02/14/05 NRCS has funding for species of concern

The Natural Resources Conservation Service has more than 13 million dollars in Environmental Quality Incentives Program money for Idaho. But Bob Bartholomew says one million dollars of that will go farmers and ranchers who install conservation practices that help species at risk. BARTHOLOMEW "Once something gets on the Endangered Species list then funds tend to roll in. But there's not a whole lot of funding that addresses these things before its too late." That's the whole idea, help the wildlife and plant species now so they don't end up on the list. Bartholomew says consultation with state and federal wildlife agencies resulted in 40 species that need habitat improvements. Your find bull trout, salmon, steelhead, a half dozen cutthroat trout and six species of snail listed. Sage grouse made the list so did many plants. NRCS will take applications for the cost share program until February 28th. Last year they awarded contracts on a county by county basis but this year each application is based on merit. BARTHOLOMEW "We've created a different ranking sheet with different resource concerns that we're evaluating. Ones that state and federal wildlife agencies felt would best represent the majority of species on the list." He also suggests that farmers and ranchers get together with a state or federal wildlife agency for assistance in preparing their application. Today's Idaho Ag News Bill Scott