2005 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 one local work group (LWG) meeting. The meeting was held on Tuesday, September 28, 2004.  There was representation from USDA-Wildlife Services, NRCS, FSA and the McKinley SWCD. A much wider representation was invited.

Priority Resource Concerns:

The priority resource concerns were addressed and were  ranked as agreed to by the LWG as follows:  #1 Range Management,  #2 Riparian System Management,  #3 Forest Health,  #4 Noxious Weeds Control and #5 Wildlife Management. A discussion ensued on each resource concern and how it should be addressed and how it related to the Farm Bill and specifically to 2005 EQIP.  The LWG believed all these concerns are directly related to watershed health.

Funding Considerations:

It is the will of the McKinley County LWG that 100% of the fund allocation be applied to rangeland issues, as was done in 2004.

Cost Docket:

The LWG suggested that 2005 EQIP Cost Docket for McKinley County remain the same as the 2004 EQIP Cost Docket with no suggestions for changes.

 Please refer to the links for the cost docket and eligible practices to view the final approved practices, cost share rates and component costs.

Eligible Practices:

Same as 2004.

Please refer to the links for the cost docket and eligible practices to view the final approved practices, cost share rates and component costs.

Cost Share Rates, Incentive Payments and Caps:

We will agree with the cost share rates designated on the state cost docket with no suggested changes except the changes which were approved for the McKinley Cost Docket for 2004. We request these changes be carried forward to the 2005 cost docket.

An incentive payment has been established for Prescribed Grazing (528a).  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).

A $50,000 financial assistance cap has been established for all practices.

Please refer to the links for the cost docket and eligible practices to view the final approved practices, cost share rates and component costs.

Ranking Criteria:

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 funding. In addition, it is recommended by the LWG that a minimum of 150 points or 30% of total score of 500 points be required in Section I (Plants) in order to be ranked. The overall total of 25% or 465 points is still recommended.

Please refer to the links for ranking criteria to view the final approved criteria.

Timelines, Evaluation Periods:

Please refer to the EQIP Application Information link. 

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