LINCOLN COUNTY EQIP PROGRAM

How EQIP is being implemented in the county:

The Lincoln County Local Work Group has identified the following natural resource concerns as the top priority:

1. Water Quality (priority 1)

This local priority supports the national priority to reduce non-point source pollutants. This includes bacteria, nutrients, sediment, etc. Waste management systems, feedlot relocation, nutrient management, grazing management, riparian fencing, and off-stream water development will be targeted in an effort to help producers avoid regulation, support local watershed plans for impaired water bodies, and improve water quality.

2. Grazing Land Management Practices (priority 2)

The local work group supports the national priorities to reduce soil erosion and sedimentation from agricultural lands and promote at risk species habitat and the state priority of grazing land health. Plant health is a concern on rangeland, pasture, and cropland. These land uses have been impacted by a lack of grazing management and / or the ongoing drought. Applications for dependable water developments and increased number of pastures will be given more points in the ranking process. A properly planned and applied grazing system will be emphasized in the planning process to help producers improve vegetative health and prepare for or recover from drought situations.

Lincoln County supports Wyoming ’s grazing initiative. Producers will be encouraged to participate where appropriate.

3. Water Conservation / Efficiency (priority 3) - Irrigation System Improvements

The local work group supports the national priority to conserve ground and surface water. Improved irrigation systems with higher irrigation efficiencies will be emphasized. Upgrading from flood irrigation is the highest priority. Improving an existing sprinkler system is a medium priority. Applications to replace a single component of an existing sprinkler system are low priories and will not be ranked. Proper irrigation scheduling and management will be critical when developing irrigation systems. (This will allow the water to be spread among more of the water right holders and possibly improve stream flow.)

4. Soil Loss (priority 4)

The local work group supports the national priority to reduce soil erosion and sedimentation. Eligible applications include replacement of failing irrigation diversion structures. Higher points will be given for projects that include provisions for fish passage. 

Eligible Practices and Cost Share Rates:

Any practice listed in the Wyoming Statewide cost list that is applicable to the top 4 local work group priorities has the potential to receive cost sharing. Some practices in Lincoln County have amended higher average costs than the Wyoming Statewide Cost List due to the higher cost to do work on the west side of the state. 

Application and Ranking Procedures:

Lincoln County will be using a supplemental application form to evaluate each signup received. The form requests applicant information about the type of practice that the agriculture producer wants to install and the resource concerns that are being addressed. This form will also be used to determine the eligibility of the applicant and his land to receive financial assistance through the Environmental Quality Incentive Program (EQIP). All applicants will be given a high, medium, or low priority based upon information given when filling out the form. Applications that receive a high or medium priority will be reviewed by NRCS for ranking.

The Lincoln County Local Work Group has developed four (4) ranking worksheets to evaluate the top four (4) local resource concerns. The ranking worksheets have points given for the type and number of practices being installed, the life expectancy of existing conservation practices, and the management of the installed practices. Those projects receiving the most points will be listed in order and receive cost sharing first. Contracts will be awarded until the EQIP allocation for Lincoln County is used up.Medium priority projects may be funded, if high priority projects do not use all the county allocation. Low priority projects will not be funded.

Fund Pools:

The Lincoln County Local Work Group has set the following guidelines for allocation of the EQIP funds:

1. Agriculture Waste Management Systems – will be ranked and funded from a statewide pool.

2. Water Quality Related Projects – will be funded in the county up to 40 percent of the total allocation for Lincoln County. Additional funds may be available for water quality projects that specifically support the Salt River Watershed Plan in Star Valley.

3. Grazing Land Management Practices – will be funded in the county up to 30 percent of the total allocation for Lincoln County.

4. Water Conservation / Efficiency (Irrigation System Improvements) – practices will be funded in the county up to 30 percent of the total allocation for Lincoln County.

5. Soil Loss - soil erosion and sedimentation (irrigation water diversion structures replaced will be funded out of the irrigation allocation). 

Click to view ranking worksheets:

These documents require Adobe Acrobat to view the material.

Lincoln County Application Screening Tool (PDF, 112 KB)

Lincoln County Vegetation Management (PDF, 8 KB)

Lincoln County Soil Loss (PDF, 7 KB)

Lincoln County Water Efficiency (PDF, 9 KB)

Lincoln County Water Quality (PDF, 9 KB)

Contact one of the local offices: Afton     Cokeville