, in relation to funding of agricultural environmental management programs implemented in watersheds deemed critical to recreational fishing

Purpose or general idea of bill

To increase the matching funds to farmers from 75% to at least 85% when those farmers are investing in non-point source pollution control measures in watersheds deemed to be critical to New York State's fisheries.

Summary of specific provisions

Section one provides for increased matching funding of at least ten percent to farms in watersheds deemed critical by the Commissioner of the Department of Environmental Conservation.

Section two is the effective date.

Justification

The Agricultural Environmental Management (AEM) program helps farmers develop and implement plans to comply with federal, state and local regulations relating to water quality and other environmental concerns. The program helps farmers protect New York's lakes, streams and rivers from agricultural runoff. New York invests heavily in recreational fishery and should also invest in protecting the water quality that is being stocked and promoted as a tourism attraction. Each year DEC releases over one million pounds of fish into more than 1,200 public streams, rivers, lakes and ponds across the state. These fish are stocked for two main purposes: (1) to enhance recreational fishing; and (2) to restore native species to waters they formerly occupied. Raising these fish is a big task that requires precise methods and specialized equipment and facilities. The DEC runs 12 fish hatcheries, each specializing in raising one or more species of fish, including brook trout, brown trout, rainbow trout, lake trout, steelhead, Chinook salmon, coho salmon, landlocked salmon, walleye, muskellunge and tiger muskellunge. The additional matching funding is needed to encourage those farmers who may not be able to afford the 25% required match to implement water pollution protection. Already in watersheds critical to drinking water (New York City and Syracuse), the benefiting community offers an additional incentive to farmers to build the structures and implement standards necessary to protect the watershed from non-point source pollution.

Prior legislative history

2005 - A.1914 -- Agriculture 2006 - A.11123 -- Agriculture 2007-08 - A2424 -- Agriculture 2009-10 - S.7299/A.1083 -- AGRICULTURE/Agriculture 2011-2012 - S.4352/A.1194 -- FINANCE/Agriculture

Fiscal implications

None.

Effective date

This act shall take effect immediately.