Project Search
Since its inception in 2004, CIG has funded hundreds of projects, boosting natural resource conservation while helping producers improve the health of their operations for the future. Use this tool to search for CIG projects based on any of the criteria listed below.
CIG projects from 2004-2009 may be missing information in the following categories: Resource Concern (specific), Conservation Practice, Production/Use.
Showing 1541 - 1550 of 1760 projects
North Carolina Department of Environmental & Natural Resources-Division of Soil & Water Conservation
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NC
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2006
The North Carolina Department of Environment and Natural Resources and Division of Soil and Water Conservation will investigate the hydrology of the Upper Smith River Watershed and identify irrigation and droughts influence on the stream flow of the Smith River, so that informed decisions and plans of action can be made. Surface and ground water flowing in and out of the Smith River Watershed will be measured and tracked utilizing temperature as a natural tracer. Utilizing temperature, in conjunction with water level gradients, to determine the flow pattern and interaction between the ground water and surface water systems is a new and innovative technique that would allow hydrologic systems to be investigated at a greatly reduced cost to the present techniques in use.
The Nature Conservancy
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SD
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2006
The Nature Conservancy (TNC) will use a comprehensive private lands integrated fire and patch-burn grazing system to assess landowner operations and respond to those assessments by providing the necessary tools and knowledge to the producer to meet Habitat and forage goals and ultimately improve biodiversity. TNC has established five active demonstration sites specifically designed to transfer knowledge and understanding of advanced fire and grazing systems. TNC is now poised to implement the second major phase of the project, which includes on-site evaluations of private lands, fire and grazing planning, and coordination of fire and grazing implementation. By utilizing CIG funds, we plan to perform preliminary site assessments including floristic quality indexing, establishment of grazing exclosures, species composition analysis, and Habitat structural analysis. Following pre-treatment site analysis, TNC will work with landowners to implement ecologically sound prescribed grazing and burning practices that augment not only the Habitat quality of the site, but also serve to enhance the producers overall ranch management and income potential. TNC anticipates the majority of the funding necessary to perform the actual fire implementation will come from additional funding sources. However, a portion of these funds may be utilized to perform fire implementation on pre-established demonstration sites. TNC’s objective for this project is to conduct biological assessments and management planning. Ultimately, our goal over time and with additional funding sources is to work with producers to implement patch-burn grazing systems that are economically feasible and ultimately self-sustaining, thus maintaining or increasing cattle production while concurrently stimulating biodiversity and structural Habitat mosaic.
El Dorado Irrigation District
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CA
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2006
The El Dorado Irrigation District will purchase soil moisture sensors and data loggers. This equipment will be used to determine if the neutron probe that is currently in use can be replaced with permanently placed sensors to increase irrigation scheduling capabilities and efficiencies. The primary goal of this project is to optimize irrigation timing and efficiency while reducing and/or eliminating run-off, erosion and EID resources.
Colorado State University
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CO
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2006
Colorado State University will demonstrate ways to maintain economic and environmental sustainability when transitioning cropping systems from full irrigation to limited irrigation or dry land. This project will be the basis for a detailed economic analysis to illustrate profitability of irrigation systems for varying precipitation and farm price environments. The economic analysis will provide information for producers to make informed decisions about adoption of innovative irrigation systems and potential water transfers environmental concerns that will be addressed in the demonstrations include water quality, soil quality, and soil erosion control. A comprehensive outreach and education objective will transfer the findings to audiences including fanners, agribusiness, and government agencies through field demonstrations, extension field days, a spreadsheet based decision support tool, and a fact sheet series. Further, results from the project will be extended to regional and national audiences faced with declining agricultural water resources via a web site, national meetings, and journal articles.
Winrock International Institute of Agricultural Development
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AR
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2006
This Conservation Innovation Grants project will demonstrate the ability of performance-based incentives to increase farmer flexibility and improve the technical- and cost-effectiveness of agricultural nonpoint source pollution control. Performance-based incentives will be pilot-tested in 6 watersheds in the Upper Mississippi River Basin and the Lake Champlain Basin. Incentive payments to EQIP-eligible producers will be based on the achievement of farm-level environmental performance targets that have been .created by working groups of farmers, agency staff, and scientists in each state. This performance-based approach will provide flexibility for farmers to use appropriate, creative, and innovative strategies to address nonpoint source pollution issues. In the process farmers will seek the most cost-effective solutions for their operations, which will increase the cost-effectiveness of agricultural pollution control programs. This approach will be transferable to any agricultural watershed, provided that local stakeholder input is used to design appropriate performance measures and targets.
