United States Department of Agriculture
Natural Resources Conservation Service		 Texas Go to Accessibility Information
Skip to Page Content
 Antelope




Edwards Aquifer Irrigation

Objective:

2007 EQIP work within the Edwards Aquifer will address resource concerns with an impact on threatened and endangered species and the spring flow that they require. Practices that save water through improved irrigation methods have been targeted.
Highest emphasis will be placed on those areas within the artesian and recharge zones in Bexar, Comal, Hays, Kinney, Medina, Travis, and Uvalde Counties.

Resource Concern: 

Water Quantity/Irrigation

Screening Priorities - Location in the Edwards Aquifer:

  • Artesian and Recharge Zone - High Priority
  • Contributing/Catchment Area - Medium Priority
  • Other portion of county - Low Priority


    • Only High Priority applications will be ranked unless funds remain after screening.

    Eligible Practices:

  • LEPA, LESA,LPIC and MESA center pivots
  • Micro irrigation
  • Irrigation pipeline
  • Irrigation regulating reservoir
  • Range Planting
  • Pasture and Hayland Planting

    • Incentives:

  • Nutrient management
  • Pest management
  • Residue management
  • Irrigation water management

    • Cost Share Rates:

    Limited Resource Farmer/ Producer - 90 percent
    Beginning Farmer/ Rancher - 50 percent
    All other categories - 50 percent

    Ranking Criteria:

    Ranking Criteria (1) Awarded Points: Points
    Convert irrigated cropland to dry land native range mixture. 100 ________
    Convert irrigated cropland to dry land introduced pastureland. 80 ________
    Convert surface irrigation to LEPA or Micro-irrigation System. 75 ________
    Convert surface irrigation to LESA, LPIC or MESA system. 70 ________
    Convert existing antiquated sprinkler to LEPA. 55 ________
    Convert existing antiquated sprinkler to LESA, LPIC or MESA System or replace non-functioning irrigation system. 50 ________
    Install underground irrigation pipeline to serve existing linear or pivot sprinkler system that meets NRCS standards from an alternative water source. 45 ________
    Install underground irrigation pipeline to serve land leveled border or furrow irrigation system that meets NRCS irrigation guidelines. 40 ________
    Install underground irrigation pipeline to serve new or existing sprinkler systems such as traveling gun, side roll, hand move, or similar types of sprinklers. 35 ________
    Install underground irrigation pipeline to replace earthen ditches. 30 ________
    Convert dry-land cropland to native range or pasture planting over recharge zone (2) 30 ________
    Incentive:
    Residue Management (329) 10 ________
    Nutrient Management (590)  (see job sheet) 10 ________
    Pest Management (595) (see job sheet) 10 ________
    Irrigation Water Management (449)  (see job sheet)
    Level I, Level II Level III (see job sheet)    		 10 ________
    Applicant:___________________________________ Date:____________ Score:________

    LEPA – Low Energy Precision Application. Land slope <1% on more than 50% of field. Drop heights not to exceed 18 inches. Applicable only to row crops in circle.
    LESA – Low Elevation Spray Application. Land slope <3% on more than 50% of field. Drop heights not to exceed 18 inches.
    LPIC – Low Pressure in Canopy Application. Land slope <3% on more than 50% of field. Drop heights generally range from 12 to 36 inches from ground, depending on crop.
    MESA – Mid-Elevation Spray Application. Drop heights typically 3 to 7 feet above ground with water applied above the crop.

    1. If multiple methods are needed to treat the acres in this application, points will be awarded based on the lowest point treatment.  Antiquated high pressure sprinkler systems are defined as hand move or big gun systems or any system that requires an operating nozzle pressure greater than 25 p.s.i.

    2. Watering for establishment of the native range or pasture planting is permissible. Watering the range or pasture planting after establishment is a violation of the contract.

    3. Incentive practice points can be added to applications where a new irrigation system(s) is/are applied for. If land already has an existing irrigation system, a stand alone application for incentive practices will need to be made. Incentive practices can only be applied for on land with an irrigation history.

    Irrigation History: The resource concern Water Quantity, is applicable only on irrigated land has been irrigated 2 years out of the last 5 years.
    A non-functioning system that has exceeded the lifespan requirements will be evaluated as a new system.