United States Department of Agriculture
Natural Resources Conservation Service		 Alaska Go to Accessibility Information
Skip to Page Content
 Plants Mint Valley

 

 

WHIP Habitat Fragmentation Ranking Tool

Ranking Tool Summary for Fragmentation (Released 04/16/2009)

Description:

1. This ranking tool applies to WHIP applications in the category for State WHIP priority two (2): Reduce habitat fragmentation and/ or restore or enhance missing/ degraded habitats for fish and wildlife; Federal or State identified Threatened and Endangered species or species-at-risk; and approved species identified by local workgroups including Subsistence species. Trail removal, hardening or relocation to reduce fragmentation and restore, enhance or protect native fish and wildlife habitat is included in this priority.
2. Each ranked application must include a detailed written description of the proposed project (WPO), provided to the NRCS State Biologist before final ranking.
3. At risk species are defined as native species whose population(s) or habitat is in danger of loss by their listing as State or Federal Threatened or Endangered, Candidate, or State Species of Concern, or as focus species in Alaskas Comprehensive Wildlife Conservation Strategy.
4. A completed Wildlife Habitat Evaluation Guide is required in support of each application where one exists for that land use.
5. For the purposes of WHIP, Noxious and Invasive weeds are those species identified in the FOTG Section IV D. Conservation practices "Pest Management and Invasive Weeds Fact Sheet and List". Invasive animal species are those listed by ADF&G in "A Comprehensive List and Select Species Reports". http://www.adfg.state.ak.us/special/invasive/documents/invasivespp.report.pdf.
6. Applications must score a minimum value of 65 points in the State Issues Section of the Fragmentation Ranking Criteria to be eligible for funding consideration.

Land Uses:

Crop, Forest, Grazed Forest, Grazed Range, Hay, Native/Naturalized Pasture, Natural Area, Pasture, Recreation, Water, Watershed Protection, Wildlife

Efficiency Score:

  Scoring Multiplier: 1.00
  Scoring Ranges and Results Text:

High: 555 - 350

Medium: 335 - 150

Low: 135 - 65

Represents projects which meet intent of program, and are high priority for funding.

 Represents projects which meet intent of program, and are medium priority for funding.

Represents projects which meet intent of program, but are low priority for funding.

National Priorities:

  Scoring Multiplier: 1.00
  Scoring Ranges and Results Text:

High: 125 - 65

Medium: 60 - 20

Low: 15 - 0

Represents projects which meet intent of program, and are high priority for funding.

 Represents projects which meet intent of program, and are medium priority for funding.

Represents projects which meet intent of program, but are low priority for funding.

Questions:

Question Number Question Points
1 Will the treatment intended to implement using WHIP result in the restoration of declining or important native fish and wildlife habitats? 15
2 Are the planned restoration of declining or important native fish and wildlife habitat conservation practices of a self-sustaining nature such as a native perennial plant? 10
3 Will the treatment intended to implement using WHIP result in the protection, restoration, development or enhancement of fish and wildlife habitat to benefit at-risk species? 25
4 Will the treatment intended to implement using WHIP result in the protection, restoration, development or enhancement of wildlife habitat for Federally listed threatened and endangered wildlife species? 35
5 Will the treatment intended to implement using WHIP result in the reduction of invasive species on fish and wildlife habitats? 25
6 Will the treatment intended to implement using WHIP result in the protection, restoration, development or enhancement of declining or important aquatic wildlife species' habitats? 15
 

Total Points

 125

State Issues:

  Scoring Multiplier: 1.00
  Scoring Ranges and Results Text:

High: 320 - 215

Medium: 210 - 100

Low: 95 - 65

Represents projects which meet intent of program, and are high priority for funding.

 Represents projects which meet intent of program, and are medium priority for funding.

Represents projects which meet intent of program, but are low priority for funding.

