Counties: Douglas, Jackson, Klamath, Deschutes, Jefferson, Crook, Grant, Baker, Union, Umatilla, Wallowa

Primary Resource Concern: 

• Livestock production limitation – Feed and forage balance, Inadequate livestock shelter, Inadequate livestock water quantity, quality and distribution
• Terrestrial habitat – Terrestrial habitat for wildlife and invertebrates
• Field sediment, nutrient, and pathogen loss – Nutrients transported to groundwater, nutrients transported to surface water, Pathogens and chemicals from manure, biosolids, or compost applications transported to groundwater, Pathogens and chemicals from manure, biosolids or compost applications transported to surface water, Sediment transported to surface water

Project Description
The Working Wild consists of intact landscapes across the West providing a suite of ecosystem services, with an emphasis on food and fiber production and connected habitat for large predators and native ungulates. Reducing large predator risk to agriculture operations while stewarding this remaining habitat requires discernment of the dynamic ecological, economic, and community elements. Working lands are facing numerous threats, including drought, soil degradation, invasive species, wildlife displacement, conversion pressure, and commodity market fluctuations. Successful conservation strategies require a holistic approach that incentivizes producers to implement solutions that benefit land, livestock, and wildlife. Project partners have been working closely with landowners and conservation partners to develop frameworks to support comprehensive conservation planning on western ranches operating in occupied large predator habitat. The goal of the project is to reduce the financial and social burden of established and expanding predator populations by increasing producer access to a suite of conservation activities to manage and mitigate the associated risk. Locally-delivered outreach and technical assistance in partnership with NRCS to communities in Montana, Oregon, and Colorado will advance adoption of non-lethal predator risk management techniques, resulting in sustained agricultural productivity and habitat connectivity, along with interrupting climate impacts associated with the conversion of intact working landscapes.

Conservation Practices Offered

• Fence (382)
• Obstruction Removal (500)
• Upland Wildlife Habitat Management (645)
• Prescribed Grazing (528) (Offered with Classic funding)

Collaborating Partners

• Centennial Valley Association
• Big Hole Watershed Committee
• Colorado Parks and Wildlife
• Colorado State University
• US Fish and Wildlife Service - MT Partners for Fish & Wildlife
• Blackfoot Challenge
• Oregon Department of Fish & Wildlife
• Oregon Department of Agriculture
• NRCS Oregon
• Private landowners

Application Questions

NRCS uses prioritization questions to evaluate applications for this initiative. See the list of workload prioritization questions on the Oregon EQIP page. Ranking questions below will also apply.

Ranking Questions For Classic Funding

1. Has the applicant experienced the presence of wolves around livestock
   a. Yes, within the last 3 months. 
   b. Yes, within the last 6 months. 
   c. Yes, within the last 12 months.
   d. Yes, more than 12 months ago.
   e. No
2. Has the applicant experienced depredation?
   a. Yes, within the last 12 months 
   b. Yes, more than 12 months ago 
   c. No
3. How will the applicant manage livestock to minimize predator conflict? (Select all that apply.)
   a. The plan will be implementing an adaptive management plan consistent with the WLA Toolboxes.
   b. The plan will be implementing emerging technologies (virtual fence, e-tags, drones, etc.) to monitor herd health, forage health/production, and interactions.
   c. None of the above.
4. Will the applicant install wildlife exclusion fence be installed around a planned or existing compost facility in coordination with WLA, ODFW, Wildlife Services?

ACT NOW Funding
NRCS Oregon will be utilizing ACT NOW to process conservation applications in two ranking pools to deliver a conservation product faster. ACT NOW allows NRCS to immediately approve and obligate a ranked application in a designated ranking pool when an eligible application meets or exceeds a State-determined minimum ranking score. This means no longer having to wait for all applications to be reviewed and preapproved in a ranking pool.

Application Cut Off: 5/30/2025
Ranking Score Threshold – 79 pts

Ranking Questions For ACT NOW Funding

1. Has the applicant experienced the presence of wolves around livestock
   a. Yes, within the last 3 months. 
   b. Yes, within the last 6 months. 
   c. Yes, within the last 12 months.
   d. Yes, more than 12 months ago.
   e. No
2. Is 645 Turbo Fladry planned to deter predators from sensitive livestock areas?
   a. Yes, it was planned in partnership with a technical expert such as WLA, ODFW, or Wildlife Services.
   b. Yes, it was NOT planned in partnership with a technical expert such as WLA, ODFW, or Wildlife Services.
   c. No
3. Will 382 create a new permanent fence line?
   a. No. Either 382 is not planned or the planned practice will not result in a new fence line.
   b. Yes, the planned practice will create a new permanent fence.