New Castle Conservation
District
"Dedicated to soil and water management"
The NCCD Office will be closed Thursday, November 28th and Friday, November 29th. We will reopen on December 2nd at 8am.
Cost Share Program
Overview:
Our Cost-Share Program assists landowners and managers install conservation practices on their property within New Castle County in both urban and agricultural settings. Depending on the type of practice and project specifics, cost-share rates range from 30-75%. See below for more information on different eligible practices.
Application Process:
1) Contact our office at (302)365-8970 to learn about fund availability and schedule a site visit by one of our planners.
AFTER A VISIT WITH ONE OF OUR PLANNERS:
2) Complete a cost-share application (provided by NCCD Staff) and send to:
ATTN: Elizabeth Hook
New Castle Conservation District
2430 Old County Rd
Newark, DE 19702
3) Submitted applications go before the NCCD Board of Supervisors for deliberation during monthly board meetings.
4) Applicant is notified of NCCD Board's decision or, if required, is sent a request for more information.
Culvert pipe over farm ditch
Lombardy Elementary- stone added to improved drainage around school garden beds
Agriculture and Urban
The following practices are eligible for cost-share in both urban and agricultural areas.
Erosion Control - up to 50% Urban/75% Ag
The purpose of this category is to reduce soil erosion and in doing so, protect and improve soil and water quality. This category includes the following practices:
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Critical Area Treatment
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Grassed Waterways
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Terraces
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Grade Control Structures
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Water and Sediment Control Basins
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Streambank Protection
Water Management - up to 30%
The purpose of this category is to control water elevations to enhance soils for intended use, protect structures, and to improve water quality. This category includes the following practices:
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Ditches
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Tile Drains
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Underground Outlets
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Water Control Structures
Agriculture
The following practices are eligible for cost-share only in agricultural areas.
Water Quality - up to 75%
The purpose of this category is to reduce pollution of ground and/or surface water by excess nutrients, sediment, and organics. This category includes the following practices:
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Manure Storage Ponds
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Manure Storage Structures
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Composters
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Winter Cover Crops
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Riparian Forest Buffer
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Filter Strips
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Roof Water Management (where livestock is involved)
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Fencing (where livestock is involved)
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Wetland Creation
Cover Crop
Cover crop is an emphasized practice under the "Water Quality" cost-share category due to cover crop's ability to absorb unused crop nutrients, improve soil health, and reduce soil erosion. To be eligible for this program:
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Producers and landowners must be actively engaged in farming.
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A minimum of 5 acres is required per farm.
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Eligible land must be following an annual crop (row crops or vegetables). Acreages following perennial crops, hay, or pasture are not eligible.
2024-2025 Cover Crop Program
This is for those drilling or broadcasting cover crops incorporating rye/wheat/barley.
If you have questions about the program, please contact Caleb Hopkins by calling (302) 832- 3100 ext. 8977 or emailing Caleb.Hopkins@delaware.gov.
2024-2025 Cover Crop Program Forms:
Urban Agriculture
Urban Farmer and Gardener
Mini-Grant
This program is unique to New Castle County and is designed to help urban growers improve and/or increase the access to local, healthy foods in urban areas. This includes many different types of practices at a wide variety of scales. Past projects have included:
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Rain barrels
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Fencing
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Garden start ups
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Acquiring soil and tools
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many more!
Unlike our other cost-share categories, this funding is only open for applications at the beginning of each year and has an award limit of $3000. For more information, go to our Urban Agriculture page or contact Madison Walter.
other Practices
These practices are not currently eligible for cost-share but might be available again in the future.
Wildlife Habitat
The purpose of this category is to improve the quality of wildlife habitat for all types of wildlife - insects, reptiles, amphibians, birds, and mammals. The following permanent practices are cost-shared at rates that are project specific and only if no other program funding is available.
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Ponds (agricultural only)
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Hedgerows
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Tree Plantings
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Upland Wildlife Habitat Plantings
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Wetland Wildlife Habitat Plantings (agricultural only)
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Wetland Creation or Restoration (agricultural only)
Forestry
The purpose of this category is to assist the urban and small landowners install forestry practices.
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Tree planting
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Hedgerows
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Windbreaks
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Woodland Improvement
Stormwater Basin Assistance
The purpose of this category is to assist civic/homeowner associations/organizations to improve existing stormwater basins in their communities to improve water quality, wildlife habitat, and appearance. This category includes the following practices:
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Creating permanent water in a dry basin
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Plantings - trees, shrubs and herbaceous material
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Structure modifications