Franklin County Conservation District

 

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 Cost Share Assistance Program

New Practice

$      $      $      $      $

 

What is cost share?                                                                                                                                  

Cost share is a program set up by the State Conservation Commission (SCC) and the state of Kansas, with funding provided from the Water Plan Fund, to allocate money to conservation districts across the state to help landowners pay the cost of installing and constructing conservation practices on their land.  The cost share program is not a loan program; the money paid to landowners through cost share is virtually free money!  Cost share is divided into the Non-Point Source Pollution Control Program and the Water Resource Cost Share Program.  For fiscal year 2009 the Franklin County Conservation District received $35075.00 in funding for our NPS program and an additional $29,223.00 in funding for our Water Resources Program.   
                                                                                                                                                          
 
                
                          $ $ $ Sign up for cost share funds ended June 27, 2008.  Check back this winter for another signup period  $ $ $
 
 
How do I apply for cost share?                                                                                              
Step 1: Print and complete a cost share application (pdf file) and submit  it to the Franklin County Conservation District either by mail or in person during designated application periods. 

Step 2: Depending on what type of practice you are planning to install a field visit may need to be scheduled with one of the NRCS staff to determine your project needs.  NRCS staff provides technical assistance to the Conservation District and landowners by doing design work, stakeout and final inspection of most practices.

Step 3: Once your “needs” have been established your application will be taken to the Conservation District Board, on the first Thursday of the following month, for review & possible approval.  Approval is based on many criteria including water quality benefit and erosion control. 

                                                                                                                                                    Step 4: At this point your application is submitted to the State Conservation Commission (SCC) for approval.  SCC verifies the practice and that there is ample money available to fund your contract.  

Step 5: Once your application is approved by the SCC you will sign a landowner contract.  This contract outlines all terms set forth by the SCC pertaining to the program that you must agree to.  Once the contract has been signed and returned to our office you may begin working on the project.  A list of local contractors is available from the Franklin County Conservation District. 

                                                                                                                                                     Step 6: Once your project is complete, a copy of all bills must be submitted to the Conservation District Office.  A request for payment will be completed and sent to the SCC for processing.  It usually takes 2 weeks from the time bills are submitted until you receive your check in the mail.
 

 

How much money could I receive through cost share? 
                                                                                                                                                                                            
The Franklin County Conservation District has set the following limits on funding:   

Livestock Waste Facilities-$10,000.00 *

Onsite Waste Systems- $2,500.00        

All other projects have a limit of $3,500.00

 

The limit on funding is per landowner, per fiscal year.                                                                                           Landowners may complete multiple projects within the same fiscal year, within the $3,500.00 funding limit. 

Soil tests are not included in the $3,500.00 limit.  See our frequently asked questions page for more information on soil testing. 

* Additional funds may be available through other sources for Livestock Waste Facilities

Please note since funding is provided from the state of Kansas any landowner receiving $600 or more will receive a 1099G for tax purposes. Cost share payments are subject to the State set-off program for debits owed to the State.  
 
What practices may be eligible for cost share assistance?
 
•Abandoned Water Well Plugging
•Plugging of priority abandoned drilled and hand dug water wells through the process of disinfecting, filling water bearing zone and non-water bearing zone and capping the well with an approved grout material.  •Prevent the introduction of contaminants into sources of groundwater via an abandoned or inactive well. (Pictures of well plugging demonstration) 

Brush Control Management  This practice applies on rangeland, and warm and cool season pasture and haylands where removal or reduction of excessive woody, non-herbaceous plants is desired.  This practice will be applied to manage eastern red cedar, thorny locust, osage orange, sandhill plum, pricklypear, and yucca. Requires SCC Grazing Management Plan Form and, for warm season grass, a use exclusion cage. 

Contour Buffer Strips                                                                                                                                                Strips of perennial vegetation alternates with wider cultivated strips that are farmed on the contour (can be installed in place of terraces).  To stabilize the soil, reduce erosion, trap nutrients and pesticides and to improve wildlife habitat. 

Critical Area Planting

•Planting vegetation such as trees, vines, grasses or legumes on highly erodible or critically eroding areas. •

Diversions                                                                                                                                                                          A channel constructed across the slope with a supporting ridge on the lower side.  To divert excess water from one area for use or safe disposal in other areas. 

•

Dry Hydrant

•A non-pressurized permanent pipe assembly system installed into water source that permits the withdrawal of water by suction. Provide access to water supplies for use in combating wildfires, and prescribed burning. 

