Initiatives

Riparian Quality Enhancement Initiative (RQEI)

The Riparian Quality Enhancement Initiative (RQEI) is an initiative that seeks to help landowners improve riparian health, land profitability, and wildlife habitat. In partnership with the Kansas Forest Service, the Division of Conservation is offering financial and technical service for forestry practices for Kansas Landowners. The RQEI will be open to KACD/SCC Areas III, IV and V.

How It Works

Landowners who are interested should complete an application in consultation with their district forester and conservation district manager. Applications are accepted on a continual basis and will be ranked at the end of every month. Landowners will have until May of the following year after enrolling in RQEI to complete the cost-share practices. Landowners are eligible for 80% cost-share up to an annual landowner limit of $10,000. Projects will be certified as complete by the district forester prior to payment.

Eligible Practices

Forestry Practices

• 666 - Forest Stand Improvement
• 490 - Tree/Shrub Site Preparation
• 660 - Tree/Shrub Pruning
• 612 - Tree/Shrub Establishment
• 391 - Riparian Forest buffer
• 315 - Herbaceous Weed Control
• 340 - Cover Crop

Structural Practices

• 018 - Streambank Stabilization
• 019 - Channel Bed Stabilization

Note: Cover Crop practice will be to provide cover for new tree plantings.

Eligible Counties

Kansas Sediment & Nutrient Reduction Initiative (KSNRI)

As part of the ongoing effort to reduce sedimentation and nutrient runoff, the Riparian and Wetlands Program is offering an incentive payment to producers who install the approved Conservation Reserve Program (CRP) practices listed below. Producers who have property within a Tier 1 area are eligible for a one-time payment of $225/acres and those producers with property in Tier 2 areas are eligible for a one-time payment of $162.50/acre. Please contact your local Conservation District for more information.

The following counties have areas that may qualify for the incentive payments:

• Atchison
• Brown
• Chase
• Clay
• Cloud
• Coffey
• Dickinson
• Douglas
• Ellis
• Geary
• Harvey
• Jackson
• Jefferson
• Lyon
• Marion
• Marshall
• McPherson
• Morris
• Nemaha
• Osage
• Pottawatomie
• Reno
• Republic
• Rice
• Riley
• Saline
• Shawnee
• Wabaunsee
• Washington

Eligible CRP Practices

1. CP-8A, Grassed Waterway
2. CP-9, Shallow Water Areas for Wildlife
3. CP-21, Filter Strips
4. CP-22, Riparian Forest Buffer
5. CP-23, Wetland Restoration
6. CP-27, Improvements to Farmable Wetlands
7. CP-28, Farmable Wetland Buffers
8. CP-31, Bottomland Hardwood Timber Establishment
9. CP-33, Upland Bird Habitat Buffers

Wetland Development

Often overlooked, wetlands provide a unique resource for water quality, water availability, and wildlife habitat. Through the Riparian and Wetland Program, the Division of Conservation provides financial assistance to landowners who want to develop or rejuvenate existing wetlands.  Landowners are eligible for 80% cost-share to a limit of $10,000 for earthwork and vegetation in these projects.

Through this portion of the program, the Division of Conservation works with partners such as Ducks Unlimited and Playa Lakes Joint Venture to promote playa conservation in western Kansas. These shallow and seasonally dry wetlands provide habitat for many species and serve as a source of recharge for the Ogallala Aquifer.

Please contact your local conservation district or the Division of Conservation if you would like more information on financial assistance for wetlands.