Watershed-Level Water Conservation and Groundwater Recharge
This ranking pool supports efforts for both watershed-level water conservation throughout the state & groundwater recharge in a select group of counties. The two options will be evaluated in separate categories to ensure the goals for each are met. The two categories are described separately in this document as “Watershed-Level Water Conservation” and “Groundwater Recharge”. Both target collaboration with Water Management Entities (WMEs) in relation to water conservation.
The Environmental Quality Incentives Program (EQIP) is a voluntary, conservation program administered by NRCS that can provide financial and technical assistance to install conservation practices that address priority natural resource concerns.
In consultation with the State Technical Committee and Local Work Groups, the State Conservationist has developed ranking pools and ranking criteria to focus EQIP funding for priority resource concerns and initiatives.
NRCS uses the Conservation Assessment Ranking Tool (CART) to assess the site vulnerability, existing conditions, and identify potential resource concerns on a unit of land. After CART assessment, NRCS uses CART Ranking to evaluate an application in all applicable ranking pools.
The State Conservationist establishes batching periods to select the highest ranked applications for funding, contract approval is dependent on program eligibility determinations.
Any interested farmer or rancher may submit an application for participation in EQIP.
The conservation goals and funding priorities for the watershed-level water conservation ranking pool are to provide technical and financial assistance to Water Management Entities (WMEs) to improve irrigation water delivery and management, such as: water conservation scheduling and if applicable, distribution efficiency, soil moisture monitoring; irrigation-related structural or other measures that conserve surface or ground water, including aquifer recover practices; and, where applicable, transition to water-conserving crops, water-conserving crop rotations, or deficit irrigation. The following sections include the applicable land uses, resource concerns, and conservation practices for the watershed level water conservation ranking pool.
WMEs can be a State, irrigation district, ground water management district, acequia, land grant-merced, or similar entity, with responsibilities related to irrigation water delivery or management. These may be public or semipublic agencies or organizations.
Applicants in all counties within the State of California are geographically eligible for this program.
Applications must be received by the NRCS Field Office by either of the EQIP Ranking Pool deadlines for consideration.
Below are the applicable land uses for the watershed-level water conservation ranking pool.
Crop: Land used primarily for the production and harvest of annual or perennial field, forage, food, fiber, horticultural, orchard, vineyard, or energy crops.
Pasture: Land used primarily for the production and harvest of annual or perennial field, forage, food, fiber, horticultural, orchard, vineyard, or energy crops.
Associated Agricultural Lands: Land associated with farms and ranches that are not purposefully managed for food, forage, or fiber and are typically associated with nearby production or conservation lands. This could include incidental areas, such as odd areas, ditches and watercourses, riparian areas, field edges, seasonal and permanent wetlands, and other similar areas.
Conservation Practices – Watershed-Level Water Conservation
Pond Sealing or Lining, Geomembrane or Geosynthetic Clay Liner
sf
20
533
Pumping Plant
no
15
578
Stream Crossing
no
10
580
Streambank and Shoreline Protection
ft
20
582
Open Channel
ft
15
587
Structure for Water Control
no
20
740
Pond Sealing and Lining, Soil Cement
no
20
910
TA Planning
n/a
911
TA Design
n/a
912
TA Application
n/a
913
TA Check-Out
n/a
Category 2: Groundwater Recharge
The Groundwater Recharge ranking pool supports a pilot program to evaluate Interim Conservation Practice Standards 815- Groundwater Recharge Basin and Trench and 817- On-Farm Recharge.
Address the Groundwater Depletion resource concern
Include either Interim Conservation Practice 815- Groundwater Recharge Basin and Trench or Interim Conservation Practice 817- On-Farm Recharge
Meet design and monitoring criteria stated in the Interim Conservation Practice Standards
Have access to recharge water from an Irrigation District OR have access & water rights to winter flood water
Be located within Madera County, Merced County (in the Chowchilla Irrigation District boundaries only) Tulare County (in the Tulare Irrigation District or Delano-Earlimart Irrigation District boundaries only), or Kern County (in the Delano-Earlimart Irrigation District boundaries only). – SEE MAP on page 5
Water Management Entities (WMEs) and farm-scale applicants are eligible to apply. Applicants will work with NRCS conservationists to develop a conservation plan including the interim recharge practices and any needed supporting practices available in the Practice List below.
Below are the applicable land uses for the Groundwater Recharge ranking pool.
Crop: Land used primarily for the production and harvest of annual or perennial field, forage, food, fiber, horticultural, orchard, vineyard, or energy crops.
Farmstead: Land used for facilities and supporting infrastructure where farming, forestry, animal husbandry, and ranching activities are often initiated. This may include dwellings, equipment storage, plus farm input and output storage and handling facilities.
Associated Agricultural Lands: Land associated with farms and ranches that are not purposefully managed for food, forage, or fiber and are typically associated with nearby production or conservation lands. This could include incidental areas, such as odd areas, ditches and watercourses, riparian areas, field edges, seasonal and permanent wetlands, and other similar areas.