West Virginia University Research Corp.
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WV
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2006
West Virginia University proposes a three-phased approach to develop and implement a water quality credit trading program in the WV area of the Potomac River Watershed. The first phase will focus on developing accurate watershed specific information and data to properly inform the trading development process. This information and data will be used to modify the World Resources Institutes NutrientNet electronic trading platform that has been developed for the entire Potomac River watershed. This process will provide an accurate baseline to evaluate potential credit supply and demand, incremental cost of credits and pollutant reductions. In the second phase West Virginia Research Corporation will launch broad public outreach and education to constitute a trading stakeholder process. Informed stakeholder input into the development of the trading framework and infrastructure will improve the trading program design and increase stakeholder trust and support for it. This broader process will be supported, informed, and facilitated by a core team of official project collaborators and other key players. Stakeholders will address and resolve critical trading infrastructure and element issues such as structure and function of the bank or board of trade, trading ratios, liability for non-compliance, enforcement, allowable trades, oversight, legal authority, transparency etc. In the last phase, West Virginia University will use the outcomes from the stakeholder process to establish the program rules and infrastructure and to execute a pilot-trading program. West Virginia University will build administrative functions into existing funding, procedures, staffing and infrastructure of the state agriculture cost-share program. A trading bank will be capitalized by providing incentives for early point source participation. This revenue will be used to offset cost share requirements and kick start the trading process. NutrientNet will serve as the electronic registry and marketplace for facilitating and conducting trades and determining optimal BMP applications and loading reductions. The program will be overseen by a Board of Trade with the responsibility to ensure that trades are conducted in accordance with established rules and to adapt the program in order to encourage maximum participation and efficiency.
Maryland Grain Producers Utilization Board, Inc.
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MD
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2006
Maryland Grain Producers Utilization Board, Inc. will use biofuel production to enhance Chesapeake Bay water quality by expanding cover crop planting. A cost-share incentive bonus of$15 per acre in year one ($ 12/ac year two and $101 ac year three) will be provided to farmers to grow hulless barley rather than other small grains eligible for cost share under the Maryland Agricultural Cost Share (MACS) commodity cover crop program within the Maryland Department of Agriculture. MGPUB will work cooperatively with MASCD, MOP A and MDA to provide information to farmers about the bonus incentive program and the University of Maryland will provide technical information on the production and harvesting practices of hulless barley. The program will be administered through the Maryland Department of Agriculture through the local soil conservation districts as part of a new Commodity Cover Crop Program which restricts the application of fertilizer in the fall but allows the harvesting of the grain for a reduced incentive payment.
Farmers Irrigation District
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OR
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2006
Farmers Irrigation District will utilize a unique, scientifically based software modeling technique that makes use of real time weather, soil moisture holding capacity and crop co-efficient to calculate daily water use and project optimal dates for irrigation to be applied. Soil moisture readings are superimposed to refine models and quantify how much water is needed by the crop and ultimately how much can be saved.
Cheyenne River Sioux Tribe
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SD
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2006
The purpose of this award is for the grantee to implement rangeland conservation interventions that would bring back rangeland damaged by invasive species. Some of these interventions include but are not limited to: invasive species control, reseeding, and livestock exclusion.The Cheyenne River Sioux Tribe will improve forage quality and quantity on Tribal lands through a verified course of action. The Tribe will also document project costs and perform a cost-benefit analysis to complete a review of these results regarding land reclamation and rejuvenation. The Tribe will: remove invasive species as needed; fence, prepare and plant sites; and exclude all domestic livestock.
Arkansas Natural Resources Commission
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AR
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2006
The Arkansas Natural Resource Commission will utilize, enhance, and expand the use of existing widely adopted technology from application on the individual field-scale to the watershed-scale. The Arkansas Natural Resource Commission will specifically address the impacts of on-farm conservation irrigation practices and their impacts on sediment transport to surface water; irrigation management for Water conservation; and maintenance of groundwater supplies through increased surface water utilization, off-stream storage and tail water capture and reuse strategies. This project will complete a benchmark inventory of the individual farmers irrigation water and Energy uses and determine the potential for increased on farm irrigation storage, tail water capture and re-use and the resulting Energy savings on approximately 500 farms within the watersheds. The unique focus of this activity is to develop a watershed evaluation tool that is applicable in the humid, rain-fed portion of the U.S. to evaluate irrigation water needs, runoff, off stream storage of off season rainfall, and tail water capture to meet irrigation needs and assess Energy savings potential on a watershed basis.