EQIP FY 2006

Republican River Watershed

Screening Tool

Grasslands

**Applicant Name
\_\_\_\_\_\_\_\_\_\_\_\_\_\_\_\_\_\_\_\_\_\_\_\_\_Initials\_\_\_\_\_\_\_\_\_
Date\_\_\_\_\_\_\_\_\_\_\_\_**

**Tract Number(s) \_\_\_\_\_\_\_\_\_\_\_\_\_\_\_\_\_\_\_\_\_\_\_\_\_\_**

1.  Will this project include an improvement to the current grazing
    management system? (Example: extending the recovery time between
    grazing events during the growing system to improve vegetation.)

> Yes- High No- Low

2.  Will this project include an enduring (vegetative or structural)
    practice as listed below:

> a\) Fencing for management purposes

b\) Water development

c\) Shelterbelt designed for livestock protection

d\) Grass Seeding

> One or more practices = High None = Low

3.  Will this project include one of the following management systems
    (as defined in CO Prescribed Grazing-528 Specification Guide):

    a.  Short Duration Grazing (Cell) High

    b.  Limited Pasture- Short Duration Grazing High

    c.  Deferred Rotation Grazing High

    d.  Alternate Rotation Grazing (Switchback) High

    e.  Continuous Grazing Low

4.  Within the past five years, has this producer had a previous
    cost-share contract that was cancelled due to lack of progress *or*
    were proposed practices previously installed but have failed due to
    lack of maintenance by the applicant?

> No- High Yes- Low

After answering all questions, the final priority status will be
determined. Use the lowest priority response. Example: Three answers are
high and one answer is low. The project will be considered a low
priority project and will only be funded after the high priority
projects have been ranked and funded.

**Final Priority Status**

**(Circle one)**

> **High Low**

**Ranking Criteria FY- 06 EQIP**

**Republican River Watershed**

**Grassland**

*[All offered acres must be included in a Prescribed Grazing
Plan.]{.underline}*

1.  **Targeting of grassland resource concerns:**

**Mark (X) on each of the grassland resource concerns present on offered
acres that will be** **directly addressed as a result of the land
treatment practices planned**. **No points will be awarded unless a
planned practice will directly address the resource concern.**
Applicable Practice Standards and Specifications are located in the
Field Office Technical Guide- Section IV.

**[Designation of the affected area(s) and/ or proposed practices on a
photo or map is required]{.underline}.**

+---+--------+---------+----------------------------------------------+
|   | **C    | *       | **Description of targeted resource           |
|   | oncern | *Circle | concerns**                                   |
|   | is     | Planned |                                              |
|   | pre    | practi  |                                              |
|   | sent** | ce(s)** |                                              |
+---+--------+---------+----------------------------------------------+
| a |        | 382,    | Actively eroding blowouts or gullies caused  |
| \ |        | 528,    | by wind or water.                            |
| . |        | 600     |                                              |
+---+--------+---------+----------------------------------------------+
| b |        | 516,    | Water distribution in existing or planned    |
| \ |        | 574,    | pasture is inadequate or nonexistent. (The   |
| . |        | 614,    | pasture must be included in plan for         |
|   |        | 642     | prescribed grazing.)                         |
+---+--------+---------+----------------------------------------------+
| c |        | 512,    | Degraded vegetative cover that has very low  |
| \ |        | 550     | quantity and/ or quality. (Seeding required. |
| . |        |         | Grazing management alone will not bring      |
|   |        |         | about the desired vegetation.)               |
+---+--------+---------+----------------------------------------------+
| d |        | 595     | Perennial or biennial noxious weed           |
| \ |        |         | infestations on 3% of offered acres.         |
| . |        |         |                                              |
|   |        |         | (See latest Colorado Noxious Weed List 'A'   |
|   |        |         | and 'B' for species.)                        |
+---+--------+---------+----------------------------------------------+
| e |        | 380     | Lack of protection for livestock by          |
| \ |        |         | windbreaks.                                  |
| . |        |         |                                              |
+---+--------+---------+----------------------------------------------+
| f |        | 382,    | Degraded water quality along a drainage,     |
| \ |        | 574,    | stream or wetland due to livestock pressure  |
| . |        | 614,    | and/ or a concentration of animal waste.     |
|   |        | 642     |                                              |
+---+--------+---------+----------------------------------------------+
| g |        | 382     | Uneven grazing distribution. (Cross-fencing  |
| \ |        |         | required.)                                   |
| . |        |         |                                              |
+---+--------+---------+----------------------------------------------+
| h |        | 643,    | Inadequate wildlife habitat for at-risk      |
| \ |        | 645     | species; Short Grass, Riparian, Wetland,     |
| . |        |         | Mid-Grass, or Sand Sage. (Circle habitat     |
|   |        |         | type.)                                       |
+---+--------+---------+----------------------------------------------+