Other Rural Land: Land that is barren, sandy, rocky, or that is impacted by the extraction of natural resources, such as minerals, gravel or sand, coal, shale, rock, oil, or natural gas.
Conservation Practices- Groundwater Recharge Ranking Pool
Eligible locations for the Groundwater Recharge Pilot portion of the Fund Pool only.
Watershed-Level Water Conservation projects do not have geographic restrictions within the state of California.
Click map below to enlarge.
Resource Concerns for Ranking Pool – both Watershed-Level Water Conservation and Groundwater Recharge categories.
The goal of conservation planning is to help each client attain sustainable use and sound management of soil, water, air, plant, animal, and energy resources, based on related human considerations (SWAPAE+H). Below is a list of priority resource concerns for the ranking pool, including both Watershed-Level Water Conservation and Groundwater Recharge categories.
SWAPAE+H
Resource Concern Category
Resource Concern
Soil
Concentrated Erosion
Bank erosion from streams, shorelines or water conveyance channels
Classic gully erosion
Soil Quality Limitation
Aggregate instability
Compaction
Concentration of salts or other chemicals
Organic matter depletion
Soil organism habitat loss or degradation
Subsidence
Water
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
Field Pesticide Loss
Pesticides transported to groundwater
Pesticides transported to surface water
Salt Losses to Water
Salt transported to groundwater
Source Water Depletion
Groundwater depletion
Inefficient irrigation water use
Surface water depletion
Storage and Handling of Pollutants
Nutrients transported to groundwater
Nutrients transported to surface water
Petroleum, heavy metals, and other pollutants transported to groundwater
Petroleum, heavy metals, and other pollutants transported to surface water
Weather Resilience
Naturally Available Moisture Use
Ponding and Flooding
Air
Air Quality Emissions
Emissions of airborne reactive nitrogen
Emissions of greenhouse gases - GHGs
Emissions of ozone precursors
Emissions of particulate matter (PM) and PM precursors
Plants
Degraded Plant Condition
Plant productivity and health
Plant structure and composition
Pest Pressure
Plant pest pressure
Animals
Aquatic Habitat
Aquatic habitat for fish and other organisms
Elevated water temperature
Energy
Inefficient Energy Use
Energy efficient equipment and facilities
Energy efficient farming/ranching practices and field operations
Ranking Questions
Note separation of Program Questions and Resource Questions below. Assessments will be ranked on only the single “category” with which it is affiliated in those sections. Categories are labeled and color-coded for clarity.
Applicability Questions
Answer Choices
Points
Does the project fit within the requirements for the Watershed-Scale Water Conservation Ranking Pool?
YES
--
NO
--
The Assessed PLU(s) is within the established boundaries for the pilot Groundwater Recharge Fund Pool
YES
--
NO
--
Will requirements for practice standard (815 or 817) be met with the conservation plan, including documentation of the necessary percolation rate for the recharge practice and establishment of a monitoring well, if a suitable well is not already present?
YES
--
NO
--
Category Question
Answer Choices
Points
Within which of the following subaccounts should the application be considered for funding?
Watershed-scale water conservation
--
Groundwater Recharge Ranking Pool Pilot- ON-FARM RECHARGE
Groundwater Recharge Ranking Pool Pilot- BASIN
--
Program Question: Watershed-Level Water Conservation Ranking Pool*
Question
Answer Choices
Points
Does the watershed-wide project incorporate one or more of the following:
Water conservation scheduling and if applicable, distribution efficiency, soil moisture monitoring.
100
Irrigation-related structural or other measures that conserve surface or ground water, including aquifer recover practices.
100
A transition to water-conserving crops, water-conserving crop rotations, or deficit irrigation.
--
Resource Questions: Watershed-Level Water Conservation Ranking Pool*
Question
Answer Choices
Points
Will the conservation treatment on assessment PLUs result in an energy reduction?
30 percent or greater.
50
10 percent to 29 percent.
25
Not evaluated.
0
Does the conservation treatment on assessment PLUs includes conservation practices for irrigation water management (IWM) and/or an irrigation system improvement that results in an index score of:
61 or greater
150
51 to 60
135
45 to 50
120
40 to 44
105
35 to 39
90
30 to 34
75
25 to 29
60
21 to 24
45
15 to 20
30
10 to 14
15
9 or less
5
N/A
0
Program Question: Groundwater Recharge Ranking Pool (Pilot) - OFR ONLY*
Question
Answer Choices
Points
Has the project area been identified as a high priority for groundwater recharge in a Groundwater Sustainability Plan (GSP)?
YES
25
NO
0
Water availability
An irrigation district has agreed to supply recharge water when available.
100
The site has NO access to district water deliveries. The site has access to winter water flows in a stream course or canal AND has established rights to divert excess stormwater onto the farm for the purpose of groundwater recharge.
40
Site has NO access to district water deliveries or winter water for recharge AND/OR NO established water rights for diverting excess storm water.
-400
Siting criteria On-Farm Recharge (OFR) only
OFR only: Does the site have a SAGBI rating of Excellent?
75
OFR only: Does the site have a SAGBI rating of Good?
