**EQIP 2006**

**Screening Tool**

**Wildlife**

**Colorado River WS**

In the last 5 years has the producer had a previous cost share contract
cancelled due to lack of progress or were the proposed practices
previously installed but have failed due to lack of maintenance by
applicant(s)?

Yes = low No = high

Final Priority Status is the answer selected above.

**Final Priority Status High Low**

***(circle one)***

Colorado River Watershed

EQIP

Ranking Criteria FY 2006 10/29/05

1)  The proposed contract is located within a priority wildlife area and
    addresses the target species and habitat. See attached map or
    descriptions for locations of wildlife areas.

Within a wildlife area **10 pts**

> Outside wildlife areas **0 pts** **points**\_\_\_\_\_\_\_

2\) The proposed practice(s) are intended to maintain, enhance, or
restore which habitat types?

Pick one habitat type only for a maximum of 15 points. Habitat type
selected must correspond to habitat used by species selected in #3.

Sagebrush-steppe, riparian, mountain shrub, coldwater stream **15 pts**

Wetland, pasture & hayland or warmwater stream, ponds **7 pts**

Pinion-Juniper, deciduous/coniferous woodland, cropland, other **1 pts
points \_\_\_\_\_\_\_**

3\) Project applies practice(s) for: (You should pick the one highest
category or species if a species fits in more than one category or if
you have more than one species on this item).

A State species of special concern, a state threatened species, a
Federal candidate

species, or a declining species. The bold **D** designates disturbance
sensitive species for

answering question #7

Includes:

> Gunnison's sage grouse **D**
>
> greater sage grouse **D**

Colorado River cutthroat trout

greater sandhill crane **D !0 pts**

long-billed curlew **D**

kit fox **D**

boreal toad

willow flycatcher

yellow-billed cuckoo

or any other species on the state list that are species of concern and
appropriate for your area

**OR**

A state endangered or a Federal threatened or endangered species

Includes: black footed ferret **D**

Colorado pikeminnow

> humpback chub
>
> razorback sucker **7 pts**
>
> bonytail chub

bald eagle **D**

**OR**

Declining native species, or economically important species

Includes: grassland birds **D**

Pheasant **D**

bighorn sheep (desert and Rocky Mountain) **D 5 pts**

pronghorn **D**

elk **D**

mule deer **D**

trout and mountain white fish

turkey D

**OR**

Species with stable or increasing populations, or not otherwise listed
**2 pts**

**Points** \_\_\_\_\_\_\_\_

4\) Practices planned address limiting factors for target species.
Species specific practices found in Biology Technical Notes \# 10-20 are
worth 10 points. If the project is applying practices not listed in the
Biology Tech Notes, the local Work Group may assign a point value in
concurrence with the NRCS Area Biologist or other designated Area
representative. **Maximum of 10 points.**

**Points \_\_\_\_\_\_\_\_\_\_**

5\) Will the planned practices alleviate or increase an identified game
damage problem?

> Alleviate damage = **5 pts**

No effect = **0 pts**

Increase damage **= minus 5 pts** **Points\_\_\_\_\_\_\_\_\_\_**

6\) **Two points** for each partner contributing dollars towards the
participants cost. Pheasants Forever, Ducks Unlimited, etc. Landowners
and NRCS do not count as a partners. **No more than 6 points** (3
different partners) maximum for this factor.

**Points\_\_\_\_\_\_\_\_\_\_**

7\) Proximity to occupied dwelling or other area of measured from
dwelling to center of area treated. For disturbance sensitive species
designated with a bold **D** in question 3. **Non-sensitive species
receive 10 points.**

\> 1/4 mile = **10 pts**

1/8 - 1/4 mile = **5 pts**

\< 1/8 mile = **0 pts** **Points\_\_\_\_\_\_\_\_\_\_**

8)  Will project have significant positive impacts on water quality?
    (i.e. shallow water wetland, riparian buffer, buffers adjacent to
    perennial water etc.

> Yes = **5 pts**
>
> No **= 0 pts**
>
> **Points**\_\_\_\_\_\_\_\_\_

9)  Do planned practices encourage the establishment or maintenance of
    native vegetation?

> Yes = **5 pts**

No = **0 pts**

**Points\_\_\_\_\_\_\_\_\_**

10\) Will implement an Integrated Pest Management Plan. -- **20 pts**
**(If points are awarded for this it will be necessary to include Pest
Management -595 as an incentive practice in the contract.)**

**\_\_\_\_\_\_\_ points**

11\) Habitat Improvement **= 2 points for every 1/10^th^ of point
improvement** in Wildlife Habitat Evaluation Index using species models
in Bio Tech Note 40 or if a model is not available for the species being
targeted use the appropriate Colorado Wildlife Evaluation Guide.

> **(10 points Maximum**)

**Points \_\_\_\_\_\_**

13\) Cost effectiveness = 800/Cost per Acre treated. Use cost share cost
-- the amount that NRCS is contributing. Acres treated are acres that
will realize resource improvement due to application of practices used
in this ranking) **20 points max.**

**Points\_\_\_\_\_\_\_**

**Total points (Maximum of 126 points possible)** \_\_\_\_\_\_\_\_\_\_

## 

## Tie Breaker = Cost per acre treated. Same figure used in item 13 above = \$\_\_\_\_\_\_\_\_\_\_

**Priority Wildlife Areas**

(See attached map)

# Riparian Habitat Areas

Riparian areas within designated critical habitats (as per USFWS
designation) in the Colorado River Basin for fish. Contact Area or State
Biologist if unsure of critical habitat locations.

**Greater and Gunnison's Sage Grouse**

(See attached map)

Sage Grouse = pink area. There are also islands of inhabited habitat in
Garfield County that are priority areas.

![](media/image1.png){width="6.498611111111111in"
height="4.961805555555555in"}