Name of Project: Corrales Farmland Protection Program
Size: Pending Project Description: NMLC has been working under contract with the Village of Corrales since January 2005 to assist them with the implementation of their Farmland Preservation Program. Corrales created this program in 2002 out of concern over the rapid rate of growth and development within the community and in the surrounding area. The purpose of the program is to preserve the agricultural, scenic and open character of Corrales through the acquisition of conservation easements on important farmland within the village. In 2003, Corrales received a grant through the USDA Farm and Ranchland Protection Program (FRPP), administered by the U.S. Natural Resources Conservation Service (NRCS), which provides partial funding for the purchase of easements on prime farmland. In August 2004, Corrales passed a local bond measure to create a funding mechanism that could be used to leverage and match state and federal grants for farmland preservation. Under its contract with the Village, NMLC is responsible for negotiating and drafting option agreements and conservation easements with participating landowners; preparing baseline documentation; coordinating with the Corrales Farmland Preservation Committee, the Corrales Village Council, NRCS, other partners (Trust for Public Land), appraisers and other contractors; and assisting Corrales with grant writing and outreach. In September 2005, NMLC completed the purchase of four conservation easements, totaling 28 acres of prime farmland in the Village of Corrales, for $2.3 million of combined NRCS/FRPP and Village bond measure funds. In April 2006, NMLC worked with the Corrales Farmland Preservation Committee to prepare a new funding application to NRCS/FRPP. The Village and NMLC were awarded $290,000 in June 2006, which will be matched with an equivalent amount of Village bond measure funds and used to purchase an easement over additional prime farmland within the Village by September 2008.
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