LIP Management Practices

The Landowner Incentive Program can provide cost share or credit for in-kind services for the following established Management Practices implemented to benefit at-risk species. Management practices not included in the table but developed to accomplish program objectives can also qualify for program cost-share.

^aCost - Costs derived from NRCS Practice Costs and adjoining states costs, and researched estimates with some modifications for current fuel prices and inflation. Practices not included in the table but used to accomplish program objectives will be derived from standard NRCS state costs. Some practices are new (prairie dog incentive) and some can vary depending on the productivity of the land and the area of the state (conservation easements, AUMs, fish structures). Deviations from this pricing schedule may vary and will be addressed on a case by case basis. Deviations must be approved by the ranking committee and the USFWS prior to finalizing any landowner grant or contract agreement.

^bLength of Agreement – The time period that LIP contracts specifying management activities such as a grazing management plan in addition to habitat improvements will be binding.

^CSHPO Concern – Y = Management activities require consultation with the State Historical Preservation Office (SHPO). N = Management activities are deemed “no adverse effect” and have been pre-approved by SHPO.  That programmatic letter is on file with the current Application for Federal Assistance (AFA).  P= SHPO consultation and amendment to programmatic letter is pending. 

 

Explanation of Proposed Management Practices
 

Prescribed burning: Using fire to create patchiness, mosaics, set back succession and improve plant species diversity. A minimum of two grazing seasons rest from livestock grazing will be required as part of the practice. The average price per acre is per burning treatment and is figured high to help create the smaller patches and mosaics recommended for sagebrush systems. Plan is to strive for 5-15 year agreements that could involve more than one prescribed burning treatment during the first 5 years of the project. A good post-treatment grazing plan should be in place.

Chemical treatment thinning: Using chemicals such as spike™ to thin and/or rejuvenate dense or decadent sagebrush stands and to increase diversity and production of grasses and forbs in the under-story. Plan for 5-15 year agreements with appropriate livestock grazing management plans following treatment. This is generally a one-time treatment application during the agreement period.

Mechanical treatment thinning: Using mechanical treatments such as mowing, chaining, Dixie harrow, Lawson aerator or other equipment to thin or rejuvenate decadent sagebrush stands. Practice cost includes price of the equipment and operator. Plan for 5-15 year agreements that could involve multiple entry thinning for the first 5 years of the project.

Inter-seeding introduced forbs and grasses: Seeding introduced grasses and forbs and/or legumes to improve plant diversity for wildlife. Price includes seed and planting cost per acre of treatment and could involve multiple-year seeding during the first five years of the program. Plan for 5-15 year agreements with adequate grazing rest for plant establishment and good post-treatment grazing plan.

Inter-seeding native forbs and grasses: Seeding native grasses and forbs and/or legumes to improve plant diversity for wildlife. Price includes seed and planting cost per acre of treatment and could involve multiple-year seeding during the first five years of the program. Plan for 5-15 year agreements with adequate grazing rest for plant establishment and good post-treatment grazing plan.

Seeding with a no-till drill: Cost associated with seeding introduced or native seeds. Price includes planting cost only per acre of treatment.  Plan for 5-15 year agreements with adequate grazing rest for plant establishment and good post-treatment grazing plan.

Weed management: Use of chemical, biological or mechanical treatment of invasive and noxious weeds including but not limited to cheat grass, knapweed, leafy spurge, salt cedar, Canada thistle. Plan agreement for 5-15 year period with a good grazing management plan. Practice cost is per treatment and can involve multiple-year treatments for the first five years of the program.

Invasive tree/brush removal:  Use of chemical, biological or mechanical treatement of invasive trees and brush including but not limited to Russian olive and salt cedar.  Plan agreement for 5-15 year period with a good grazing management plan.  Practice cost is per treatment and can involve multiple-year treatments for the first five years of the program.

Planned grazing with rotation/deferment/rest system and monitoring: Using prescribed grazing to meet wildlife and landowner objectives. Plan for 5-15 year agreements. Cost of practice includes an upfront payment of $4/acre and a $2/acre payment on year 4 of the contract. Monitoring will be built into the grazing program.

Fencing installment and/or modification: The development of fencing infrastructure may be necessary to implement planned grazing with rotation/deferment systems and to properly manage grazing. Existing fences may also be modified to accommodate wildlife needs. Fencing projects will include a 15-year agreement with the landowner on a grazing management plan tailored to meet site-specific wildlife and landowner objectives.

Fence Removal:  Fencing infrastructure removal will be necessary to implement planned grazing strategies to increase range heterogeneity on certain ranches.  Fence removal projects will include a 5-15 year agreement with the landowner on a grazing management plan tailored to meet site-specific wildlife and landowner objectives. 

