What products and commodities are eligible?

Eligible products for null include: Livestock

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

Ranching for Rivers

Soil & Water Conservation Districts of Montana

Closed December 31, 2020

About

The Ranching for Rivers promotes the use of “riparian pastures” for improvement of fisheries habitat, in-stream flows, and establishment of cottonwoods, willows, and other woody riparian species. A riparian pasture is a relatively small pasture that can still be grazed for a portion of the year. Benefits of riparian pastures include improved management flexibility, the ability to use livestock grazing to manage weeds and overgrown vegetation, improved access for wildlife to stream areas, and decreased maintenance costs of fencing and off-stream water resources.

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.