The Program
The Environmental Quality
Incentives Program (EQIP) is a
voluntary conservation program
that provides technical, financial,
and educational assistance to farm-
ers and ranchers. It's a tool that
addresses significant natural
resource concerns including water
quality and quantity, soil quality,
rangeland health, and drought
while implementing conservation
practices such as:
Stockwater development
Irrigation delivery and system
improvements
Tree and shrub plantings
Grass seeding
Related management practices
such as prescribed grazing,
irrigation water management,
and wildlife habitat manage-
ment
Funding Allocations
EQIP funds are distributed in
Colorado's ten watershed areas.
These watershed areas are identi-
fied at the local level and are
reviewed and supported by the
State Technical Committee, made
up of conservation partners from
various Federal, state, and local
agencies, several agricultural
organizations, and others.
In addition to the general EQIP
process, Colorado also receives
funds in three watersheds ear-
marked for salinity control work.
Colorado also receives funds
through the Ground and Surface
Water Conservation (GSWC) com-
ponent of EQIP. These funds are
available for water-conserving
practices in the High Plains
Aquifer, or that area generally
known as the Ogallala Aquifer in
Colorado.
The Assistance
EQIP activities are carried out
according to an EQIP plan of oper-
ation developed in conjunction
with the producer.
Contracts for confined livestock
feeding operations require the
development and implementation
of a comprehensive nutrient
management plan.
EQIP offers contracts with a
minimum term of one year and a
maximum term of ten years.
NRCS pays up to 75 percent of
the cost of certain conservation
practices.
Total cost-share and incentive
payments are limited to $450,000
per individual.
NRCS provides technical and
financial assistance to help
agricultural producers and
others care for the land.
NRCS has six mission goals
that include high quality,
prod