Ranching for Rivers

About

The Ranching for Rivers Program is a cost-share program designed to assist landowners protect riparian health through improved ranching practices. Through the Montana Department of Environmental Quality, Ranching for Rivers offers 50% cost-share for fencing material, off-site water infrastructure, and developing grazing management plans. Funding is also available for Conservation Districts and Watershed Groups to provide technical assistance on ranching management projects to local landowners in their area.

• Cost Share
• Grant
• Montana

Commodities

• Livestock

Eligibility

Landowners, Conservation Districts, and Watershed Groups who are working within areas with a DEQ-approved Watershed Restoration Plan are encouraged to apply for program funding for identified projects.

Priority funding will be given to projects that fall within an area with a DEQ-approved Watershed Restoration Plan. A status list of Watershed Restoration Plans can be found on: https://deq.mt.gov/Water/SurfaceWater/WatershedRestoration

Eligible Costs:

• Fencing Material for complete exclusions or “riparian pastures”

• Livestock pipeline

• Materials for stream crossing

• Permanent drinking tanks & winter tanks with storage

• Contracted costs for the development of a Grazing Management Plan by a range specialist

• Conservation District and Watershed Group Staff time for technical assistance

NRCS rates, provided in appendix A of the Ranching for Rivers Application, can be used to calculate expenses for certain practices

Ineligible Costs:

• Time & labor costs by associated with project installation

• Fencing/equipment maintenance or replacement

Terms

The Ranching for Rivers program offers 50% cost-share for project implementation and/or the development of a Grazing Management Plan. The 50% cost-share will be provided in the form of reimbursement following a completed project. Upon application acceptance, landowners are required to complete a landowner agreement requiring maintenance of the installed practice(s) for the expected life of the practice(s) (typically 10 years).

50% nonfederal match must be recorded and reported to SWCDM along with final project expenses and reporting. Match may include:

• Dollars provided by other non-federal grants used to complete the project

• Dollars provided directly by the landowner.

• Laboring or administrative costs by a Conservation District, Watershed Group, or landowner not already being charged directly to the Ranching for Rivers program.

Resources

• Program Information and Application Instructions

• Past Project Highlights/Example

• Project Final Reporting Template

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Details

Updated June 30, 2021

This information was gathered from public sources. Ambrook is not responsible for or able to affect the results of any financial programs listed, nor are they responsible for any incorrect information that is listed or is on the hyperlinked external sites. All information is subject to change.