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Franklin County Conservation District |
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Cost Share Assistance Program |
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$ $ $ $ $
What is cost share?
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
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. |
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