2004 Environmental Quality Incentive Program

Local Work Group Summary for Gallup

Introduction:

The Gallup Field Office is located in McKinley County on Interstate 40 approximately 20 miles east of the Arizona state line.  McKinley County encompasses 3,490,500 acres or 5,454 square miles. The McKinley Soil and Water Conservation District (SWCD) covers approximately 1,692,479 acres of private and tribal land or 2,644 square miles. The remainder of the county is made up of federal land and Navajo Reservation land which is not in the McKinley SWCD. The largest land use in McKinley SWCD is rangeland which accounts for 1,660,846 acres.

Local Work Group:

The McKinley SWCD convened three local work group (LWG) meetings. The meetings were held on 10/30/03, 12/01/03 and 12/18/03.  There was representation from USFWS, NM Dept. of Game & Fish, Navajo Nation Eastern Agency, NRCS, FSA, BIA-Zuni Agency, McKinley County CES, NMDA, McKinley County, City of Gallup, USDA-Wildlife Services and McKinley SWCD who convened the meetings.  A much wider representation was invited.

Priority Resource Concerns:

The priority resource concerns were addressed at the first meeting and were ranked as agreed to by the LWG as follows:  #1 Range Condition,  #2 Water Management/Development,  #3 Watershed/Riparian Health,  #4 Forest/Wildlife Habitat Management,  #5 Noxious Weeds. A lengthy discussion was held on each resource concern and how it should be addressed and how it related to the Farm Bill and specifically EQIP.  The No. 2 concern, water management/ development was refined as it relates to the farm bill programs only. There were concerns about water issues which did not relate to the farm bill. It was agreed that the water development/management concern would be as it relates to rangeland livestock water development to allow for overall better management of affected rangeland. 

Funding Considerations: 

It is the strong recommendation of the McKinley County LWG that 100% of the fund allocation be applied to rangeland issues.  

Cost Docket - Please refer to the Cost Docket link for specific information. 

Eligible Practices - Please refer to the Eligible Practices link for specific information.

Cost Share Rate and Incentive Payments - Please refer to the link for specific information.   

Because many of our clients are low income and limited resource producers the LWG believes allowing for a cost-share rate of 75% for the more commonly needed practices will encourage EQIP participation and allow for treatment of degrading rangeland resources. This is consistent with the recommendations from the LWG for the FY2003 EQIP program. The LWG also recommends an incentive payment for Prescribed Grazing.  Prescribed grazing will be paid for using the following formula: $1,000 first 640 acres.  Additional acres =$1.00/acre and $1.50/acre of riparian area protected.  Total management cost shall not exceed 10% of total contract cost (cost-shared practices + management cost)

Ranking Criteria - Please refer to the Ranking Criteria links for specific information.

The ranking criteria are designed to allow cost-sharing of the most promising applicants and to eliminate those applicants with a low likelihood of success. A minimum score of 25% of the total available points is needed to be considered for ranking. 

Timelines, Evaluation Periods:

Please refer to the EQIP Application Information link. 

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