2003 Environmental Quality Incentive Program

Local Work Group Summary for Carlsbad

Introduction:

The Natural Resources Conservation Service (NRCS) Carlsbad Field Office and the Carlsbad Soil and Water Conservation District are located in southeast New Mexico. The Carlsbad field office provides assistance to producers in the southern half of Eddy county and the far eastern portion of Otero county. The Carlsbad Soil and Water Conservation District is in a semi-arid region with private rangeland and cropland along the Pecos river. Alfalfa and cattle production are the main agricultural products in the area.

Local Work Group: 

The Local Work Group met in the afternoon of March 7, 2003 after having a Stakeholders meeting in the morning at 10 AM. The Local Work Group participants included Carlsbad Soil and Water Conservation District supervisors, NRCS employees, NM State Land Office, County Extension Service and Soil and Water Conservation District employees. 

Priority Resource Concerns: 

Along with the concerns of the Stakeholder attendees, the Local Work Group agreed to address two major resource concerns for the FY 2003 Environmental Quality Incentive Program (EQIP), Watershed health and Irrigation efficiency.

Funding Considerations: 

The Local Work Group decided to allocate 60% of the funds for Rangeland and 40% to Irrigated Cropland.

Cost Docket: Refer to Cost Docket

Eligible Practices: 

The Local Work Group decided to not recommend incentive payments for management practices this year and no limitations on quantity except on land leveling, which was agreed to be 200 cy/ac or greater.

Cost Share Rate and Incentive Payments: 

The Local Work Group decided they wanted to leave cost share rates at 50% for most of the practices. The LWG did recommend a few practices that they thought should be at 75% to address the two main resource concerns. The practices recommended for 75% cost share are as follows: 314 Brush management, 342 Critical are planting, 666 Forest stand improvement, 464 Irrigation land leveling, 428 Irrigation ditch lining, 430 Irrigation pipelines, 338 Prescribed burning, 587 Structures for water control, and 638 Water and sediment control basin.  No incentive payments for management practices were recommended. 

Ranking Criteria: 

The Ranking Criteria Worksheets for grazing lands are heavily weighted towards brush control. The Local Work Group thought brush control would most benefit watershed health. The irrigated cropland ranking sheets are designed to give more points to the higher efficiency systems installed, in order to achieve the resource concern of irrigation efficiencies. 

Timelines, Evaluation Periods: 

Approximately 30 to 45 days are needed to process applications and finalize the contract.  Currently it is anticipated that contracts will be approved by July 3, 2003. 

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