The information on this page is for Technical Staff throughout GBERBA pertaining to the active grants available for members through GBERBA. Please contact Becky Buchholz if any updates are needed.
Cost-Share Contract Workflows
Conservation Contract Workbook Workflow
NRCS Technical Flow Chart
Who can sign for Technical Authority Flow Chart
Soil Health Grant #43 (expires 5/1/2026)
Grant Policy (Updated 8-2024)
Acquiring Grant Funds Procedure
Tier 1 & Tier 2 Area Map – Updated 8-2024
Tier 1 & 2 Shapefiles
Incentive Contract and Voucher (For CRP Incentive through Grant #43)
Please use the Cost Share Contract Workbook through the BWSR website for all other flat-rate contracts here
CRP State Incentive Pilot Program Grant #44 (expires 12/31/2025) – ALL funds encumbered, please use Grant #46
Grant Policy
Incentive Contract and Voucher – Grant #44 (Please use this contract and voucher for Grant #44)
Tennessen Warning – GBERBA (Please use this Tennessen Warning for all contracts)
IRS – W-9 (Please use this W-9 form for all contracts)
Priority B Ranking Sheet – Cost-Benefit Included (Please use this Ranking Sheet)
Priority A & B Bid process:
Priority A: All Priority A sites are eligible to submit a bid and will be considered vetted. Please complete the following:
1. Please complete the bottom portion of the Ranking Sheet with the landowner’s bid amount, the CRP1 rental rate, contract years, and contract acres.
2. Include a map
3. Include a copy of the CRP1
Priority B: All other area that are not Priority A sites are eligible to submit a bid, but will go through a ranking process with the CRP Subcommittee for final approval. Please submit offer material by the last Friday of each month. Please complete the following:
1. Please complete the entire Priority B Ranking Sheet
2. Include a map
3. Include a copy of the CRP1
The CRP Subcommittee will review all Priority A and B offers submitted for final acceptance before the end of the month. For example, if the CRP contract is expected to start October 1st, please submit offers by the last Friday in September or if the start date is November 1st, please submit by the last Friday in October. If you can’t meet these deadlines please contact Becky Buchholz so we have record of contact prior to the CRP start date.
Watonwan Watershed Watershed Based Implementation Funds (WBIF) 2.0 Grant #45 (expires 12/31/2026)
Grant Policy – 6-15-2026
Acquiring Grant Funds Procedure
Please use the Cost Share Contract Workbook through the BWSR website for all other flat-rate or percent-based contracts here
Incentive Contract and Voucher – SSTS Incentive (Please use this incentive contract and voucher for any SSTS Incentives, there are spots pre-filled for your convenience)
Tennessen Warning – GBERBA (All Flat-rate and Incentive contracts are required to have a Tennessen Warning filled out)
IRS – W-9 (All Flate-rate and Incentive contracts are required to have a W9 filled out)
SSTS Incentive eligibility sheet (SSTS Incentive Eligibility Sheet)
Ranking Sheet (Please use this Ranking sheet for all Percent-Based and Flat-Rate contract eligibility) – updated 6-15-2026 to include cover crops as percentage based
Process for obtaining incentive or cost-share funds:
Flat-rate or Percent Based Contracts:
1. Districts should fill out the Ranking Sheet, projects scoring 41 or more points are eligible for contract.
2. Complete the BWSR Cost-Share Contract Workbook for the appropriate Flat or Percent based contract. Contact GBERBA staff if you need assistance filling it out. Failure to complete a contract correctly could result in new paperwork being needed.
3. Bring to your SWCD Board meeting first for recommendation to GBERBA for funding. Do NOT sign the contract on the Administrative signature line.
a. Once approved please send your completed contract and other documents (design, cost estimate, maps, NRCS documentation, etc) to Kay Gross
4. GBERBA staff will bring your completed contract through the GBERBA Tech Committee and either GBERBA Policy or Executive for final approval.
5. GBERBA staff will email a letterhead and copy of the executed contract to the SWCD, this contract can now start incurring costs. Incurring any costs prior to a fully executed contract will result in ineligibility.
