Montana Saline Seep Reclamation Project

Adapted from map produced February 2017 by Montana Salinity Control Association. This map is based on known saline areas and counties with watersheds that have conditions favorable for saline seep development.

More than 300,000 acres in Montana are affected by high soil saline levels, negatively impacting soil health, ground and surface water, wildlife, livestock and agriculture production. Saline seeps expanded rapidly in the late 1960s due to large scale crop-fallow farming. The MT Salinity Control Association (MSCA) provides efficient methods, on a farm-by-farm basis, to reclaim these saline seeps. MSCA completes groundwater investigations to determine the location and size of the recharge area to ensure land-use changes are planned where the highest impact can occur. Shallow groundwater monitoring wells are key to understanding the unique hydrogeology of each site before completing comprehensive saline seep reclamation plans for producers. Once a saline seep reclamation plan is completed by MSCA the participant is eligible to proceed with development of an Environmental Quality Incentives Program (EQIP) contract to implement conservation practice to treat the identified recharge area. Perennial vegetation lowers ground water levels, eliminating saline discharge to surface waters and acres of productive cropland.

Lead Partner: Montana Salinity Control Association
Number of Initial Partners: 7
Participating States: Montana (Lead State)

Applicable Conservation Practices

• Conservation Practice Standard 512: Forage and Biomass Planting (PDF; 35 KB)
• Conservation Practice Standard 610: Salinity and Sodic Soil Management (PDF; 56 KB)

Fiscal Year (FY) 2022 Information

• Applications for FY2022 EQIP Saline Seep Reclamation RCPP Project are due October 29, 2021.

Fiscal Year (FY) 2021 Information

• Applications for FY2021 EQIP Saline Seep Reclamation RCPP Project are due November 17, 2020.
   
• NRCS uses the Conservation Assessment Ranking Tool (CART) for all application assessment and ranking. Learn more about CART.
• Local Ranking Questions:
  ​1) Does the recharge planting include multiple species? (Select only one)
  • Mix will include at a minimum one legume and one grass?
  • Mix will include at a minimum 2 legumes and 2 grasses?
  ​2) Is the application in addition to an historic group or part of current group project where all applicants are addressing a saline seep that is defined by a ground water investigation?
   
• In FY2021, the Montana RCPP Saline Seep Reclamation Project will be offered in the High Priority and the Moderate Priority counties: Big Horn, Blaine, Carbon, Carter, Cascade, Chouteau, Custer, Daniels, Dawson, Fallon, Fergus, Garfield, Glacier, Golden Valley, Hill, Judith Basin, Liberty, McCone, Musselshell, Petroleum, Phillips, Pondera, Powder River, Prairie, Richland, Rosebud, Roosevelt, Sheridan, Stillwater, Teton, Toole, Treasure, Valley, Wheatland, Wibaux, Yellowstone.

Fiscal Year (FY) 2020 Information

• Applications for FY2020 EQIP Saline Seep Reclamation RCPP Project were due March 13, 2020.
• FY2020 Ranking Criteria for NRCS Programs (PDF; 152 KB)
• In FY2020, the Montana RCPP Saline Seep Reclamation Project will be offered in the High Priority and the Moderate Priority counties: Big Horn, Blaine, Carbon, Carter, Cascade, Chouteau, Custer, Daniels, Dawson, Fallon, Fergus, Garfield, Glacier, Golden Valley, Hill, Judith Basin, Liberty, McCone, Musselshell, Petroleum, Phillips, Pondera, Powder River, Prairie, Richland, Rosebud, Roosevelt, Sheridan, Stillwater, Teton, Toole, Treasure, Valley, Wheatland, Wibaux, Yellowstone.

Fiscal Year (FY) 2019 Information

• Applications for FY 2019 EQIP Saline Seep Reclamation RCPP Project were due June 14, 2019.

Contacts

Montana Salinity Control Association
Scott Brown or Tera Ryan
Phone: 406-278-3071
Email: msca@3rivers.com

Natural Resources Conservation Service
Kelley Barkell
EQIP Specialist
Phone: 406-587-6849
Email: Kelley.Barkell