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 Antelope




Edwards Aquifer Range

Objective:

2007 EQIP work within the Edwards Aquifer will address resource concerns with an impact on aquatic threatened and endangered species and the spring flow that they require. Brush Management has been identified as a practice that will assist with the recharge of the Aquifer. Counties (Edwards Aquifer portion of the counties) included in this state priority include: Bexar, Comal, Hays, Kinney, Medina, Travis, Uvalde, Real, Edwards, Bandera, Kerr, Kendall and Blanco. Ashe Juniper has been targeted, and only mechanical brush management practices for Ashe juniper will be considered at this time.

Resource Concern:

Water Quantity/Brush Management

Screening Priorities - Location within the Edwards Aquifer:

Recharge Zone and Contributing Zone - High Priority
Artesian Zone - Medium Priority
Outside Edwards Aquifer Zone - Low Priority


(only high priority applications will be ranked, unless funds remain after screening)

Eligible Practices:

Brush Management (314)
The following methods of brush management will be cost shared:
Hand cutting
Hydraulic shears
Hydro -Ax
Tree Dozing
Chaining followed by prescribed burning

Practices will be cost shared based on the established county average cost of the practice.

Incentive:

Prescribed Grazing (528A) $5/ac/yr/maximum 3 years Includes all pastures in the grazing rotation.

*Please see the last bullet included in the instruction at the end of this document.

Cost Share Rates:

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

Practices will be cost shared based on the established county average cost of the practice.

Ranking Criteria:

Ranking Criteria 1 Points Awarded
Recharge Zone:  (51% of the brush management must be in the recharge
zone to receive these points)		 100 points  ________
Percent Ashe Juniper Canopy Cover ²:    
11 to 25 Percent 25 points  ________
26 to 50 Percent 50 points  ________
51 to 75 Percent 75 points  ________
76  to 100 Percent 100 points  ________
Method of Mechanical Brush Management 3:    
Hand cutting 75 points ________
Hydro-Ax 75 points  ________
Hydraulic Sheers 75 points  ________
Tree Dozing 50 points  ________
Chaining followed by prescribed burning 50 points  ________
Incentive practice:    
Prescribed Grazing $5/ac/yr – See Job Sheet  Includes all pastures in the grazing rotation.
Maximum of 3 payments.		 10 points  ________
Applicant: Date: Total Score: ________
     

Points can only be earned for 1 condition under each of the 4 categories (Percent Ashe Juniper Canopy Cover, Method of Mechanical Brush Management, recharge zone and prescribed grazing incentive when applicable). Therefore, the final Total Score will be based on the sum.
²Points will be awarded based on the predominate canopy cover associated with the acres to be treated in this application. The category which contains greater than 50 percent of the acreage planned to be treated under this application will determine points awarded. Canopy cover will be determined by on the ground transects of the areas designated by the applicant as areas planned to be treated under this application.
If multiple methods are needed for the acres to be treated in this application, points will be awarded based on the lowest point method.

  • Acres being deferred as a result of brush management specifications will not receive the prescribed grazing incentive payment during the year(s) in which the deferment is taking place.
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