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NRCS Colorado Grassland Reserve Program/GRP

2004 Sign Up:  July 23 Cut-Off Date for GRP Funding

Limited funding is available for the Grassland Reserve Program (GRP) in Colorado in 2004.  The GRP is designed to help landowners protect grasslands from conversion to other uses and to support continued stewardship on viable, working ranch lands.  Land offered for the program must be grassland, contain forbs or shrubs, or be land that historically has been dominated by grassland, forbs, or shrubs.  The program is designed to protect our very vulnerable and fragile grasslands and their native species. 

The GRP utilizes a continuous sign-up process.  Applications for this program that are received at local NRCS or FSA offices by close of business on July 23, 2004 will be considered for funding for Fiscal Year 2004.

Given our limited funding ($1.45 M.), we anticipate that competition will be intense.  Funds will be targeted to native, natural grasslands that support certain plant communities and habitat types.  Offers most likely to be funded will be part of a sustainable, working ranch unit and consist entirely of good condition native, natural grasslands that have never been plowed or cropped.  Adequate fencing and watering will already be in place, and sustainable grazing management will be evident.  Four particular plant communities will be targeted in 2004:  Shortgrass Prairie; Sand Sage; Sagebrush Steppe; and Sagebrush/Wet Meadow Complex.

Landowners have several enrollment options including easements and agreements.  One can enrollment in a permanent or 30-year easement or a 10-, 15-, 20-, or 30-year agreement. Two funding pools will be used—one for easements, one for agreements—with 50% of the funds allocated to each. 
  • For permanent easements, the USDA makes a payment based on the fair market value of the property less the value for grazing, hunting, and recreation.
  • For 30-year easements, the USDA pays 30 percent of what would be paid for a permanent easement.
  • For rental agreements, the USDA pays 75 percent of the grazing value in annual payments for the length of the agreement.
  • For restoration agreements, the USDA pays up to 90 percent of the restoration costs on grassland and shrubland that has never been cultivated and not more than 75 percent on restored grassland and shrubland (land that was once cultivated).
In Colorado, GRP will target lands that are under some threat of conversion to rural residential development, as well as land that is threatened to be converted to cropland or other agricultural uses. 

To apply for this program and for additional information regarding it, landowners are encouraged to contact their local conservation district office or the local NRCS or FSA office that services their county.  These are located in USDA Service Centers across the State. 
Contact your  USDA Colorado Field Service Center to apply to participate.

Program Information

These documents require Adobe Acrobat
Adobe Acrobat DocumentJune 13, 2003 Federal Register Grassland Reserve Program Notice
Adobe Acrobat DocumentGRP Fact Sheet
Adobe Acrobat DocumentGRP Questions and Answers
Adobe Acrobat DocumentKey Points- FRP

Colorado GRP Ranking Criteria

Click on the link below for  the Colorado GRP ranking  information, the official criteria used to evaluate Colorado applications.

  This document  requires Microsoft Excel

Microsoft Excel DocumentColorado GRP 2004 Ranking Criteria

 

 

Forms

the USDA Service Center EForms Web Site - Forms and related information

These documents require Adobe Acrobat.

Sign-up Forms Available Online:

Adobe Acrobat DocumentForm AD-1153, Application for Long-Term Contracted Assistance
Adobe Acrobat DocumentForm CCC0920, Grassland Reserve Program Contract
Adobe Acrobat DocumentForm CCC0920 Appendix, Grassland Reserve Program Contract
Adobe Acrobat DocumentForm AD-1155, Conservation Plan and Schedule of Operations
Adobe Acrobat DocumentForm AD-1155A, Conservation Plan and Schedule of Operations, Signatures
Adobe Acrobat DocumentForm AD-1156, Conservation Plan and Schedule of Operations Modification
Adobe Acrobat DocumentForm AD-1161, Application for Payment


Easement Forms Available Online:

Adobe Acrobat DocumentForm AD-1157, Option Agreement to Purchase
Adobe Acrobat DocumentForm AD-1157A, Option Agreement to Purchase, Amendment 1
Adobe Acrobat DocumentForm AD-1158, Subordination Agreement and Limited Lien Waiver
Adobe Acrobat DocumentForm CCC1255-GRP Warranty Easement Deed for Permanent Easements
Adobe Acrobat DocumentForm CCC1255-GRP-30, Warranty Easement Deed for 30-Year Easements
Adobe Acrobat DocumentForm NRCS-CPA38, Request for a Certified Wetland Determination
Adobe Acrobat DocumentForm NRCS-LTP13, Conservation Program Status Review
Contact your  the USDA Colorado Field Service Center to apply to participate in the GRP.

NRCS Colorado Program Contact

Dennis Alexander
NRCS Colorado Assistant State Conservationist
655 Partet St, Rm E200C
Lakewood, CO 80215
Ph:  720-544-2805
Dennis.Alexander@co.usda.gov
OR
Gary Finstad
NRCS Colorado GRP Program Coordinator
655 Parfet St., Rm. E200C
Lakewood, CO  80215
Ph:  720-544-2820
Gary.Finstad@co.usda.gov

 

Farm Service Agency/FSA Program Contact

Lynette Brunk
FSA Colorado PS Conservation
655 Partet St,
Lakewood, CO 80215
Ph:  720-544-2894
Lynette.Brunk@co.usda.gov