“The context of this is the importance of federal funding for issues related to soil and water conservation,” Anderson said. ADVERTISEMENTGrants in limboIn Walsh County, federal funds generally have covered about 60% of the SCD’s costs associated with the Park River Watershed, Anderson, of the Walsh Three Rivers SCD, says. “This is the first time that we have ever, ever seen anything like this.”Forest funds cutTree planting efforts have been a bright spot in Walsh County, thanks to federal funds, Anderson says. ADVERTISEMENTPark River residents walk along the arboretum on the bike path along North Dakota Highway 17 on the east side of Park River, North Dakota, on Aug. 6. …“When you lose that federal funding, there’s a lot of belt tightening in other areas.”