Natural Resources Conservation Service
6013 Lakeside Blvd.
Indianapolis, IN 46278
_________________________________________________________________________________________________________

February 6, 2008

INDIANA BULLETIN NO. IN. 300-8-11

SUBJECT:  LTP - 2008 Environmental Qualities Incentive Program (EQIP) Ground and Surface Water Conservation Program (GSWC)

Action Due By March 14, 2008

Purpose:  To announce Indiana’s 2008 EQIP GSWC Program, provide Guidelines, and     

                  implementation instructions.

 

Expiration Date: September 30, 2008

 

Background:

Indiana received an EQIP GSWC allocation of $105,000 for FY 2008. NHQ requires that all GSWC funds be obligated by March 14, 2008, therefore; Indiana will initially fund 2007 applications that were in Pre-approved status in ProTracts.  In Indiana the GSWC program will be used to improve irrigation systems, enhance irrigation efficiencies, and promote drainage water management if the assistance will facilitate a net savings of ten (10) percent in ground or surface water resources.

 

Implementation:

The 2007 GSWC applications that were Pre-approved have been promoted to 2008 under the EQIP-GSWC-FA fund code and are on the attached list.  District Conservationists need to contact the listed applicants and ensure that they are still interested in the GSWC program.  Promoting the applications necessitates re-uploading the plan from Toolkit and re-ranking the application using the 2008 ranking and payment schedule for GSWC.  The GSWC payment schedule has been uploaded to ProTracts and was sent out for Toolkit.

 

Practices that have already been installed are no longer eligible and this may require adjusting the conservation plan and contract.  Also, the use of the new payment schedule required that we adjust the payment schedule for a Structure for Water Control (587) to match the unit price for the EQIP practice.  This may have an impact on contract values.  All other practices remain the same as for 2007.

 

When re-ranking is complete advise the Area Program Specialist (APS) to complete a Quality Assurance (QA) review.  The APS will change the status to “Pre-approved” and advise Jim Dunaway that the applications are ready to be “Approved”.

 

We received only enough funding to process the “Pre-approved” 2007 applications as they were previously entered. Funds are not currently available for an open 2008 selection period, however; District Conservationists may want to promote other viable applications in case other funds

 

Dist: 0

 


become available later.  If any of the listed applicants do not wish to continue with their application, advise Jim Dunaway as soon as possible so we can take action on available funds.

 

Eligibility:

1.      Producers must meet basic EQIP eligibility requirements.

2.      For practices 441, 442, 443, 449.

a.       The land must have been irrigated 2 out of the previous 5 years.

b.      Producers must show to NRCS (through a consultant or other irrigation professional, or through NRCS’s use of the CSP FY06 Irrigation Water Management Index) that their existing irrigation system’s efficiency can be improved by at least 10%.

c.       Producers must agree to implement Practice 449 to receive incentives for 441, 442, & 443.

 

3.   For practices 554 and 587:

a.   Producers must agree to implement Drainage Water Management according to the 554 standard in the Indiana eFOTG.

 

 

Priorities/Ranking

1.      The National Ranking System through ProTracts will be used.  The ranking for 2008 is identical to 2007 ranking.

a.       Eligible Resource Concerns

                                                               i.      Aquifer Overdraft

                                                             ii.      Inefficient Water Use on Irrigated Land

                                                            iii.      Inefficient Water Use on Non-irrigated Land

                                                           iv.      Reduced Storage of Water Bodies by Sediment Accumulation

2.      Local Ranking will not be used

3.      State Ranking

a.       Applications within LaPorte County = 20 Points; LaGrange Co. = 18 Points; Elkhart Co. = 16 Points; Jasper Co. = 14 Points; St. Joseph Co. = 12 Points; Rest of the State = 0 Points.

b.      Applications that include both Irrigation Water Management and Drainage Water Management. = 20 Points.

c.       Applications impacting organically grown crops, perennial truck crops, perennial crops grown for seed, vines, orchards, and/or annually planted crops other than corn for grain, soybeans, and wheat = 20 Points.

 

Practices Eligible for Ground and Surface Water Incentive Payments

Practice Code

Practice Name

Unit Type

FY 08 Unit Cost

Cost Type

Share Rate

# of incentive years

554

Drainage Water Management(554)

AC

$40

PR

100%

3

441

Irrigation Systems, Micro-Irrigation(441) 1,3

NO

$3,000

PR

100%

1

442

Irrigation Systems, Sprinkler(442) 1,3

 NO

$3,000

PR

100%

1

443

Irrigation Systems, Surface and Subsurface(443) 1,3

NO

$3,000

PR

100%

1

449

Irrigation Water Management(449)-Site Evaluation and Irrigation Water Management Plan Development by a private consultant

NO

$500

PR

100%

1

449

Irrigation Water Management(449)-years 1,2 &3 to implement plan 2

Acre

$5

PR

100%

3

587

Structure for Water Control(587)Only eligible when used in conjunction with Drainage Water management(554)

NO

$750

PR

100%

1

 

1 Irrigation Water Management (449) must be scheduled to receive incentive payments for these practices.

2 If applying nutrients with irrigation, the application rates must be based on Indiana standards 590 and/or 633.

3 Maximum payments will not exceed 5 Systems per applicant.

 

Ranking will follow the basic guidelines for EQIP.  TSP TA is not available.

 

If you have any questions or need assistance on GSWC contact Jim Dunaway at 317-290-3200 ext. 334 

 

/s/

 

JANE E. HARDISTY

State Conservationist

 

Attachment