Funding available for agricultural producers to implement irrigation efficiency projects in the Lower Gunnison Basin. May 11, 2018, Glenwood Springs, CO-The Colorado River District is pleased to announce a $1.7M funding opportunity to support quali fied applicants for construction of irrigation efficiency improvement projects in the Lower Gunnison Project area. Qualified project fund ing requests that address identified natural resource concerns within the Bostwick Park, Paonia, Smith Fork, and Uncompahgre Project areas ill be accepted through June 15, 2018, for funding consideration to complete final designs and for construction implementation This funding opportunity is an expansion of on-going, cooperatively managed activities, made possible by the Colorado River District in conjunction with local partners and with funding from the Natural Re- ources Conservation Service (NRCS) for on-farm improvements, such s conversion to pressurized sprinklers and high efficiency irrigation systems Successful applicants should have an approved Conservation Activity Plan (CAP) to be eligible to receive financial assistance to complete fi- nal design and installation of advanced irrigation systems that address identified natural resource concerns of increasing water availability improving water quality, and/or improving habitat and soil health. For example, such projects that improve: water use efficiency, reduce salinity and selenium concentrations in the river, utilize cover crop- ping to improve soil conditions, and/or projects that improve aquatic habitat conditions for threatened and/or endangered fish species will be accepted for competitive ranking and possible partial funding. Interested landowners with an approved NRCS CAP can obtain and ubmit applications, and/or receive more information by contacting Gunnison River Basin website: www.gunnisonbasin.org/LGP .Bert Earle, Shavano Conservation District, 102 Par Place, Suite 4, Montrose, CO 8140/ Phone (970) 964-3584 Ext. 115 Suzie Bilberry or Shana Harness, Delta Conservation District (690 Industrial Boulevard, Delta, CO 81416/ Phone (970) 399-8194 (Email: deltaconservationd@gmail.com) Sonja Chavez, Colorado River District/Phone: 970-596-4066 All monetary awards are contingent upon funding availability from USDA-NRCS processes and procedures and eligibility determination This funding opportunity complies with the rules and regulations of the Natural Resources Conservation Service Environmental Quality Incentives Program (EQIP) and is open to all eligible agricultural pro ducers without discrimination or bias.