Kansas 2009 EQIP Application Evaluation Criteria

Applications are evaluated by a ranking category. Statewide criteria has been developed and eligible practices identified for each ranking category. The State Conservationist, with recommendations from the Kansas Technical Committee, established the ranking categories and priority resource concerns to be addressed in Kansas for Fiscal Year 2009.

The use of geo-spatial data and tools enable Kansas NRCS to implement a streamlined process that ensures the optimization of environmental benefits and standardization of application evaluation in EQIP. Geo-spatial data was compiled and used in the allocation and application process.

For the application process, a tool (CPGI) was constructed to gather information used to determine the amount of environmental benefit gained from each application and track location of applications. This tool is used extensively after funding decisions are made to evaluate program delivery, assess program effectiveness, and analyze before and after impacts of treatment.

In compliance with the 2008 Farm Bill, separate ranking categories for Organic, Tribal, Socially Disadvantage Farmer/Rancher, and Beginning Farmer/Rancher were established.

Ranking

Applications are ranked through the NRCS Programs Contracts System using three different factors: Efficiency, National Priorities, and State Issues.

The Efficiency section accounts for 30 percent of the application score. Efficiency is scored on the conservation practices to be installed, practice service life, and practice average annual cost.

National Priorities account for 20 percent of the application score. This section scores the application based on its treatment of EQIP national priorities. The five EQIP national priorities are:

• Reduction of non-point source pollution, such as nutrients, sediment, pesticides, or excess salinity in impaired watersheds consistent with Total Daily Maximum Loads (TMDLs), where available; the reduction of surface and groundwater contamination; and reduction of contamination from agricultural point sources such as concentrated animal feeding operations.
• Conservation of ground and surface water resources.
• Reduction of emissions, such as particulate matter, nitrogen oxides (NOX), volatile organic compounds, and ozone precursors and depleters that contribute to air quality impairment violations of National Ambient Air Quality Standards.
• Reduction in soil erosion and sedimentation from unacceptable levels on agricultural land.
• Promotion of at-risk species habitat conservation.

State Issues account for 50 percent of the application score. This section determines the application's benefits to Kansas natural resource priorities, as determined by the State Conservationist based on recommendations by the Kansas Technical Committee.

The following documents require Adobe Reader.

Cropland Health

• State Issue Questions (PDF; 34 KB)
• At-Risk Species Habitat Areas (PDF; 1 MB)
• Wind Erosion Index (PDF; 16 MB)
• Available Water Storage Index (PDF; 16 MB)

Forestland Health

• State Issue Questions (PDF; 27 KB)
• At-Risk Species Habitat Areas (PDF; 641 KB)
• Forest Stewardship Potential (PDF; 6 MB)
• Windbreak Suitability Groups (PDF; 3 MB)

Grazing Lands Health

• State Issue Questions (PDF; 31 KB)
• At-Risk Species Habitat Areas (PDF; 754 KB)

Livestock Waste

• State Issue Questions (PDF; 641 KB)
• High Priority TMDL Watershed for Fecal Coliform Bacteria (PDF; 895 KB)
• Sensitive Groundwater Area (PDF; 1.2 MB)
• Source Water Assessment Area (PDF; 564 KB)
• Flooding Frequency (PDF; 5 MB)
• Watershed Restoration and Protection Strategy (WRAPS) Implementation Areas (PDF; 254 KB)
• At-Risk Species Habitat Areas (PDF; 641 KB)

Sedimentation of Federal Reservoirs

• State Issue Questions (PDF; 29 KB)
• Kansas Water Office Priority Federal Reservoirs (PDF; 973 KB)
• Watersheds above Federal Reservoirs (PDF; 746 KB)
• Sensitive Groundwater Area (PDF; 1.2 MB)
• Source Water Assessment Area (PDF; 564 KB)
• At-Risk Species Habitat Areas (PDF; 682 KB)

Water Quality

• State Issue Questions (PDF; 34 KB)
• Nitrate Leaching Potential (PDF; 16 MB)
• Potential Soil Loss Index (PDF; 16 MB)
• High Priority TMDL Watershed for Eutrophication, Low Dissolved Oxygen & Nutrients (PDF; 1 MB)
• Flooding Frequency (PDF; 5 MB)
• Sensitive Groundwater Area (PDF; 1.2 MB)
• Federal Reservoirs (PDF; 1 MB)
• Source Water Assessment Area (PDF; 564 KB)
• Watershed Restoration and Protection Strategy (WRAPS) Implementation Areas (PDF; 254 KB)
• At-Risk Species Habitat Areas (PDF; 641 KB)

Water Quantity

• State Issue Questions (PDF; 36 KB)
• Ground Water Priority Decline Areas (PDF; 313 KB)
• Areas Closed or Restricted to Water Appropriations (PDF; 1 MB)
• High Priority TMDL Watershed for Eutrophication, Low Dissolved Oxygen & Nutrients (PDF; 1 MB)
• Sensitive Groundwater Area (PDF; 1.2 MB)
• Source Water Assessment Area (PDF; 564 KB)
• Proposed Pawnee-Buckner Intensive Groundwater Use Conservation Area (IGUCA) (PDF; 118 KB)
• At-Risk Species Habitat Areas (PDF; 4 MB)

Water Quantity - Quick Response Areas

• State Issue Questions (PDF; 34 KB)
• Ground Water Priority Decline Areas (PDF; 313 KB)
• Areas Closed or Restricted to Water Appropriations (PDF; 1 MB)
• High Priority TMDL Watershed for Eutrophication, Low Dissolved Oxygen & Nutrients (PDF; 1 MB)
• Sensitive Groundwater Area (PDF; 1.2 MB)
• Source Water Assessment Area (PDF; 564 KB)
• Proposed Pawnee-Buckner Intensive Groundwater Use Conservation Area (IGUCA) (PDF; 118 KB)
• At-Risk Species Habitat Areas (PDF; 4 MB)

Beginning Farmer/Rancher; Limited Resource Farmer/Rancher; Socially Disadvantaged Farmer/Rancher

• State Issue Questions (PDF; 56 KB)
• At-Risk Species Habitat Areas (PDF; 4 MB)
• Nitrate Leaching Potential (PDF; 16 MB)
• Potential Soil Loss Index (PDF; 16 MB)
• High Priority TMDL Watershed for Eutrophication, Low Dissolved Oxygen & Nutrients (PDF; 1 MB)
• Flooding Frequency (PDF; 5 MB)
• Sensitive Groundwater Area (PDF; 1.2 MB)
• Source Water Assessment Area (PDF; 564 KB)
• Federal Reservoirs (PDF; 1 MB)
• Watershed Restoration and Protection Strategy (WRAPS) Implementation Areas (PDF; 254 KB)

Tribal

• State Issue Questions (PDF; 46 KB)
• At-Risk Species Habitat Areas (PDF; 4 MB)
• Nitrate Leaching Potential (PDF; 16 MB)
• Potential Soil Loss Index (PDF; 16 MB)
• Flooding Frequency (PDF; 5 MB)
• Sensitive Groundwater Area (PDF; 1.2 MB)
• Federal Reservoirs (PDF; 1 MB)
• Source Water Assessment Area (PDF; 564 KB)

Organic

• National Screening Criteria (PDF; 38 KB)
• State Issue Questions (PDF; 32 KB)

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Last Modified: 06/01/2009