Wildlife

Environmental Quality Incentive Program (EQIP) Lower Arkansas River Watershed-Wildlife Ranking Worksheet (C4) Part I. Producer/Land Unit Information Producer/ Group Name: Kind of Entity or Joint Operation: Location: Planner: Date: Tract Number(s): YES Farm Number(s): NO Application's Total Treated Acreage (TA): Joint Cooperative Agreement (JA): Yes Contract Financial No. of Assistance Request: Entities (JA): Total Points: Minimum Number of Points Required: > 32 No 1 47.50 QUALIFIED Priority: HIGH PRIORITY 1. Part II. Screening Tool Is there a current wildlife resource management system plan in place which was developed in consultation with a SE Colorado wildlife partner ? If no, has the SE Colorado wildlife partner completed a site assessment, identified the target species, and established a framework for a wildlife resource management system plan to be developed OR as a minimum has the applicant communicated a clear and concise wildlife resource goal that can be formulated into a well-thoughtout statement that includes (a) description of the form(s) of production or products required, and (b) a broad description of the future landscape ? Has the applicant (a) had a previous cost-share contract that was cancelled or terminated due to lack of progress OR, (b) where the installed practices failed due to lack of maintenance, OR (c) has the applicant previously declined an approved funded application within the past two funding cycles for reasons other than technical, or drought related reasons? (If any of a, b, or c is "ÿes", answer "yes" to question) NO 2. YES 1 3. NO If both #1 and #2 above are "no", application is LOW priority; if #3 is "yes", application is LOW priority. Proceed to Question #4. 4. (A) Will the applicant's goals be enhanced through leveraging funds from wildlife partner source(s) other than from the applicant(s) OR (B) Does the project favor either (i) a State species of special concern, State threatened species, Federal candidate species, or a declining species (ii) a State endangered or Federal threatened or endangered species ? If the answer to either (A) or (B) is "yes", select YES from the list. YES If #4 is "yes", application is HIGH priority, if "no" the application is LOW priority. Part III. Environmental Benefit and Cost-Benefit Assessment Effectiveness Element-1: National/State/Watershed/Local Emphasis Resource Areas and Site Assessment Identifes significance of resource areas of special emphasis and concern. A. Wildlife Emphasis Area-Check One Only The proposed project acres located in a State recognized, identified wildlife/habitat area. Use 2002 wildlife/habitat area maps (10 points) 0 The proposed project acres located in a Locally recognized, identified wildlife area. (7.5 points) If the proposed project acres are not in either a state identified wildlife area or a locally identified wildlife area points for 7.5 Part A = 0. Points (A)= 7.50 A1 2 B. Site Assessment-Human Activity Factor; Check One Only Human disturbance/occupied dwelling(s) and activities greater than 1,320 feet. (6 points) Human disturbance/occupied dwelling(s) and activities less than 1,320 feet, but greater than 660 feet. (2 points) Human disturbance/occupied dwelling(s) and activities less than 660 feet. (0 points) C. Site Assessment-Other Conservation Efforts 6 Points (B)= Yes No 6.00 A2 1 The proposed project is adjacent to an EXISTING, on-going, active wildlife habitat enhancement, maintenance, or restoration effort. (7 points) D. Site Assessment-Landscape Position Points(C) = Yes No Points(D) = 0.00 A3 5.00 A4 2 1 The proposed project acres are contiguous. (5 points) Total Points = A1+A2+A3+A4 Points for Element III-1 = 18.50 October 12, 2005 Page 1 of 3 USDA-NRCS, Area 3, La Junta, CO Environmental Quality Incentive Program (EQIP) Lower Arkansas River Watershed-Wildlife Ranking Worksheet (C4) Element-2: Cost-Benefit Effectiveness Element scores points for those applications with the lowest cost and based on the cost per unit land area treated. Points for element can not be greater than 28 nor less than 0. Total land treated (entered in Part I above), acres = Total Project Cost (includes funds from ALL sources), dollars = Cost per land united treated, $/acre Total Points = -9.6006*ln[C3]+72.816; minimum points = 0; maximum points = 28. 