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Kansas Environmental Quality Incentives Program (EQIP) - Ground and Surface Water Conservation (GSWC)

Overview

To improve the effectiveness of EQIP GSWC funds, four Western Kansas Groundwater Management Districts (GMD) and the Kansas Division of Water Resources (DWR) identified areas of the High Plains Aquifer and hydraulically interconnected alluvial and surface waters. These areas have been designated as Quick Response Areas (QRAs). (See map below)

QRAs were identified and are approved by the Chief Engineer, DWR, and the Director, Kansas Water Office (KWO) as important for reducing consumptive water use. Each GMD and DWR defined QRA is based on various conditions identified within each district including aquifer conditions, withdrawal patterns, and socio-economic considerations.

The Natural Resources Conservation Service (NRCS) will provide EQIP financial assistance for eligible applications located within QRAs that convert irrigated cropland to nonirrigated cropland.

Information for Kansas

  • Kansas EQIP: Self-Assessment Tool for Fiscal Year 2006 must be completed and returned to the NRCS office by application period cutoff date. The Self-Assessment Tool is available from your local NRCS office.
  • Incentive payments are only eligible on land that has been irrigated at least two of the past five years.
  • Applicant acreage benchmark water usage must meet or exceed the minimum use guideline of 66 percent. Water usage equals the average acres irrigated divided by acres authorized by permit.
  • Incentive payments of $100 per acre annually for three years are authorized on eligible acres that convert irrigated land to nonirrigated land. Applicants may continue to produce crops under dryland rotations and conservation tillage practices or the land may be seeded to perennial grasses.
  • Financial assistance is available for grass seedings and water developments.

Where can producers access information about the EQIP?

Information can be found at the Kansas NRCS web site. Again, the best thing for producers to do is visit their local USDA Service Center and talk to the NRCS or conservation district office staff. They will be able to assist producers wanting to address local natural resource concerns. Agriculture in Kansas, north to south and east to west, is diversified. The NRCS is listed in the telephone book under U.S. Department of Agriculture.

The following documents are in Adobe Acrobat format.

Adobe Acrobat documentHigh Plains Aquifer Quick Response Areas Map (528 KB) (text version)
Adobe Acrobat documentEQIP - GSWC Quick Response Areas Fact Sheet (210 KB)

< Back to 2006 Kansas EQIP Information

Last Modified: 11/22/2005