(8 pts) for each resource concern that will be directly addressed as a
result of the

land treatment practices planned.

**Maximum 64 points**

1.) Targeted resource concern points:

**2.) Enduring practices**

a\) Fencing 3 points c) Windbreak for Livestock Protection 1 point

b\) Water Development 2 points d) Grass Seeding 1 point

Points will be given for a, b, c and/ or d. Multiple practices do not
receive multiple points. Example: Two water development practices and
one fence. (2 + 3) = 5 points.

> **Maximum 7 points**

2.) Enduring Practice Points: [\_\_\_\_\_\_\_]{.underline}

**3.) Cost Effectiveness**

**A)** Total Project Cost **\$ \_\_\_\_\_\_\_\_\_\_\_\_**

(total cost share + producer's share + incentive payments)

**B)** Total Contracted acres **\_\_\_\_\_\_\_\_\_\_** ac

**C)** Total cost per acre (3A divided by 3B)
**\$\_\_\_\_\_\_\_\_\_\_.\_\_\_\_\_** (cost/acre)

**D) 1000** divided by (3C) total cost per acre **=
\_\_\_\_\_\_\_\_\_\_\_\_\_\_** points **Maximum 40 points**

3\) Cost Effectiveness points **\_\_\_\_\_\_\_\_\_\_\_\_\_**

**4.) Grazing Management System**

The following management systems will be implemented to improve grazing
distribution and address documented grassland resource concerns. All
Systems must meet CO Prescribed Grazing Use Practice Standard (528).
Select one.

A.) Short Duration Grazing (cell) system: 60 points

B\) Limited pasture- Short Duration Grazing 40 points

C.) Deferred-Rotation Grazing system: 25 points\
\
D.) Alternate Rotation Grazing (Switchback) system: 10 points

E.) No points will be given for continuous grazing strategies.

> **Maximum 60 points**

4.) Total Grazing Management Points \_\_\_\_\_\_\_\_

**5.) Water quality Benefits**

Conservation practices are designed to adequately manage and benefit
riparian areas through the use of:

a\) Alternate water source 3 points b) Fencing the riparian area as a
separate unit 3 points

c\) Water gap 2 points d) Grazing management 2 points

**Maximum 10 points**

5\) Total Water Quality Points \_\_\_\_\_\_\_\_

**6.) WILDLIFE BENEFITS**

Grazing system benefits a declining wildlife species. 5 points

Points \_\_\_\_\_\_\_\_

**7.) Contracted acres of [new]{.underline} pest Management**

> Must meet practice standard 595 (10 pts) **Maximum 10 pts.** Points
> \_\_\_\_\_\_\_\_

**Total Grassland Ranking points:**

**A MINIMUM OF 50 POINTS MUST BE ACHIEVED TO BE ELIGIBLE FOR FUNDING
CONSIDERATION.**

Conservationist \_\_\_\_\_\_\_\_\_\_\_\_\_\_\_\_\_\_\_\_\_\_\_\_\_\_\_
Date \_\_\_\_\_\_\_\_\_\_\_\_\_\_\_\_\_\_\_\_\_\_

Applicant \_\_\_\_\_\_\_\_\_\_\_\_\_\_\_\_\_\_\_\_\_\_\_\_\_\_\_\_ Date
\_\_\_\_\_\_\_\_\_\_\_\_\_\_\_\_\_\_\_\_\_\_\_\_\_\_