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ST. LAWRENCE COUNTY, N.Y. -- New York State is working to keep our natural water systems clean.

Through a competitive grant program, more than $10 million was given to 27 counties in the state. The money will go to farmers to help reduce the amount of manure and toxin runoff into the rivers, lakes and streams.

St. Lawrence County Soil and Water Conservation sent in three separate applications and all were approved. The county received more than $1 million. Their plan is to help six local farms incorporate new manure and pasture management systems.

"These are farms that have worked with us and we've identified either a need environmentally or to meet regulatory compliance issues, where the farms maybe can't economically afford to put in the practices that they'd like to," said Dawn Howard, SLC Soil and Water Conservation District Manager.

St. Lawrence County Soil and Water Conservationists stress the importance of keeping the natural water systems clean for both public health reasons and recreation.