70
OFR only: Does the site have a SAGBI rating of Moderately Good?
65
OFR only: Does the site have a SAGBI rating of Moderately Poor?
10
OFR only: Does the site have a SAGBI rating of Poor or Very Poor or N/A
0
Resource Questions: Groundwater Recharge Ranking Pool (Pilot) - OFR ONLY*
Question
Answer Choices
Points
Hydrogeologic suitability
Has an on-site sub-surface physical soil investigation (such as deep soil cores, cone penetrometer, or well log data) shown suitable conditions for recharge?
60
Does the project area have a rating of Excellent, Good or Moderately Good on the Land IQ Groundwater Recharge Suitability Index (http://gratviewer.earthgenome.org? Or has electro-magnetic survey shown suitable conditions for recharge?
40
Is the recharge site located on a current or former manure lagoon, feed lot, waste dump, or other potentially significant contaminated site (such as Superfund, etc)?
YES
-400
NO
0
Nutrient management on the recharge site - OFR only
Does the applicant currently engage in Nutrient Management practice #590?
30
Does the applicant currently follow an Irrigation and Nitrogen Management Plan (INMP) under the Irrigated Lands Regulatory Program (ILRP)?
20
If the applicant does not follow code #590 nor an INMP under the ILRP, is there a documented nutrient management plan in place that includes 4R practices?
10
There is NO documented nutrient management plan in place
0
Pest management on the recharge site - OFR only
Does the applicant currently engage in Pest Management practice #595?
30
Does the applicant follow Integrated Pest Management strategies and have evidence of a pest control plan?
20
There is NO documented pest management plan in place.
0
Source water (Consider the predominant source of recharge water)
The source water is from a river or reservoir.
20
The source water is runoff from
non-irrigated, non-cultivated, non-pasture land.
20
The source water is from a recycled water facility with at least secondary treatment.
5
The source water is from agricultural or pasture land runoff.
5
The source water is from untreated urban runoff.
0
Source water Pre-Treatment- OFR only
If the source water for recharge has an identified water quality issue (including sediment) OR if pretreatment of recharge water is required by GSA/permitting agencies, practices for pretreatment of water are included in the conservation plan.
10
Source water for recharge has NO identified water quality issues, including sediment.
10
Source water for recharge has an identified water quality issue and NO practices for pretreatment of water are included in the conservation plan.
0
Question
Answer Choices
Points
Is the project designed to enhance habitat and ecosystems?
YES
5
NO
0
Is the project designed to enhance water supply for disadvantaged community drinking water wells?
YES
5
NO
0
Program Question: Groundwater Recharge Ranking Pool (Pilot) - BASIN ONLY*
Question
Answer Choices
Points
Has the project area been identified as a high priority for groundwater recharge in a Groundwater Sustainability Plan (GSP)?
YES
25
NO
0
Water availability
An irrigation district has agreed to supply recharge water when available.
100
The site has NO access to district water deliveries. The site has access to winter water flows in a stream course or canal AND has established rights to divert excess stormwater onto the farm for the purpose of groundwater recharge.
40
Site has NO access to district water deliveries or winter water for recharge AND/OR NO established water rights for diverting excess storm water.
-400
Siting criteria -- Basins only
Basin Only: Does the project site have saturated hydraulic conductivity (Ksat) greater than 1 foot per day in the surface soil (up to 60 inches depth)? (Web Soil Survey)
75
Basin Only: Does the project site have Ksat less than 1 foot per day in the surface soil (up to 60 inches depth)?
25
Resource Questions: Groundwater Recharge Ranking Pool (Pilot) - BASIN ONLY*
Question
Answer Choices
Points
Hydrogeologic suitability
Has an on-site sub-surface physical soil investigation (such as deep soil cores, cone penetrometer, or well log data) shown suitable conditions for recharge?
60
Does the project area have a rating of Excellent, Good or Moderately Good on the Land IQ Groundwater Recharge Suitability Index (http://gratviewer.earthgenome.org? Or has electro-magnetic survey shown suitable conditions for recharge?
40
Is the recharge site located on a current or former manure lagoon, feed lot, waste dump, or other potentially significant contaminated site (such as Superfund, etc)?
YES
-400
NO
0
Source water (Consider the predominant source of recharge water)
The source water is from a river or reservoir.
20
The source water is runoff from
non-irrigated, non-cultivated, non-pasture land.
20
The source water is from a recycled water facility with at least secondary treatment.
5
The source water is from agricultural or pasture land runoff.
5
The source water is from untreated urban runoff.
0
Source water Pre-Treatment - Basins only
If the source water for recharge has an identified water quality issue (including sediment) OR if pretreatment of recharge water is required by GSA/permitting agencies, practices for pretreatment of water are included in the conservation plan.
70
Source water for recharge has NO identified water quality issues, including sediment.
70
Source water for recharge has an identified water quality issue and NO practices for pretreatment of water are included in the conservation plan.
0
Is the project designed to enhance habitat and ecosystems?
YES
5
NO
0
Is the project designed to enhance water supply for disadvantaged community drinking water wells?
