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EQIP-CIC Lower Willamette/North Coast Basins

Counties: Clackamas, Clatsop, Columbia, Marion, Multnomah, Polk, Tillamook, Washington, Yamhill

Land Use: Crop

Primary Resource Concerns Addressed

Source Water Depletion

Background on EQIP-CIC: Producers may use incentive contracts as a “steppingstone” from correcting resource issues on specific land units through EQIP, to achieving sustainable stewardship on their entire operation. Conservation Incentive Contracts are available nationwide and help producers address priority resource concerns, like sequestering carbon and improving water quality in high-priority areas. Incentive contracts now offers new conservation evaluation and monitoring activities to help report outcomes of practices. 

Conservation Practices Offered

  • Soil Health Testing (216)
  • Residue and Tillage Management, No Till (329)
  • Cover Crop (340)
  • Residue and Tillage Management, Reduced Till (345)
  • Irrigation Pipeline (430)
  • Irrigation System, Microirrigation (441)
  • Sprinkler System (442)
  • Irrigation Water Management (449)
  • Pumping Plant (533)
  • Structure for Water Control (587)

Ranking Criteria

NRCS uses these questions to evaluate applications for this fund pool and to prioritize applications for potential funding. State and national ranking questions also apply. See more information on the EQIP program page.

Ranking Questions (All counties) –

  1. Does the applicant’s field(s) Fall within the boundary of an identified OWRD-Restricted Groundwater Areas of Concern? (See OWRD-RGWA Map)
  2. Will soil health practices be implemented through this agreement (ie. 329 – Residue & Tillage Management – No Till; 345 – Residue & Tillage Management – Reduced Till; 340 – Cover Crop)?
  3. Does the applicant have a preliminary design layout from a vendor that has identified field specific irrigation related practices needed to address water quantity/drought concerns including acres to be addressed, mainline pipe needs (lengths and size), pumping plant inventory, HP & Pump Curve, and additional I&E to expedite conservation planning?
  4. Does the Irrigation Water Estimator show a water savings that “equals or exceeds” 35% improvement in irrigation efficiency?
  5. Has the NRCS Engineer or NRCS planner adequately evaluated the need for VFD feasibility (required for VFD points) using the Energy Savings Estimator?
  6. Is the applicant willing to utilize a Technical Service Provider (TSP) to complete engineering design and approval based on the preliminary design and layout, provided by the vendor (see question 3 for VFD feasibility) who has inventories & identified practices?
  7. Does the applicant have a recent soil test within the last two years where Organic Matter was evaluated AND the applicant is scheduling practice 216 – Soil Health Testing (Basic Soil Health Suite + Chemical) for two years to meet a Soil Health resource concern? Basic includes: *Aggregate stability *POXC (active carbon) *SOC *Bioavailable N *Respiration Note to Planner: Per 216 scenario – Soil sample collection is completed by an agricultural service provider, soil scientist, or other agricultural professional. Producer CANNOT collect or submit the test to the lab.