HRGSA BMP
Project / Areawide II Handbook
Funding Sources
The following funding sources
are available to private landowners for projects that will benefit natural
resources in the Hood River Watershed. Many of these programs provide assistance
(financial and technical) for projects that protect and enhance water resources
and riparian areas.
These programs are potentially
useful to growers who are interested in receiving cost share funds for creating
and maintaining a vegetated riparian area, converting to high efficiency
irrigation systems, adopting IFP practices, or other orchard practices that
protect and enhance water quality.
Environmental Quality Incentives
Program (EQIP)
Natural Resources Conservation
Service (NRCS)
EQIP
provides funding for on the ground projects that adopt land management,
nutrient management, integrated pest management, irrigation water management
and wildlife management practices. EQIP
funds are competitive, each application for a project is ranked based on
environmental quality priorities, and the highest ranking projects are
funded. Funding is generally available
for integrated water management and integrated pest management based projects.
Funding Agency: Natural Resources Conservation
Service
Eligible recipients: Farmers and Ranchers
Type of assistance: Cost Share, Technical Assistance
Funding limit: $450,000
Matching funds requirement: NRCS will provide up to 75% of the
total project cost
Contact Info:
NRCS
(541) 386 – 2815
Conservation Security Program (CSP)
Natural Resources Conservation
Service (NRCS)
CSP is a
voluntary conservation program to support on going conservation stewardship of
agricultural lands by providing payments to producers who maintain and enhance
the condition of natural resources. CSP
offers payments for “top-notch” conservation farmers and ranchers. Unlike other programs that help producers fix
resource problems, CSP rewards those who already act as model
conservationists. It also pays qualified
producers to do further environmental enhancements, such additional
conservation treatments, demonstration sites, and more.
Funding Agency: Natural Resources Conservation
Service
Eligible recipients: Private or tribal landowners who
are in compliance with highly erodible and wetland provisions of the Food
Security Act of 1985 and who have an active interest in the agricultural
operation.
Type of assistance: Contract payments
Funding limit: $20,000 - $45,000 annually for 5 –
10 years (annual payment amount and duration are dependent upon eligibility
factors)
Contact Info:
NRCS
(541) 386 – 2815
Energy Loan Program / Business Energy Tax Credits
The Oregon
Office of Energy provides low interest loans for the purchase and installation
of wind machines in orchards. Oregon
Office of Energy also issues business energy tax credits for qualified orchard
owners who operate wind machines in their orchards.
The Energy Loan Program began in 1980 to promote energy conservation and renewable energy resource development. The program offers low-interest loans for projects that save energy, produce energy from renewable resources such as water, wind, geothermal, solar, biomass, waste materials or waste heat, use recycled materials to create products, and use alternative fuels.
For rates,
fee schedules and necessary application forms, visit the Oregon Office of
Energy Loan Program Web page at: www.energy.state.or.us/loan/selphme.htm.
In addition
to making low-interest loans, the Office of Energy also issues Business Energy Tax
Credits to orchard owners whose wind machines qualify. The tax credit is for 35
percent of the eligible cost of the purchase and must be applied for prior to
the purchase. For more information on the tax credit program, visit the Oregon
Office of Energy Web page at: www.energy.state.or.us/bus/tax/taxcdt.htm
Funding Agency: Oregon Department of Energy
Eligible recipients:
individuals, businesses, schools, cities, counties, special districts,
state and federal agencies, public corporations, cooperatives, tribes, and
non-profits
Type of assistance: low interest loans and tax credits
Funding limit: N/A
Matching funds requirement: N/A
Contact Info:
Oregon Department of Energy
1-800-221-8035
www.energy.state.or.us
Wildlife Habitat Incentives Program (WHIP)
Natural Resources Conservation
Service (NRCS)
WHIP provides
funding for projects that develop and improve wildlife habitat on private
lands. It provides both technical
assistance and cost sharing to help establish and
improve fish and wildlife habitat.
Projects that would qualify for this funding include, creating (or
enhancing) vegetated riparian buffers.
Participants work with NRCS and a local conservation district to prepare
a wildlife habitat development plan.
Funding Agency: Natural Resources Conservation
Service
Eligible recipients: private landowners, Indian tribes,
local agencies, partnerships
Type of assistance: Cost Share, Technical Assistance
Funding limit: Variable
Matching funds requirement: NRCS will provide up to 75% of the
total project cost
Contact Info:
NRCS
Hood River District Conservationist
(541) 386 – 2815
Small Grant Program
The Small
Grant Program provides funding for on the ground watershed restoration and enhancement
projects on forest, agricultural, range, urban, and rural residential
lands. A wide variety of projects are
eligible for funding under this program.
Examples of projects funded in the past include riparian fencing and
riparian vegetation planting.
