EQIP FY 2024 Ranking Criteria for Caribbean Area Wildlife
Applicability
Will the project improve terrestrial and/or aquatic wildlife habitats?
- a. Yes — Points: 0
- b. No — Points: 0
Category Question
Conservation treatments for assessed PLUs are in:
- a. Puerto Rico — Points: 0
- b. U.S. Virgin Islands — Points: 0
Program Questions
1. Has the application been evaluated under another ranking pool?
- a. Yes — Points: 100
- b. No — Points: 0
2. Does this participant have prior year contracts or has an active contract including practices that address the same resource concerns considered in this application?*
- a. Yes — Points: 5
- b. No — Points: 10
3. Is the project in or near a locally identified priority watershed or environmentally sensitive area?
- a. Yes — Points: 20
- b. No — Points: 0
4. Is any portion of the land in the operation in a Caribbean Area source water designated priority watershed?
- a. Yes — Points: 20
- b. No — Points: 0
5. Will this project include practices to establish an ecological corridor to a State or National Forest?
- a. Yes — Points: 14
- b. No — Points: 0
6. Which of the following practices are included in the practice schedule?
- a. 327 - Conservation Cover — Points: 2
- b. 390 - Riparian Herbaceous Cover — Points: 2
- c. 391 - Riparian Forest Buffer — Points: 2
- d. 395 - Stream Habitat Improvement and Management — Points: 2
- e. 396 - Aquatic Organism Passage — Points: 2
- f. 420 - Wildlife Habitat Planting — Points: 2
- g. 422 - Hedgerow Planting — Points: 2
- h. 472 - Access Control — Points: 2
- i. 580 - Streambank and Shoreline Protection — Points: 2
- j. 643 - Restoration of Rare or Declining Natural Communities — Points: 2
- k. 644 - Wetland Wildlife Habitat Management — Points: 2
- l. 645 - Upland Wildlife Habitat Management — Points: 2
- m. 646 - Shallow Water Development and Management — Points: 2
- n. 647 - Early Successional Habitat Development-Mgt — Points: 2
- o. 649 - Structures for Wildlife — Points: 2
- p. 657 - Wetland Restoration — Points: 2
- q. 658 - Wetland Creation — Points: 2
- r. 659 - Wetland Enhancement — Points: 2
- s. None — Points: 0
Resource Questions
1. Does the EQIP schedule of operations include practices that will improve wildlife habitat.
- a. Yes — Points: 30
- b. No — Points: 0
2. Is this project in or near a locally identified priority watershed or environmentally sensitive area?
- a. Yes — Points: 30
- b. No — Points: 5
3. Is the project between:
- a. Less than 1 acre? — Points: 5
- b. 1 and 4.99 acres? — Points: 10
- c. 5 and 9.99 acres? — Points: 15
- d. 10 and 29.99 acres? — Points: 20
- e. 30 acres or larger? — Points: 25
4. Does the planned vegetation consist of a mixture:
- a. With less than 5 native species? — Points: 5
- b. Of 5 to 9 native species? — Points: 10
- c. Of 10 or more native species? — Points: 15
5. Will the project:
- a. Result in the conversion of cropland, hayland or pasture to primarily wildlife use? — Points: 10
- b. Result in improved passage for aquatic organisms? — Points: 10
- c. Be implemented to improve existing wildlife habitat? — Points: 10
- d. Result in a natural vegetated buffer adjacent to streams, rivers, shorelines, or lakes, where a natural buffer does not currently exist? — Points: 10
- e. Not Applicable — Points: 0
6. Will the application include fuel break or firebreak to prevent wildfire?
- a. Yes — Points: 20
- b. No — Points: 0
7. Will the application include the Installation/improvement of conservation buffers to reduce sedimentation in water bodies or address inadequate habitat improvement/restoration for fish and wildlife?
- a. Yes — Points: 20
- b. No — Points: 0
8. Does the application include practices that will create or enhance pollinator habitat?
- a. Yes — Points: 20
- b. No — Points: 0