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 Antelope




Edwards Aquifer Range

Objective:

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

Primary Area of Concern:

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

    • Eligible Practices:

    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)

    • Cost Share Rates:

    Limited Resource Farmer/ Producer - 90 percent
    Beginning Farmer/ Rancher - 50 percent
    All other categories - 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:    
    Handcutting 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 prcent 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.
     

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