EQIP - Ground and Surface Water Conservation

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).

Assistance within this provision will facilitate a conservation measure that results in a net savings in ground or surface water resources in the agricultural operation of the producer.

Net water savings can occur by:

• Converting to a less water intensive cropping system or non-irrigated land use.
• Improving irrigation systems.
• Enhancing irrigation efficiencies.
• Improving water storage through water banking and groundwater recharge.
• Including other practices that improve groundwater or surface water conservation, as deemed by the U.S. Department of Agriculture Secretary.

Authorized Funding

• $51 million for Fiscal Year (FY) 2007, nationally
• $2.8 million in Kansas for FY 2007

GSWC Regular Kansas Requirements

• All irrigated land that receives cost-share or incentive payments is required to apply irrigation water management and water measuring devices.
• Producers must stay within the certified rate and amount of existing water right.

Application Evaluation Criteria – GSWC Regular

• Priority 1
  • Crop rotation reducing water use
• Priority 2
  • Conversion to non-irrigated
    Water Rights Conservation Program* (WRCP) enrollment (10-year length)
• Priority 3
  • Improved irrigation rating

FY 2007 Progress – GSWC Regular

$781,000 was allocated to GSWC Regular

• 227 applications/$4.5 million
• 40 contracts
• 3,661 acres to non-irrigated
• 1 subsurface drip irrigation system conversions/74 acres
• 14 flood systems converted to center-pivot systems/1,341 acres

Kansas Quick Response Areas

In Kansas 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)

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 Kansas NRCS allocated $2 million in EQIP-GSWC financial assistance for eligible applications located within QRAs that converted irrigated cropland to non-irrigated cropland. The remaining EQIP-GSWC funds were used statewide for water quantity resource concerns (GSWC Regular).

GSWC QRAs Kansas Requirements

• 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 non-irrigated 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.

Application Evaluation Criteria – GSWC QRAs

• Priority 1
  • Conversion to non-irrigated
    WRCP* enrollment (10-year length)
  • Secured funding from other contributors

FY 2007 Progress – GSWC QRAs

• 74 applications/$3.6 million
• 39 contracts/$2 million
• 6,117 acres to non-irrigated

FY 2002 – 2007 GSWC Cumulative Accomplishments

• 749 contracts/$20.2 million
• 77,611 acres to non-irrigated
• 5,597 acres to permanent vegetation
• 70 subsurface drip irrigation system conversions/4,580 acres
• 245 flood systems converted to center-pivot systems/25,019 acres

More information needed about Kansas EQIP?

Information can be found on the Kansas NRCS Web site, click on Programs and scroll down to the Environmental Quality Incentives Program.

*WRCP, a program of the State of Kansas. Applicant must sign a WRCP contract prior to receiving any EQIP payment and provide a copy of the approved WRCP contract to NRCS.

The following documents require Adobe Acrobat.

High Plains Aquifer Quick Response Areas (269 KB)
EQIP Ground and Surface Water Conservation (144 KB)

< Back to Kansas EQIP Information

Last Modified: 11/09/2007