This agreement provides funding under the infrastructure investment and jobs act (IIJA) to the state of louisiana

EPA Region 6 awarded the Louisiana Department of Environmental Quality $2,514,116 on October 1, 2025, under the Support for the Gulf Hypoxia Action Plan (CFDA 66.485) to implement agricultural best management practices in Northeast Louisiana watersheds and reduce nutrient loading that contributes to Gulf hypoxia. The project, performing in the Lake St. Joseph and Cypress Bayou watersheds in Louisiana, runs through September 30, 2028.

LDEQ serves as the lead state agency for the cooperative agreement. The Louisiana Department of Agriculture and Forestry's Office of Soil and Water Conservation (OSWC) is the lead sub-recipient for day-to-day project implementation, handling participant recruitment and ranking, conservation plan development, reimbursement of approved cost-share expenses for participating farmers, and tracking of land use and BMP implementation across the project watersheds. The USDA Natural Resources Conservation Service at the St. Joseph, Louisiana service center provides technical assistance to OSWC and project partners in identifying eligible cropland within the project area and developing project ranking criteria.

The award funds implementation of the state's nutrient reduction strategy in support of the Gulf Hypoxia Action Plan, targeting prioritized agricultural tracts to reduce agriculture-induced nutrient loading and improve water quality in the affected river basins.

The purpose of this agreement is to support and advance the gulf hypoxia action plan through implementation of the recipient's nutrient reduction strategy. The activities target implementation of agricultural best management practices within prioritized tracts in northeast louisiana, within the lake ST. Joseph and cypress bayou watersheds, to reduce agriculture-induced nutrient loading and provide other water quality improvements. Activities:the louisiana department of environmental quality (LDEQ) will be the lead state agency for the cooperative agreement with EPA. This workplan is comprised of a general project workplan to address LDEQ's responsibilities as the lead louisiana state agency for the BIL GHP cooperative agreement, followed by specific workplan of the subawardee project for implementation. The activities target implementation of agricultural best management practices within prioritized tracts in northeast louisiana, within the lake ST. Joseph and cypress bayou watersheds, to reduce agriculture-induced nutrient loading and provide other water quality improvements. Subrecipient:1. Louisiana department of agriculture and forestry (LDAF)-office of soil and water conservation (OSWC) will be the lead agency for project implementation, providing project management on a day-to-day basis, assist development and implementation of project geographic priorities, participant ranking criteria, conservation plans, and reimburse participants for approved cost-share expenses. OSWC will track land use and BMP implementation within each project watershed and assemble reports as required. 2. USDA-natural resources conservation service (NRCS) of the ST. Joseph, LA service center may assist the OSWC and other partners in collecting technical information, including identification of cropland within the project area, and in development of project-ranking criteria. The NRCS staff will assist with ensuring that resource management system - level conservation plans developed for this project meet NRCS planning standards. 3. Tensas-concordia soil and water conservation district (SWCD) will contact and work with project participants at the local level, including stakeholders from communities that have limited access to federal grant resources. 4. Louisiana state university (LSU) agcenter provides research based educational materials, venues and expertise, technical expertise in field side sampling design, equipment calibration and deployment, and quality assurance. Outcomes:the anticipated deliverables include a quality assurance project plan, best management practice implementation, field-side sampling, progress reports and a final narrative report. The expected outcomes will demonstrate improved water quality and water clarity, lessened siltation, enhanced submerged aquatic vegetation, balanced biological oxygen demand, enhanced macroinvertebrate and aquatic wildlife diversity, enhanced project area flood and drought protection, enhanced nesting and brooding cover for resident upland ground-nesting birds, improved feeding habitat for migratory birds and more. Reduced nutrient loading into lake ST. Joseph will contribute to the overall reduction of hypoxia in the gulf of america. The intended beneficiaries include residents of the state of louisiana.