Overview
The Farm Security and Rural Investment Act of
2002 (the 2002 Farm Bill) authorizes the Ground and
Surface Water Conservation (GSWC) provision of the
Environmental Quality Incentives Program (EQIP). The
EQIP GSWC provision allows for additional water
saving funding in the High Plains Aquifer region.
The purpose of this provision is to install “water
savings” practices in agricultural operations, particularly
on cropland. Water savings means actions that will:
•
Improve irrigation systems.
•
Enhance irrigation efficiencies.
• Convert to less water intensive commodities or
dryland farming.
•
Improve water storage through water banking
and groundwater recharge.
• Mitigate the effects of drought.
•
Include other practices that improve groundwa-
ter or surface water conservation, as deemed
by the USDA Secretary.
These funds can be provided through cost-share
and incentive payments.
Drought Disaster Assistance
Historically, EQIP GSWC funding was only
available for the seven South Dakota counties covered
by a portion of the High Plains Aquifer; however,
ENVIRONMENTAL QUALITY
INCENTIVES PROGRAM (EQIP)
Ground and Surface Water Conservation
funding is available statewide for Fiscal Year 2004. The
EQIP GWSC funds will be used to implement conserva-
tion measures that result in net savings in groundwater
or surface water resources in the agricultural operation
of the producer. Net savings means a producer imple-
ments water conservation activities such as enhanced
irrigation efficiencies, improved water storage measures
or dryland farming. The net savings is not transferable.
Priority will be given to the following:
• High Plains Aquifer (Ogallala);
• Belle Fourche and Angostura Reservoirs; and
• Big Sioux Aquifer.
EQIP GSWC Provision Information
• Cost-share and incentive payments for irriga-
tion system practices are only eligible on land
that has been irrigated at least two of the past
five years.
• All irrigated land that is served by any cost-
share practices requires irrigation water man-
agement and flow me