It built on the 2008 Farm Bill (Food, Conservation, and Energy Act of 2008) that included AWEP, one of the first landscape and partnership programs involving water conservation. First, since federal funding comes through ongoing USDA programmes, the additional budget commitment is reduced. Second, that fact that the programme leverages non-federal conservation funds - partners are expected to cover at least half of total costs - was a major factor facilitating its approval. Third, the programme’s reliance on voluntary engagement with stakeholders at the regional level gave it broad political appeal, considering increasing concerns by agricultural producers about the consequences of regulatory actions and the emphasis on regional solutions.