Questions:

Question Number Question Points
1 This project contains a primary treatment to address areas of significantly established noxious or invasive species threatening on site, at risk native habitat, or wildlife species, (only answer ONE from 1, 2 OR 3). 40
2 This project contains a primary treatment to address areas with minor presence of noxious or invasive species threatening on site, at risk native habitat, or wildlife species, (only answer ONE from 1, 2 OR 3). 20
3 This project contains a primary treatment to address areas with minor presence of noxious or invasive species threatening on site, native habitat, or wildlife species. (only answer ONE from 1, 2 OR 3). 10
4 This project contains practices which will actively address two or more priorities of the State WHIP Plan. (Plan will identify priorities addressed, as well as the species, and rationale for extended benefits). 25
5 This project provides for the rehabilitation of critical wildlife habitat which has been impacted by man made, or natural disasters such as the 2004 Alaska wildfires ("disaster" designation must be concurred by NRCS). 25
6 This conservation project applies practices which provide significant benefits to a listed state or federal sensitive, hreatened or endangered species. 40
7 This project would remove existing trail (s), restores native plant conditions and reduces habitat fragmentation. OR (only answer ONE from 7-9). 40
8 This project improves or restores an existing trail/ road, improving structural and ecological resource integrity to include trail hardening or relocation, in wetland or other highly sensitive ecological sites, but does not remove the trail. (only answer ONE from 7-9). 25
9 This project does not have a trail/road concern but, reduces habitat fragmentation in the area and/or positively contributes to migration or travel corridors and/or restores or enhances missing/degraded habitat for identified species of concern.(only answer ONE from 7-9). 20
10 This project will include planting or enhancement of ecosite appropriate multiple woody plant species (3 minimum) and/ or herbaceous species (3 minimum) which address a diversity of wildlife species and habitats. OR (only answer ONE 10 OR 11, do NOT answer both). 15
11 This project only address's a single vegetative species component of the surrounding area. (only answer one from 10 OR 11, do NOT answer both). 5
12 This project will treat lands exhibiting significant areas of easily identifiable sheet/ rill and or gully erosion or disturbed surface hydrology. Or, the project treats exposed or significantly disturbed surfaces of permafrost tundra. 10
13 This project will contain provisions to retain 3-5 large snags and/ or downed trees per acre for enhanced habitat values. 15
14 This project focuses more than 30% of its restoration/ enhancement effort (as measured by surface area) in a riparian zone.  
15 Any planting plan or expected regeneration is/ has been developed utilizing/ or encourages only ecologically appropriate native species. (only answer ONE from 15 or 16, do NOT answer both).  
16 Project will use less than 100% native plant species in the planting plan, or non-native plant species may encroach the site due to absence of control efforts. (only answer ONE from 15 or 16, do NOT answer both). 5
17 Besides the landowner, this project will be cost shared by a State or Federal agency or other partner which will reduce NRCS cost share by a minimum of $10,000 or 15%, whichever is less. 25
18 This project will be closed out with all contract items completed and paid in three years or less. 35
 

Maximum Points:  320     Total Points

 405

Local Issues:

Scoring Multiplier: 1.00
Scoring Ranges and Results Text:

High: 110 - 70

Medium: 65 - 30

Low: 25 - 0

Represents projects which meet intent of program, and are high priority for funding.

 Represents projects which meet intent of program, and are medium priority for funding.

Represents projects which meet intent of program, but are low priority for funding.

Questions:

Question Number Question Points
1 This project has a benefit to the highest priority locally identified wildlife species. 25
2 This project has a benefit to a secondary priority locally identified wildlife species. 10
3 This project addresses one or more locally identified priority subsistence species. 20
4 This project addresses locally identified plant species of concern. 15
5 This project addresses locally identified noxious or invasive species of concern 15
6 This project occurs in, or within three miles of, a locally identified special ecological management area. 25
 

Maximum Points:  110      Total Points

 110

< Back to WHIP>