The U.S. Department of Agriculture announced Monday that the Mission Valley Conservation Partnership will receive $8.2 million through the Regional Conservation Partnership Program.

Led by Flathead Land Trust, the farmer- and tribal-led initiative will use the funding to permanently protect working farmland through conservation easements. The effort is intended to preserve agricultural operations while protecting water quality and wildlife habitat.

The initiative will benefit the Confederated Salish and Kootenai Tribes, local producers and the Flathead River corridor.

The USDA said the funding is part of more than $325 million awarded to 42 projects nationwide. The department said 75% of the nationwide funding will go directly to farmers or pay for implementing conservation practices.