Interested in applying for cost-share assistance? Click the Cost-Share Application to fill out an application
Seasonal Riparian Area Managment (SRAM) and Riparian Area Management (RAM) Programs
Riparian buffers located along shorelines and stream banks can prevent soil erosion, improve water quality by removing sediments, fertilizers, pesticides and other pollutants from runoff, and enhance fish and wildlife habitat. A riparian buffer is a strip of undisturbed vegetation from 20 to 120 feet wide located between a water body and either cropland or pasture. On pastureland, riparian buffers will be fenced to exclude livestock from the adjacent waterbody.
Financial incentives for protection riparian buffers are obtained through USDA-Continuous Conservation Reserve Program (CCRP) and Riparian Area Managment (RAM) and Seasonal Riparian Area Management (SRAM) Programs. CCRP will pay an annual rental rate based on acres for either 10 or 15 years. RAM and SRAM will pay additional acres or enroll acres ineligible CCRP acres. CCRP, RAM and SRAM will provide cost share assistance for exclusion fence, water development like tanks, wells, water pipeline, etc. For more information, download the fact sheets below.
Before Riparian Buffer Protection
After Riparian Buffer Protection
Grazing Management and Improvement Programs and Incentives
Cost share is available from a number of sources for improve grazing management on pasture and rangelands. The USDA-Natural Resources Conservation Service (NRCS) Environmental Quality Incentives Program (EQIP) is the main source for implementing best management practices (BMP's) that will improve forage quality and quantity, plant diversity, animal health, water quality and wildlife habitat while ensuring viability of an operation.
The Prairie Coteau Watershed Improvement and Protection Project also has funds available for BMP's such as cross fence for prescribed grazing, and water development (livestock watering facilities, pipeline, wells, solar pumps, etc.)
Watering facility to improve water availability for livestock.
Prescribed Grazing Plan Map with planned paddocks, cross fence, and new watering facilities to improve water quality, forage quality and quantity, wildlife habitat and livestock health.
Shoreline and Stream Bank Stabilization for Agricultural Lands
Sediment from eroding lake shorelines and stream banks can be detrimental to water quality and aquatic organisms. Excessive sediment can fill a lake or reservoirs basin causing loss of depth and increase turbidity. Sediment can cover rock and gravel beds used for fish spawning, and aquatic invertebrate habitat. Both hard and soft practices can be used to reshape and stabilize eroding banks. Hard practices consist of using rip rap and fabric that are keyed in and placed on banks. Soft practices consist of planting of vegetation, like grasses, shrubs and trees, and waddles to hold banks in place.
Landowners may be reimbursed at 60% of costs associated with stabilization projects. Landowners will be required to follow a design plan and implement riparian buffer zones along restored shoreline and stream banks.
Streambank Stabilization project in the implementation and completion phases.
Livestock Stream Crossings are also available for cost-share assistance at 60% of total construction costs. (Below)
