Big Game Habitat Improvement RCPP Project

The Big Game Habitat Improvement Project will address threats to big game migration corridors and winter ranges through outreach, technical assistance, and producer contracts. The robust group of thirteen partners will work with producers to improve grazing operations, restore grassland habitats, and retain intact rangelands. Additional benefits include improved grazing management, improved plant productivity and health, making grasslands more resilient to drought, and restoring marginal cropland to perennial grasses. 

Project duration: 2021 - 2026.

Fiscal Year (FY) 2022 Information

• Applications for Big Game Habitat Improvement RCPP Project FY 2022 funding are due October 29, 2021.

FY 2021 Information

• News Release: USDA Awards New Partnership Projects in Montana to Help Mitigate Climate Change and Protect Natural Resources while Supporting America’s Producers April 2021

Who can participate?

Landowners in Blaine, Fergus, Garfield, Petroleum, and Phillips Counties, as well as parts of Chouteau, Hill, and Valley Counties

• Detailed map of Big Game Habitat Improvement RCPP Project Area winter ranges (PDF; 408 KB)
• Detailed Map of priority big-game winter range and migration corridors (PDF; 572 KB)

Applicable Conservation Practices

• 645 Upland Wildlife Habitat Management
• 528 Prescribed Grazing
• 500 Obstruction Removal
• 382 Fence
• 649 Structures for Wildlife
• 512 Forage and Biomass Planting
• 550 Range Planting
• 340 Cover Crop
• 533 Pumping Plant, 516 Pipeline, 614 Watering Facility, 642 Water Well, 574 Spring Development as supporting practices if necessary

Detailed descriptions of these conservation practices can be found in the Field Office Technical Guide.

Ranking Criteria

NRCS uses the Conservation Assessment Ranking Tool (CART) for all application assessment and ranking. Learn more about CART.

Local Ranking Questions:

1. Is any portion of the application within the RCPP identified priority winter range area? Answer all that apply.
   1. No
   2. Yes, application falls within mule deer winter range
   3. Yes, application falls within elk winter range
   4. Yes, application falls within pronghorn winter range
2. Does the application include 500 Obstruction Removal ‐ fence removal or 649 Structures for Wildlife‐ fence modification?
   1. No
   2. Yes
3. Does the application include at least one planning land unit which is enrolled in an existing program that prevents the conversion of perennial grassland? Choose only the most protective one that exists in the application.
   1. No
   2. Yes, 10‐to less than 20 years protection remaining from time of application
   3. Yes, 20 to less than 50 years protection remaining from time of application
   4. Yes, Yes, 50 or more years protection remaining from time of application. This includes perpetual easements
4. Are any of the tracts within the application directly adjacent to Charles M. Russell National Wildlife Refuge (CMR NWR), MT Fish Wildlife and Parks Wildlife Management Area (MTFWP WMA), or US Fish and Wildlife Service Waterfowl Production Area (USFWS WPA)?
   1. No
   2. Yes
5. Does the application include 528 Prescribed grazing? Select only the highest level of management that applies.
   1. No
   2. Yes, the application includes 528 prescribed grazing that includes the following scenario that addresses big game terrestrial habitat: Range Deferment
   3. Yes, the application includes 528 Prescribed grazing that includes at least one of the following scenarios that will address Big Game Terrestrial Habitat: Habitat Management Standard and/or Habitat Management Rest Rotation
   4. Yes, the application includes 528 prescribed grazing but does not include any of the above scenarios
6. Does the application include 645 upland wildlife habitat management?
   1. No
   2. Yes
7. Does the application include 550 Range Planting 550 or 512 Forage and Biomass Planting?
   1. No
   2. Yes, all plantings will be introduced species
   3. Yes, at least one planning land unit will be planted to Native species

Partners

• Pheasants Forever, Inc. (lead partner)
• World Wildlife Fund
• Bureau of Land Management
• Winnett ACES
• Soil & Water Conservation Districts of Montana
• U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service
• Ranchers Stewardship Alliance
• Ducks Unlimited
• Montana Fish, Wildlife and Parks
• The Chippewa Cree Tribe of the Rocky Boy's Reservation
• The Nature Conservancy
• Montana State University Extension

Contact

Kelley Barkell
EQIP Specialist
Phone: 406-587-6849
Email: Kelley.Barkell