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

 

 

WHIP Shallow Water Ranking Tool

Ranking Tool Summary for Shallow Water (Released 04/16/2009)

Description:

1. This ranking tool applies to WHIP applications in the category for State WHIP priority three (3): Shallow water area restoration, enhancement or creation for wetland waterfowl and wildlife.
2. Each ranked application must include a detailed written description of the project proposed (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. The species must be listed as State or Federal Threatened or Endangered, Candidate, or State Species of Concern, or as focus species in Alaska's Comprehensive Wildlife Conservation Strategy (CWCS).
4. A completed Wildlife Habitat Evaluation Guide (WHEG) is required in support of each application on land uses for which they currently exist.
5 Proposed projects which include a new wetland development 500 ft. or less from an inhabited dwelling, regularly used building or well traveled unimproved public roadway are NOT eligible for funding consideration.
6. 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
7. Applications must score a minimum value of 65 points in the State Issues Section of the Shallow Water Ranking Criteria to be eligible for funding consideration.

Description:

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: 570 - 370

Medium: 355 - 195

Low: 180 - 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: 230 - 235

Medium: 230 - 145

Low: 140 - 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, OR (answer only ONE from 1 - 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, OR (answer only ONE from 1 - 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, OR (answer only ONE from 1 - 3). 10
4 This project contains practices which will actively address two or more priorities of the State WHIP Plan. 25
5 This project provides for the rehabilitation of critical wildlife habitat which has been impacted by man made, or natural disasters such as local or regional drying or loss of wetlands by climate change or prolonged lowering of water tables. ("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, threatened or endangered species, or a focus species as designated in the Alaska's Comprehensive Wildlife Conservation Strategy (CWCS). 40
7 This project will actively restore or enhance existing surface water and wetland vegetation greater than 1.0 acres in size, in an isolated area. An isolated area is: A project site at least 1,000 ft. from an inhabited dwelling, regularly used building or well travelled unimproved public roadway and receives visitation or disturbance by humans less than twice per week during periods of bird nesting and migration. OR (answer only ONE from questions 7 OR 8) 30
8 This project is NOT in an isolated area, however, it creates new shallow water/ wetland sites > 1.5 acres in size located in areas with moderate to heavy human disturbances. Moderate to heavy human disturbances are characterized by sites less than 1000 ft from occupied or regularly used dwellings, or well travelled unimproved public roadways. Under no circumstances can project site be closer than 500' to a residence, barn, or other building/ structure determined by NRCS to be of a disturbance concern. These sites also receive visitation or use by humans two or more times per week during periods of local bird nesting and shorebird or waterfowl migration.(answer only ONE from questions 7 OR 8) 15
9 This project includes active structural (vegetative or artificial) components for restoring/ creating nesting habitat as well as providing foraging, brooding, loafing and/or roosting areas for both waterfowl and shorebirds. 15
10 The project plan actively restores or creates a diversity of water depth areas (3 or more) where at least 60% of the surface area is < 6" deep, and no area exceeds a 6' depth. (All projects must meet practice code 646 Shallow Water Management for Wildlife specifications). 15
11 Project plan actively restores, or significantly enhances or creates vegetative habitats (woody riparian species) for migratory avian passerine species. 15
12 Project plan contains measures and management to insure access by large wildlife species and restricts or excludes domestic livestock if present. (if no livestock is or will be present check Yes) 15
13 Any planting plan or expected regeneration is/ has been developed utilizing/ or encourages only ecologically appropriate native species. (only answer ONE from 13 OR 14). 30
14 This 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 13 OR 14). 5
15 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
16 This project will be closed out with all contract items completed and paid in three years or less 35
 

Maximum Points:  310     Total Points

 360

Local Issues:

Scoring Multiplier: 1.00
Scoring Ranges and Results Text:

High: 115 - 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 has a benefit to a plant species identified as a local priority. 15
5 This project addresses locally identified noxious or invasive species of concern 20
6 This project occurs in, or within three miles of, a locally identified special ecological management area. 25
 

Maximum Points:  115      Total Points

 115


< Back to WHIP>