Written by Payton Liming
Administrative Assistant
Due to receiving funds through Senate Bill 22-028, the Republican River Water Conservation District (RRWCD) Board of Directors decided to increase, by $750 per acre, the rates paid for the CREP, EQIP, and RAMP programs in the South Fork Focus Zone (SFFZ), which covers portions of Kit Carson, Yuma and Lincoln counties.
The increased rates per acre make the payments as follows: CREP is $5,250/acre, EQIP is $4,250/acre and RAMP is $2,750/acre. CREP requires retirement of the acres for 15 years. EQIP allows dryland farming or pasturing of the formerly irrigated acres. RAMP requires a minimum of 15 percent of the irrigated acres to be retired and a structural change to be made to the irrigation system.
During the upcoming meetings of the RRWCD Budget committee, the District will be evaluating if it is possible to provide additional payments for the well owners who have already stepped forward and permanently retired irrigated acres.
If you are interested in learning more about any of the programs mentioned above or if you wonder if your land may fall in the South Fork Focus Zone, please contract us at the RRWCD. The office phone is 970-332-3552, Deb Daniel’s cell phone is 970-630-3525, or go online to www.republicanriver.com.