Funding Agency:
Eligible recipients:
individuals, tribes, watershed councils, SWCD, community colleges, state
institutions of higher education, non-profits, states agencies (if there is an
eligible co-applicant)
Type of assistance: Cost Share, Technical Assistance
Funding limit: $10,000
Matching funds requirement: OWEB / SWCD will provide up to 75%
of the total project cost
Contact Info:
Soil and Water Conservation District
Hood River District Technician
(541) 386 - 4588
Large Grant Program
The Large
Grant Program provides funding for projects that restore, enhance or protect
fish and wildlife habitat, watershed functions, native salmonoid populations or
water quality. The Hood River Soil and Water
Conservation District generally submits one application for the Large Grant
Program per year. The HRSWC selects the
project that is most “fundable” according to OWEB priorities. Large Grant projects are usually
demonstration projects which ideally will be emulated throughout the
county.
Funding Agency:
Eligible recipients:
individuals, tribes, watershed councils, SWCD, community colleges, state
institutions of higher education, non-profits, states agencies (if there is an
eligible co-applicant)
Type of assistance: Cost Share, Technical Assistance
Funding limit: Unlimited
Matching funds requirement: OWEB / SWCD will provide up to 75%
of the total project cost
Contact Info:
Soil and Water Conservation District
Hood River District Technician
(541) 386 – 4588
Small District Grants
Small
District Grants provide funding for projects that restore, enhance or protect
fish and wildlife habitat, watershed functions, native salmonoid populations or
water quality. The Small District Grant
program is similar to the Small Grant Program described previously, except the
funding limit is only $5,000.
Funding Agency:
Eligible recipients:
individuals, tribes, watershed councils, SWCD, community colleges, state
institutions of higher education, non-profits, states agencies (if there is an
eligible co-applicant)
Type of assistance: Cost Share, Technical Assistance
Funding limit: $5,000
Matching funds requirement: OWEB / SWCD will provide up to 75%
of the total project cost
Contact Info:
Soil and Water Conservation District
Hood River District Technician
(541) 386 – 4588
Riparian Tax Incentive Program
Oregon Department of Fish and
Wildlife (ODF&W)
Landowners
who agree to follow a riparian management plan can qualify for a tax exemption
for riparian lands up to 100 feet from a stream.
Funding Agency: Oregon Department of Fish and
Wildlife
Eligible recipients:
Private lands that are outside urban growth boundaries and zoned as
agriculture, range or forest lands
Type of assistance: Tax Incentive
Funding limit: NA
Matching funds requirement: NA
Contact Info:
ODF&W
(503) 872 - 5255
Conservation Reserve Enhancement Program
Farm Service Agency (FSA)
CREP is a
joint state-federal land retirement conservation program, targeted to improve
the water quality of streams providing habitat for salmon and trout species
listed under the Federal Endangered Species Act. It is a voluntary program that uses financial
incentives to encourage farmers and ranchers to enroll sensitive agricultural
lands in the program in contracts of 10-15 years duration. Eligible conservation practices include
filter strips, riparian buffers, and wetland conservation.
Funding Agency: Farm Service Agency
Eligible recipients:
private landowners
Type of assistance: Financial, Technical Assistance
Funding limit: Variable
Matching funds requirement: variable
Funding Agency: Farm Service Agency
Contact Info:
Farm Service Agency
(503) 692-6830
Conservation Reserve Program
Farm Service Agency (FSA)
CRP is a voluntary
program that offers long-term rental payments and cost-share assistance to
establish long-term, resource-conserving on environmentally sensitive cropland
or, in some cases, marginal pastureland.
The protective cover reduces soil erosion, improves water quality, and
enhances or establishes wildlife habitat.
Funding Agency: USDA Farm Service Agency
Eligible recipients:
private landowners
Type of assistance: Cost Share or Rental Payments
Funding limit: Rental payment up to $50,000 per
year, incentive payments for wetland hydrology restoration equal to 25% or
restoration costs, or payment up to %50 of cost for establishing cover
Matching funds requirement: variable
Contact Info:
USDA Farm Service Agency
(503) 692-6830
Access & Habitat Program
Oregon Department of Fish and
Wildlife (ODF&W)
To qualify
for this program, a project must improve wildlife habitat and/or increase
public hunting access to private land.
Funding Agency: Oregon Department of Fish and
Wildlife
Eligible recipients:
private landowners
Type of assistance: Financial, Technical Assistance
Funding limit: Variable
Matching funds requirement: ODF&W will provide 100% of the
project funds.
Contact Info:
ODF&W
Access &Habitat Coordinator
(503) 872-5252
Private Stewardship Grant Program
US Fish and Wildlife Service
The new
PSGP provides money to individuals and groups engaged in conservation efforts on
private lands that benefit federally listed, proposed, or candidate species or
other at-risk species.
Funding Agency: US Fish and Wildlife Service
Eligible recipients: individuals, private landowners,
non-profits or grassroots organizations
Type of assistance: Financial, Technical Assistance
Funding limit: variable
Matching funds requirement: variable
Contact Info:
US Fish and Wildlife Service
(503) 231- 6179