Ranching for Rivers
![MACD MACD](https://www.mtwatersheds.org/wp-content/uploads/2022/08/MACD.png)
Montana Association of Conservation Districts
Ranching for Rivers is a cost-share program designed to assist landowners protecting riparian health through improved ranching practices. Through the Montana Department of Environmental Quality, Ranching for Rivers offers 50% cost-share for fencing material, off-site water infrastructure, and developing grazing management plans. Funding is also available for Conservation Districts and Watershed Groups to provide technical assistance on ranching management projects to local landowners in their area.
- Riparian pasture projects must be located on water bodies listed by DEQ as impaired by sediment, nutrients, E-coli, or habitat alterations, or contributing such pollution to an impaired waterbody downstream. The list of impaired water bodies can be found on: Montana 2020 Impaired Waters
- Projects must be completed by October 31st, 2025
Match: 50% non federal match must be recorded and reported to MACD along with final project expenses and reporting. Match may include:
- Dollars provided by other non-federal grants used to complete the project
- Dollars provided directly by the landowner.
- Time & labor costs by associated with project installation Time & labor costs by associated with project installation (see DEQ’s Estimation the Value Of Volunteer Labor)
- Assistance & administrative time costs by a Conservation District, Watershed Group, or partner group not already being charged directly to the Ranching for Rivers program.
The Ranching for Rivers Program also includes partial funding for reimbursing CD & Watershed Groups for staff time associated with the program. Timesheets will be provided to the designated affiliate upon application acceptance for tracking project time and accomplishments. Timesheets and request for reimbursement can be reported following project completion.
- Aiding landowners in developing an application
- Aiding in Scope of Work/Contract/ Operations & Maintenance forms, and obtaining signatures
- Project site visitation for pre- and post-project evaluation & photos
- Calculating Load Reduction Estimations
- Final project reporting
First call for applications closes January 30th. After that applications will be accepted on a rolling basis January – September, 2023