FY2004 WHIP OVERVIEW - NRCS Utah

Utah Wildlife Habitat Incentives Program (WHIP) Plan
September 17, 2003

WHIP is a new program that offers cost-share incentives to landowners to voluntarily develop and improve wildlife habitat on private lands.   Participants work with NRCS and their local conservation district to develop a wildlife habitat development plan and contract. The plan describes the landowner's goals for improving wildlife habitat, includes a list of practices and a schedule for installing them, and specifies the steps necessary to maintain the new habitat for the life of the agreement.

Key Provisions:

• Provides up to 75% cost-share assistance for developing upland wildlife, wetland wildlife, endangered species, fisheries, and other wildlife;
• Ranks applications using a numerical points system designed to identify and select proposals that offer the greatest benefits to wildlife and related natural resources per program dollar; 
• Contracts must last a minimum of 5 years from the date of installation of the conservation practice.

Eligibility:

• Participants must own or control the land (there is no minimum acreage);
• Land may not be currently enrolled in the Waterbank Program, Conservation Reserve Program, Wetlands Reserve Program, or other similar program;
• Lands used for mitigation can be included in WHIP contracts but are ineligible for cost-share funds;
• All non-federal lands are eligible. 

Utah objectives: Restore and manage species and habitats of high conservation concern on private lands in cooperation with partners.

Utah wildlife priorities:   Priority will be placed on habitat types such as riparian, shrub-steppe, wet meadows, and isolated wetlands (no hydrologic connection to a stream).  Other habitats of high priority are those considered critical, essential, or otherwise important to the life cycle of any given species.  Also, priority will be given to federally listed T&E species, Conservation Species, and State Sensitive Species.  However, applications will be accepted for restoration or enhancement of any habitat type.

Wildlife habitat improvement practices:  Generally practices will be those that manipulate vegetation and manage water resources.  Any practice that restores, maintains, or enhances wildlife habitat can be used (subject to approval at local level).

Partnership involvement:  Number and kind of partners will vary by proposal.  Partnerships, including those among landowners, are highly encouraged and those proposals with partnerships will receive a priority in the ranking process.

State application ranking process and criteria:  Criteria have been developed to achieve the objectives and priorities for Utah.

Criteria for measuring program success:  Success of the WHIP program in project plans will be measured by a monitoring plan contained in the plan document.  Program success on individual plans will be gauged by status reviews.

Budget:  Variable by year depending on funding levels.  Partners will contribute on a case by case basis.

Utah WHIP Instructions

With the advice of the WHIP Subcommittee of the State Technical Committee, the priorities and ranking criteria for WHIP have been revised for FY 2004.  The Program will now emphasize such things as partnerships and species/habitat types of high conservation concern.  The priorities are reflected in the ranking criteria, so projects that address more priorities will rank higher and receive funding.  See the link below for a timeline for implementation of WHIP.

When it is time to submit ranked applications, please send the elements listed below to the WHIP Program Manager.  Failure to complete and submit ALL of the items will result in the application being rejected.  Also, please ensure that applicants and the land have been determined to be eligible for WHIP (i.e., landowners have signed AGI certification and AD-1026).  The application must contain cost estimate for planned practices generated using the locally approved cost list and list of eligible practices.   Cost lists are prepared (and can be obtained) at the local NRCS office. 

 For more specific information on the requirements of WHIP, refer to the manual by clicking  Part 517 Wildlife Habitat Incentives Program

Application elements to be submitted:

1. Copy of AD-1153 (signed by applicant)
2. Ranking criteria sheet (this must be completed)
3. Wildlife Habitat Development Plan (WHDP) with map (submit a description of the kind, amount, and location of planned practices; the components of a WHDP are defined in the WHIP manual)
4. Description of wildlife habitat concern being targeted and how you are treating it (this can be a narrative under item #8 on the ranking sheet).

For WHIP Ranking information and Timeline, click below:

The document below requires Adobe Acrobat.
WHIP Implementation Timeline
WHIP Ranking Criteria FY2004
WHIP Application Form

If you have questions, please call:

Jeremy Maestas
WHIP Program Manager
Jeremy.Maestas@ut.usda.gov
(801) 377-5580 x 32

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