•

Fencing

•Riparian fencing, cross fencing or fencing in conjunction with other water resource projects; we do not pay for perimeter fencing!  Enclosing or dividing an area of land with a suitable permanent structure that acts as a barrier to livestock, big game, or people (does not include temporary fence)To exclude livestock or big game from areas that should be protected from grazing, control domestic livestock while permitting wildlife movement, protect new seedlings and plantings from grazing, or subdivide grazing land to permit use of grazing systems and utilize grazing management strategies to enhance grass conditions and to prevent concentration of animals in riparian zones.  Requires SCC Grazing Management Plan Form and, for warm season grass, a use exclusion cage.
•

Field Border

•Establishing a border or strip of perennial vegetation at or around the edge of a field by planting herbaceous vegetation. Used to control erosion, reduce competition from adjacent woodland, if present, and to increase production of wildlife by providing food and/or cover.  •

Filter Strips (along stream, planting grass only)

•A strip of vegetation for removing sediment, organic matter, and other pollutants from runoff and waste water.  To remove sediment and other pollutants from runoff or waste water by filtration, deposition, infiltration, absorption, decomposition and violation, there by reducing pollution and protecting the environment.  •

Grassed Waterway or Outlet

•A natural or constructed waterway or outlet shaped or graded and established in vegetation, as needed, for the safe disposal of runoff from a field, diversion, terrace or other structure. To provide for the disposal of excess surface water from terraces, diversions, or from natural concentrations without damage by erosion or flooding. 
•

Grade Stabilization Structure

•A structure to control the grade and head cutting in natural or artificial channels.  To stabilize the grade and control erosion in natural or artificial channels, to prevent formation or advance of gullies, and to enhance environmental quality and reduce pollution hazards. 
•

Livestock Ponds                                                                                                                                                             A water impoundment made by constructing a dam, embankment, or by excavating a pit or dugout.  Used to provide water for livestock; or to improve water quality.  A water supply development is eligible for cost-share assistance if 1) there is a need for an initial or additional watering source to permit the desired level of grassland management by improving distribution of grazing over all parts of the pasture, or 2) to reduce livestock waste in streams, or 3) for the relocation of a confined animal feeding operation. All livestock water supply practices must be constructed or installed to serve grazing units 40 acres or larger.  The pasture must have permanent perimeter fencing in place before applying for funding. Requires SCC Grazing Management Plan Form and, for warm season grass, a use exclusion cage. 

 
Livestock Waste Facilities
•A waste impoundment made by constructing an embankment and/or excavating a pit or dugout, or fabricating a structure.  To temporarily store waste such as manure, wastewater and contaminated runoff as a storage function component of an agricultural waste management system.  Supplemental Funds may be available through the SCC livestock waste account.  Maximum of $30,000.00 may be approved, $10,000.00 for design assistance and $20,000.00 for cost share, between the supplemental funds and regular county cost share dollars. 

Livestock Water Supply Tanks or Trough                                                                                                              A trough, tank or waterer with needed devices installed to provide drinking water for livestock.  To provide watering facilities for livestock at selected locations that will protect vegetative cover through proper distribution of grazing or through better grassland management for erosion control.  Another purpose on some sites is to reduce or eliminate livestock access to streams in order to reduce pollution from animal waste and stream bank erosion.  Requires SCC Grazing Management Plan Form and, for warm season grass, a use exclusion cage. 

On-site Waste System  Repairs/Upgrades
•A system composed of a septic tank/field, a wastewater lagoon or an alternative treatment system to treat  wastewater from a single family residence, church, school, business or government office on the site at which it is generated.  A domestic wastewater system installed in conformance with state regulations and county sanitarian/environmental codes to prevent surface and groundwater contamination by disease-causing organisms, organic matter and chemicals.  •To dispose of domestic wastewater on-site in a manner that provides adequate treatment and prevents entry of untreated sewage into surface or ground waters. (Eligibility Information)
                                                                                                                                                                                 Pipeline
•Installed for conveying water for livestock. •To convey water from a source of supply to points of use. Requires SCC Grazing Management Plan Form and, for warm season grass, a use exclusion cage.   

