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Bear River Valley Water Optimization Strategic Fund Pool

Pipe earthen Ditches on private agricultural lands to support on-farm conveyance systems, and improve controlled flood irrigation practices beneficial to cropland, wildlife habitat, and through-flows to the Great Salt Lake.

Project Description

Many wetlands are present in the southern part of Box Elder County where flood irrigation practices are beneficial to cropland and wildlife habitat. Phase 1 of this SFP will pipe earthen ditches on private agricultural lands in a 45,000-acre area to support efforts to maintain and increase levels of the Great Salt Lake. 

This SFP will also support on-farm conveyance systems from the canal to on-farm crop irrigation practices and help support improved controlled flood irrigation practices such as Automated Valve Systems (AVS). 

Bear River Valley Water Optimization SFP map
  • County: Box Elder
  • Year active: FY 2024
  • Duration: 5 years

Partners

Northern Utah Conservation District, Utah Department of Agriculture and Food – Water Optimization Program.

Conservation practices involved

  • Irrigation Pipeline (430)
  • Structure for Water Control (587)
  • Irrigation System – Surface and Subsurface (443)

When to Apply

Program applications are accepted on a continual basis. However, NRCS establishes application ranking dates for evaluation, ranking and approval of eligible applications. Applications received after the ranking date will be automatically deferred to the next funding period. 


Local Working Group Meetings

Every year, NRCS hosts Local Working Group meetings where farmers, landowners, conservation partners and other members of the community discuss the natural resource needs for the county. Based on feedback from those meetings, NRCS updates the county's Local Resources Assessment Priorities (LRAP) and develops new Conservation Implementation Strategies to address those resource concerns. You may contact us anytime to express concerns or comments about conservation needs in the county, and we encourage you to attend the next Local Working Group meeting in your county. For more information about Local Working Group meetings, contact your local NRCS office, or visit our Utah State Technical Committee page. 

 

Locally Led Conservation

At the Natural Resources Conservation Service of Utah, we understand effectively partnering with our local, county and state agencies and organizations is paramount to our mission of conserving our natural resources and helping people help the land. Utah’s diverse landscape and resource needs require strategic funding and focused efforts to support locally led conservation on the ground.

Learn more about Utah's Focused Opportunities and how NRCS is utilizing SFPs to target locally identified high priority natural resource concerns and work toward a desired outcome.

Find Your Local Service Center

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