0.0 C1 C2 C3 Cost-Benefit points = 0.00 C4 Points for Element III-2 = 0.00 Element-3: Wildlife Partner and Joint/Cooperative Agreement Participation Element considers applicants with wildlife partner leveraged funds and those wishing to participate in cooperative arrangements. Maximum number of points = 10 Number of wildlife partners contributing dollars or in-kind Total dollars from wildlife contributions = J1 partners = Subtotal: Contributing Partner Participation Points (3 points per entity) = Subtotal: Joint/Cooperative Agreement Participation Points (2 points per entity) = Total Points = J3+J4, not to exceed a maximum of 10 points. J2 0.00 J3 0.00 J4 Points for Element III-3 = 0.00 Element-4: Practice Longevity Check One Only Scores points for those applications demonstrating higher level of performance with long-lived, enduring practices. Planned treatment includes greater than two enduring (life span > 1yr) structural practices. (5 points) Planned treatment includes at least one enduring (life span > 1yr) structural practice, but less than or equal to two. (2 points) Planned treatment does not include any enduring (life span > 1yr) structural practices. (0 points) 2 Points for Element III-4 = 2.00 Part IV. Ranking Elements-Resource Impact Summary Element-1: Habitat Type Identifies the key habitat type that will be maintained, enhanced, or restored. Check Only One Below describe briefly the conservation treatment that will be implemented that results in the resource impact in Element #1: Short Grass Prairie (12 points) Sand Sage Prairie (9 points) Riparian/Wetland (6 points) Cropland (3 points) 3 6 Points for Element IV-1 = 6.00 October 12, 2005 Page 2 of 3 USDA-NRCS, Area 3, La Junta, CO Environmental Quality Incentive Program (EQIP) Lower Arkansas River Watershed-Wildlife Ranking Worksheet (C4) Element-2: Species Benefited Target Species-Select at least one for checked category Element identifies and prioritizes the target species based on the status category. A. Check One Only-Species Benefited Category The implemented conservation treatment favors a Federal threatened or endangered species or a Satate endangered species. (10 points) Bird: none Mammal: none Fish: none Herp: none Bird: none Mammal: none Fish: none Herp: none Bird: pheasant 5 The implemented conservation treatment favors a State species of concern, State threatened or Federal candidate species. (7 points) The implemented conservation system and facilitating practices favor a declining native or economically important species. (5 points) Mammal: mountain lion Fish: none Herps: none Bird: none Mammal: none Fish: none Herp: none 3 The implemented conservation system and facilitating practices favor species with stable or increasing populations, or are not otherwise listed. (2 points) Points for Element IV-2 = 5.00 Element-3: Limiting Factors for Target Species Identifes the limiting factors that will be addressed with the conservation treatment. A. Wildlife Limiting Factors Check All Limiting Factors that will be Addressed with the Planned Practices-4 Points Each Cropland Quantity or Quality Pasture/Hayland Quantity or Quality Herbaceous Vegetation other than Pasture/Hayland Woody vegetation Diversity/Quality of Natural Plant Communities including invasive species Forest Size Interspersion of Vegetation Types Wildlife Drinking Water Rangeland Condition Grazing System Forest Ecosystem Condition Forest Openings TRUE FALSE FALSE FALSE FALSE TRUE TRUE TRUE FALSE FALSE FALSE FALSE Subtotal-Limiting Factor Points = B. Riparian Health/Invasive Species Control Treatment Impact Resulting from Riparian Health Improvement 16.00 W1 4 Number of total acres of riparian habitat within land unit needing improvement, including invasive species control = Percent of riparian acres improved = Check Target Species: W2 W3 Tamarisk Russian-olive 0.0% W4 0.00 W5 16.00 Subtotal-Riparian Area Improvement (15 point maximum) [W4*.15] = Total Points Equals W1 + W5 Points for Element IV-3 = Element-4: Application Review REVIEWER COMMENTS: Certification that this application has been reviewed by a SE Colorado wildlife partner. Review by SE Colorado Wildlife Partner Name of wildlife partner organization: Signature of professional wildlife partner Reviewer: October 12, 2005 Page 3 of 3 USDA-NRCS, Area 3, La Junta, CO