The Yuma County Conservation District (YCCD) in Wray with the Yuma Conservation District (YCD) were recently awarded a $50,000 grant to fund rangeland improvement projects in partnership with funds from the Colorado Department of Agriculture through the Colorado State Conservation Board. According to Tanya Fell, YCCD District Manager, “this grant project was written to assist producers with funding to install pipelines for livestock to areas without water, adding stock tanks or refurbishing tanks that include bird ladders, installing solar powered well pumps with storage tanks to replace traditional pumps, and the installation of tank monitoring devices.”
Applicants must be in good standing with both the FSA and NRCS. This project area is not receiving any additional funding through FSA, NRCS or other government grants.
Well tests and copies of permits will need to be provided for all water-related projects prior to beginning all work to verify wells will support the proposed project. Once the test confirms that the well is in good standing the size of the pipeline will need to be determined based on the production needs and the possibility of future expansion.
For solar projects, a well test will determine the amount of water available. This will in turn dictate the size of the pump and storage tanks needed and the number of cattle that can be used for rangeland grazing. In the same category, the size and number of tanks needed must be assessed based on the number of head grazing and available water. If tanks do exist, are they in good shape or do they need to be refurbished or replaced.
All projects will be supervised by and completed to NRCS standards and specifications. Projects must be completed by October 31, 2025, to allow adequate time for compliance inspections and photo documentation.
The maximum funding amount for each grant is contingent upon the number of participants meeting the criteria to participate. Grants require matching funds amounting to 50% of the grant total. No activity will begin on projects until January 1, 2025, with project approval from YCCD and YCD and signed contracts are received. The rangeland improvement project matching grant is non-competitive in nature.
For additional information please contact the Yuma County Conservation District in Wray at 970-332-3107 ext. 9002. Applications and information are also available at https://www.ycconservation.com/cost-share-program. Applications are due to the YCCD by January 3, 2025.