Pasture & Hay Land Planting (Cool Season Grasses)

•Establishing and re-establishing long-term stands of adapted species of perennial or reseeding forage plants.  To reduce erosion and to adjust land use. Pasture must have permanent perimeter fence in place before applying for cost share, also must have grazing management plan on file before receiving payment. Use Erosion Control for conversion to pasture/hay.  Pasture Range Management for renovation of pasture/range when changing species. 
•

Range Planting (Native Grass Mix)

•Establishment of adapted perennial vegetation such as grasses, forbs, and legumes.  •To reduce soil and water loss, and to improve water quality. 
•

Riparian Forest Buffers (along stream, trees and shrubs)

•An area of trees and shrubs located adjacent to streams, lakes, ponds and wetlands.  To improve stream bank stability, reduce excessive amounts of sediment, organic material, nutrients and pesticides in surface runoff; and improve wildlife habitat.  Requires SCC Grazing Management Plan Form and, for warm season grass, a use exclusion cage. 
•

Nutrient Management  

•Managing the amount, form, placement and timing of application of plant nutrients.  •To supply adequate plant nutrients for optimum forage and crop yields, lawn maintenance and garden production; minimize entry of nutrients to surface and ground water; and to maintain or improve chemical, physical and biological conditions of the soil.  The assistance provided is targeted towards educating producers to change management practices that will improve water quality and impact favorably on future landowner environmental stewardship.  •To stabilize the soil, reduce damage from sediment and runoff to downstream areas, and improve wildlife habitat and visual resources. (Steps for collecting soil samples)
                                                                                                                                                                                     Spring Development
•Improving springs and seeps by excavating, cleaning and providing collection and storage facilities.  •To improve the distribution of and to increase quantity of water for livestock. 
•

Terraces- gradient, parallel, underground tile outlet

•An earth embankment, a channel, or a combination ridge and channel constructed across the slope.  To reduce slope length, reduce erosion, reduce sediment content in runoff water, improve water quality, intercept and conduct surface runoff at a non-erosive velocity to a stable outlet, retain runoff for moisture conservation, prevent gully development, reform the land surface, improve farm-ability, or reduce flooding. 
•

Tree/Shrub Establishment

•To set tree seedlings or cuttings in the soil.  •To establish or reinforce a stand of trees, to conserve soil and moisture, for wildlife habitat or protect a watershed. 
•

Underground Outlet

•A conduit installed beneath the surface of the ground to collect surface water and convey to a suitable outlet.  •To dispose of excess water from terraces, diversions, sub-surface drains, trickle tubes, principal spillways from dams or other concentrations without causing damage by erosion or flooding.
•

Water and Sediment Control Basin

•A short earth embankment or a combination ridge and channel generally constructed across the slope and minor watercourses to form a silt or sediment basin.  To trap and collect sediment, reduce on-site erosion, reduce the content of sediment in water, reduce peak rate of flow at down slope locations, reduce flooding, reduce gully erosion, reform land surface, and improve potential of areas for farming.
•

Wetland Restoration

•A rehabilitation of a drained or degraded wetland where the soils, hydrology, vegetative community and biological habitat are returned to the natural condition to the extent practicable.  •To restore hydric soil conditions, hydrologic conditions, plant communities and wetland functions that occurred on the disturbed wetland site prior to modification to the extent practicable.
                                                                                                                                                                 Windbreak/Shelterbelt Establishment
•A shelter to diffuse and deflect winds away from livestock consisting of: a strip or belt of trees or shrubs established next to a feedlot or adjacent to a field; An outdoor living barn that is a specialized windbreak, typically composed of trees and shrubs strategically located in open areas; an earthen berm constructed of sufficient height and length to provide winter livestock shelter; or a constructed windbreak composed of building materials such as wood and corrugated metal normally constructed in an “L” configuration.  •To protect soil resources, control snow deposition, moisture conservation, protect crops and provide shelter for livestock. 
 
 
Photo Gallery of Conservation Practices

Find a contractor on our Contractors List

Is there other information I should know about the cost share program?

      Funding provided by the State Conservation Commission with appropriations through the Kansas Water Plan Fund.   

      The Franklin County Conservation District is not responsible for arrangements/quotes/contracts between individual landowners and contractors. 

All constructed practices must be designed and constructed to meet NRCS standards and specifications. 

NRCS staff may design practices for you for free or you may choose to have a private engineer do the design. 

If you are interested in a pond here are a few basic requirements to consider: The pond must be constructed as a water supply for livestock! The pond must be constructed to service a grazing unit which meets the policies set by the SCC.  (see above description of Livestock Ponds)   

If you are interested in onsite waste system upgrades consider this: The current system must be at least 10 years old and you have to have owned the property for at least 2 years. There are very specific location criteria that must be met to receive approval for funding. You must contact the Environmental Health Office to receive appropriate county permits and regulation information.  Environmental Health must complete the final inspection of the system. 

 All programs of the Franklin County Conservation District are available without regard to race, color, religion, sex, national origin, marital status, age or handicap.