Pay for Performance Agricultural Conservation in the Kalamazoo River Watershed (MI)
Delta Institute (Delta) created a market and performance-based agricultural incentive program to reduce phosphorus loading in the Kalamazoo River Watershed associated with agricultural sources. Participating farmers entered bids to achieve phosphorus loading reductions at the lowest cost by implementing conservation practices. Farmers whose bids are accepted are paid to achieve those reductions.
Pay-for-Performance Agricultural Conservation in the Rabbit River Watershed (MI)
Delta Institute (Delta) created a performance-based program for implementing agricultural best management practices to address sediment loading associated with agricultural sources, such as cropland erosion, livestock access, and road/bridge crossings that impacts habitat and water quality in the Rabbit River. Performance-based programs are a targeted approach to investing in conservation when traditional funding is limited. Instead of paying for specific farm practices, this project directs payments that are based on the net environmental improvements resulting from a comprehensive set of practices.
Accelerating Outcome-Based Ag Conservation in Saginaw Bay
The Saginaw Bay Watershed Conservation Partnership, led by TNC with support from Delta and other partners, developed and implemented a new strategy to address the primary and secondary resource concerns in the region, particularly water quality degradation and inadequate fish and wildlife habitat.
Pay for Performance: A Market-Based Approach to Conservation
Delta Institute collaborated with Winrock International and Sand County Foundation to create an innovative and comprehensive "How To Guide" for a new concept called "Pay for Performance," a market-based incentive to pay farmers for documented improvements to water- and soil- quality as a result of conservation-focused agricultural practices.
