A Guide to Conservation Programs
for Story County Landowners

Environmental Quality Incentive Program (EQIP)

Purpose: To provide technical and financial assistance to landowners to develop and implement conservation plans that address specific natural resources concerns.
Practices: Contour farming, critical area planting, grade stabilization structure, grassed waterways, nutrient management, prescribed grazing, residue management (no-till, ridge-till, or strip-till), streambank and shoreline protection, stream channel stabilization, strip-cropping, waste storage facility and water & sediment control basin.
Eligibility: Agricultural producers on ag land are eligible. Projects are based on environmental benefits per Story County dollar expended.
Contract: 5-10 year contracts. Agricultural producers may be eligible for up to 50% cost-share or incentive payments.

Conservation Reserve Program (CRP)

Purpose: To reduce erosion, increase wildlife habitat, and improve water quality through the application of conservation plans (landowner sets aside cropland with annual rental payments).
Practices: Filter strips, riparian buffers, Farmable Wetland Program (FWP), windbreaks/shelterbelts, shallow water area for wildlife, contour buffer strips and grassed waterways.
Eligibility: In Story County the average rental rate is $150 - $190 per acre per year. The area must meet cropping history.
Contract: 10-15 years depending on type of practice.

Iowa Financial Incentive Program (State Cost-Share)

Purpose: To provide cost-share or incentives on permanent and management conservation practices to control erosion and reduce sediment.
Practices: Story SWCD set priorities for practices to fund. Examples include terraces, grassed waterways and structures.
Eligibility: Any landowner who is a district cooperator and enters into a voluntary agreement with the district to install and maintain an approved conservation practice. Landowner must own a minimum of 10 acres and have a $2500 ag production income.
Contracts: Up to 50% cost-share and up to a 20 year maintenance agreement.

Wetland Reserve Program (WRP)

Purpose: To develop and implement a conservation plan for restoration of wetlands previously altered for agricultural use.
Practices: Wetland restoration and wildlife habitat establishment.
Eligibility: Land that has been owned for one year and that can be restored to wetland conditions.
Contract: Landowners may restore wetlands with permanent easements, 30-year easements or 10-year contracts. Permanent easements pay 100% of the agricultural value of the land and 100% cost-share; 30-year easements pay 75% of the agricultural value and 75% cost-share; 10-year contracts pay 75% cost-share only. Permanent or 30-year easements are recorded with property deeds. 10-year contracts are not recorded with deeds.

Conservation Reserve Enhancement Program (CREP)

Purpose: Provide incentives to landowners to establish wetlands for water quality improvements in the tile-drained regions of Iowa.
Practices: Wetland restoration and adjacent buffer establishment.
Eligibility: Enrollment is on a continuous basis. Eligible land must meet the basic requirements for USDA#c#is Conservation Reserve Program. Eligible lands must be in landscape positions to intercept significant tile flow while not obstructing normal drainage.
Contract: Landowners will enter a 15-year contract with USDA as under the CRP. State funds will be used for additional one-time, up front incentive payments to encourage participating landowners to enter into a required additional 15-year or permanent easement. USDA and State funds will provide 100% cost-share.

Resource Enhancement and Protection (REAP)

Purpose: To provide cost-share or incentives to address local water quality protection needs.
Practices: Farmstead windbreak, conservation cover, timber stand improvement, field border, streambank stabilization and other practices not mentioned.
Eligibility: Landowner must be growing an agricultural commodity. There is no acre or dollar limit required for eligibility.
Contracts: Up to 75% cost-share and up to a 20-year maintenance agreement.

Grassland Reserve Program (GRP)

Purpose: To help landowners restore and protect grassland and pastureland.
Practices: Grazing practices and haying, mowing or harvesting for seed production.
Eligibility: Agricultural producers on ag land are eligible. Projects are based on environmental benefits per state dollar expended.
Contracts: A 10, 15, 20 or 30 year rental agreement.

Other Watershed Protection Funds

Potential Watershed Project funding in the future for targeted watersheds.