Ranking Criteria FY- 04 EQIP

Republican River Watershed

# **Grassland** 

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 concerns |
|   | oncern | *Circle |                                              |
|   | is     | Planned |                                              |
|   | pre    | practi  |                                              |
|   | sent** | ce(s)** |                                              |
+---+--------+---------+----------------------------------------------+
| a |        | 382,    | Wind-scour or blowouts that are actively     |
| \ |        | 528     | eroding and/or aeolian deposition areas.     |
| . |        |         |                                              |
+---+--------+---------+----------------------------------------------+
| b |        | 382,    | Gullies caused by concentrated flow or       |
| \ |        | 528     | livestock trailing that are actively         |
| . |        |         | eroding.                                     |
+---+--------+---------+----------------------------------------------+
| c |        | 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.)                         |
+---+--------+---------+----------------------------------------------+
| d |        | 512,    | Degraded vegetative cover that has low       |
| \ |        | 550     | production potential and low feed quality    |
| . |        |         | for livestock and/or wildlife. (Seeding      |
|   |        |         | required. Grazing management alone will not  |
|   |        |         | bring about the desired vegetation.)         |
+---+--------+---------+----------------------------------------------+
| e |        | 595     | Perennial or biennial noxious weed           |
| \ |        |         | infestations on 3% of offered acres.         |
| . |        |         |                                              |
|   |        |         | (See latest Colorado Noxious Weed List for   |
|   |        |         | species.)                                    |
+---+--------+---------+----------------------------------------------+
| f |        | 380     | Lack of protection for livestock by          |
| \ |        |         | windbreaks.                                  |
| . |        |         |                                              |
+---+--------+---------+----------------------------------------------+
| g |        | 382,    | Degraded surface and groundwater quality     |
| \ |        | 574,    | along a drainage, stream or wetland due to   |
| . |        | 614,    | livestock pressure and/ or a concentration   |
|   |        | 642     | of animal waste.                             |
+---+--------+---------+----------------------------------------------+
| h |        | 382     | Uneven grazing distribution. (Cross-fencing  |
| \ |        |         | required.)                                   |
| . |        |         |                                              |
+---+--------+---------+----------------------------------------------+
| i |        | 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 72 points**

1.) Targeted resource concern points:

**2.) Cost Effectiveness**

**A) Total Project Cost \$ \_\_\_\_\_\_\_\_\_\_\_\_ B) Total Contracted
acres \_\_\_\_\_\_\_\_\_\_ ac**

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

**C) Total cost per acre (2A divided by 2B)
\$\_\_\_\_\_\_\_\_\_\_.\_\_\_\_\_ (cost/acre)** Cost/acre \< \$30= 20
points. Cost/acre \> \$31 and \< \$60 = 10 points. Cost/ acre \> \$61 =
0

**Maximum 20 points**

2\) Cost Effectiveness points **\_\_\_\_\_\_\_\_**

**3.) Enduring practices**

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

b\) Fencing 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. (3 + 2) = 5 points.

> **Maximum 7 points**

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

**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 Proper Grazing Use Practice Standard (528). Select
one.

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

B.) Deferred-Rotation Grazing or Rest-Rotation Grazing system: 40 points

C.) Alternate Rotation Grazing (Switchback) system: 20 points

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

> **Maximum 60 points**

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

**5.) Water quality Benefits**

Will riparian areas be adequately protected on the offered acres?

Yes- 10 points No- 0 points

> **Maximum 10 points**

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

**Total Grassland Ranking points:**

A MINIMUM OF 52 POINTS MUST BE ACHIEVED TO BE ELIGIBLE FOR FUNDING
CONSIDERATION.

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

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