Fence Marking:  Cost is for fence marking materials to make them wildlife friendly and reduce bird strike collisions, especially greater sage grouse collisions.  Cost estimate is based off of study conducted by the Sutton Avian Research Center, Bartlesville, Oklahoma. 
<http://www.suttoncenter.org/fence_marking.html> Accessed March 2, 2007.

Anti-raptor perching structors:  Cost is for materials and labor to build and install metal anti-perching structures to prevent raptors from perching on fence posts and other perches near areas where sensitive species are particularly vulnerable to avian predators.  Cost is based on trials conducted by the Medicine Bow Conservation District.

Water development installment and/or modification (wells drilled & cased with pump): Practice includes a one-time payment to drill, case, set up a pump and fence around a water development. Existing water developments may also be modified to accommodate wildlife needs. Water development projects will include a 15-year agreement with the landowner on a grazing management plan tailored to meet site-specific wildlife and landowner objectives.

Ø      Shallow well development: Cost is based on developing wells < 100 ft deep.

Ø      Deep well development: Cost is based on developing wells > 100 ft. deep.

Ø      Stock tank: Cost includes buying and installing a suitable stock tank for water developments.

Ø      Pipe: Cost per linear foot of pipe to purchase black poly pipe with diameter ³ 1.5” and install it below
       frost level.

Ø      Storage tank: Cost per cubic foot of tank for water development storage needs.
Ø      Solar pump: Cost is for materials and installation of a solar-powered water pump.
Ø      Wildlife escape ramps: Cost is for materials and installation of wildlife escape ramps into livestock
       watering troughs.

.

Spring development: Includes a one-time payment for materials and labor to improve the water flows, performance and longevity of natural springs and seeps.  Spring development projects will include a 15-year agreement with the landowner on a grazing management plan tailored to meet site-specific wildlife and landowner objectives.

Stream restoration activities: Includes a suite of activities designed to restore and/or improve stream corridors, including stream channels, flood plains and associated riparian zones. Activities may include, but are not limited to, installation of instream structures (i.e. cross-vanes, wing deflectors, tree revetments), bank stabilization practices, and improving  the riparian vegetation community.  Projects will include a 30-year maintenance agreement.

Conservation easements: A one-time payment to secure permanent conservation easements from willing landowners to prevent fragmentation, conversion, subdivision of habitat, and to maintain best management practices for the targeted sensitive species of concern. Practice cost is averaged across the state and will vary in different parts of the state. Requires involvement by WGFD Lands Section.

Incentive payment for conservation measures

A)      Sagebrush management: Cost is for a one time up front payment to prevent conversion (removal or completely changing) of native plant communities for a 30-year period. Practice does allow for agreed upon management to take place within the system such as thinning sagebrush, inter-seeding native grasses and forbs, rejuvenation of the native community, control and management of noxious and invasive plant species, grazing, etc.

B)      Prairie dog incentive: Cost is to compensate for loss of forage and partial costs of associated management to maintain a colony of prairie dogs at an agreed upon acreage and prevent prairie dogs from expanding into adjacent landowners or areas where they are not desirable. Acreage of healthy prairie dog colonies will be calculated according to established Wyoming Game and Fish Department protocol. Priority will be given to colonies:

a.   Associated with an identified complex considered a focus area.

b.  Part of a larger management plan for the conservation of prairie dogs and associated
     species.

c.   Over 50 acres in size 

Landowners receiving prairie dog incentives will also be given priority for available funding to implement vegetative restoration and weed control. 

C)      Grassland conversion prevention: Cost is for a one time upfront payment to prevent conversion (removal or completely changing) of native plant communities for a 30-year period. Practice does allow for agreed upon management to take place within the system such as inter-seeding native grasses and forbs, rejuvenation of the native community, control and management of noxious and invasive plant species, grazing, etc.

D)      Riparian stream corridor: Cost is for a one time up front payment to prevent conversion (removal or completely changing) of native plant communities for a 30-year period. Practice does allow for agreed upon management to take place within the system such as exotic tree removal, stream restoration activities, and rejuvenation of the native community.

E)     Pasture rotation deferment:  Cost is to defer grazing from a defined area for a specified length of time to increase grassland and sagebrush-grassland heterogeneity, or to allow vegetation to reach desired management goals for later treatments or grazing.
 

Forage reserve: Practice cost pays to obtain grazing pastures to relieve other important wildlife habitat from grazing for a period of time. This is done to accomplish plant rest and rehabilitation on critical wildlife habitat for sensitive species in this proposal. The forage reserve acts as a pressure relief valve for the critical habitat being treated and/or rested.

Fish passage & Screening: Includes the modification of, the construction of by-pass channels and/or the installation of mechanical devices at water diversion structures to enhance the passage of various life stages of fish species (upstream and downstream).

Water purchase for habitat conservation: Buying water to enhance aquatic habitats.