2004 Environmental Quality Incentive Program

Local Work Group Summary for Las Vegas

Introduction:

The Las Vegas Field Office is located in Northeastern New Mexico, approximately sixty four miles Southeast of Santa Fe, New Mexico.  The Las Vegas F.O. services the Tierra y Montes Soil and Water Conservation District (SWCD), most of which is within San Miguel County, New Mexico.  San Miguel County consists of approximately 11,145 acres of irrigated land, 7,382 acres are privately owned.  There are approximately 4,180 acres of non-irrigated croplands, 1,555,462 acres of rangelands, and 326,062 acres of woodlands.   

Local Work Group

 On December 29, 2004, the Tierra y Montes SWCD, with assistance from the Natural Resources Conservation Service (NRCS), held a Stakeholder/Local Work Group (LWG) meeting.  The purpose of the meeting was to solicit input from the public on the various resource concerns within the Tierra y Montes SWCD.  The meeting was advertised in the local newspaper.

Priority Resource Concerns

The Local Work Group summarized major resource concerns for the following: Rangeland, Irrigated/Non-Irrigated Cropland, and Woodland.  Resource concerns identified factors associated with SWAPPH. 

Funding Considerations:

The Local Work Group advised to fund contracts based on applications submitted according to land use.  Unallocated funds may be moved from one land use to another as appropriate.

• Rangeland –33%
• Water – 33%
• Woodland – 33%

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

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

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

The cost share rate recommended by the LWG set at 75% for specific practices.  Refer to Eligible Practices/Cost-Share Rates Document.  The 75% rate was set in order to place emphasis on identified resource concerns, in order to accomplish needed conservation work, as well as gain more program participation.  San Miguel County is economically depressed, based on the U.S. Department of Commerce, Bureau of the Census it was ranked as the second poorest County in the State of New Mexico.  In past years there has been minimal interest in NRCS programs due to producer financial constraints. The LWG recommended incentive payments be made for management practice Prescribed Grazing (528A) at a rate of $1.00 per Acre.  A cap of $2,500.00 was set per contract. 

Ranking Criteria:

The Ranking Criteria consists of the following categories:

• Rangeland
• Cropland (Irrigated & Non-Irrigated)
• Woodland

Timelines, Evaluation Periods

Please refer to the EQIP Application Information link.

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