SSTS Incentive Contracts:
1. Districts/County should fill out the SSTS Incentive Eligibility Form.
2. Eligible SSTS should complete the Incentive Contract and Voucher for SSTS (see forms above), W9, and Tennessen Warning.
3. Bring to your SWCD Board meeting first for recommendation to GBERBA for funding. Do NOT sign the contract on the Administrative signature line.
4. Once approved please send your completed contract to Kay Gross along with the SSTS Eligibility Form, W9, Tennessen, Map, IPHT or FTPGW documentation (existing compliance inspection, homeowner testimony forms, disclosures, etc)
5. GBERBA staff will bring your completed contract through the GBERBA Tech Committee and either GBERBA Policy or Executive for final approval.
6. GBERBA staff will email a letterhead and copy of the executed contract to the SWCD, this contract can now start incurring costs. Incurring any costs prior to a fully executed contract will result in ineligibility.
Vouchers:
1. Once the project is installed and completed, please complete the applicable voucher in the Cost-Share Contract Workbook or the SSTS Incentive Voucher.
2. Bring the voucher to your SWCD Board meeting first for recommendation to GBERBA for payment. Do NOT sign the voucher on the Administrative signature line.
3. Once approved please send you completed voucher to Kay Gross along with other pertinent documentation (as-builts, NRCS checkout forms, seed tags, checkout certification forms, BEAST pollution reductions, SSTS COC, etc as applicable). Failure to submit all necessary documentation may result in delay of landowner payment!
4. GBERBA staff will bring your completed voucher through GBERBA Tech Committee and either GBERBA Policy or Executive for final payment approval.
5. GBERBA staff will mail a letterhead and check to the District to disburse to contract holder.
CRP State Incentive Program Grant #46 (expires 12/31/2026)
Grant Policy
Acquiring Grant Funds Procedure – CRP Incentive
Incentive Contract and Voucher – Grant #44 (Please use this contract and voucher for Grant #46)
Tennessen Warning – GBERBA (Please use this Tennessen Warning for all contracts)
IRS – W-9 (Please use this W-9 form for all contracts)
Priority B Ranking Sheet – Cost-Benefit Included (Please use this Ranking Sheet)
FSA Information Release Form – Consider this information release form so you have access to the CRP file information
Priority A & B Bid process:
Priority A: All Priority A sites are eligible to submit a bid and will be considered vetted. Please complete the following:
1. Please complete the bottom portion of the Ranking Sheet with the landowner’s bid amount, the CRP1 rental rate, contract years, and contract acres.
2. Include a map
3. Include a copy of the CRP1
Priority B: All other area that are not Priority A sites are eligible to submit a bid, but will go through a ranking process with the CRP Subcommittee for final approval. Please submit offer material by the last Friday of each month. Please complete the following:
1. Please complete the entire Priority B Ranking Sheet
2. Include a map
3. Include a copy of the CRP1
The CRP Subcommittee will review all Priority A and B offers submitted for final acceptance before the end of the month. For example, if the CRP contract is expected to start October 1st, please submit offers by the last Friday in September or if the start date is November 1st, please submit by the last Friday in October. If you can’t meet these deadlines please contact Becky Buchholz so we have record of contact prior to the CRP start date. Upon approval or denial, GBERBA staff will notify Districts.
Pollution Reduction Reporting for Watonwan Watershed Grants
Please use the BEAST Excel Workbooks for pollution reduction reporting for Watonwan Watershed Grants or other GBERBA grants with BEAST available. If BEAST is not available for that watershed, then use another pollution reduction estimator.
Contact Becky Buchholz for BEAST Spreadsheets if you need them.
Watonwan 1W1P BEAST Pollution Reduction Reporting Guidance
Helpful Shapefiles
Watonwan Priority Resource Catchments Shapefile – zipped folder
Priority Lakes Buffer shapefile – zipped folder
Watonwan 1W1P Planning Regions Shapefile – zipped folder
MS4Front Data Entry for Watonwan Watershed Partners
Please enter in all WBIF, Other Funded activities, and Education/Outreach projects/practices/events/etc in the Watonwan Watershed MS4Front Tracker that contribute towards our goals. Partner staff have received log in information for this purpose. If you have misplaced your information or need to add new staff please contact Becky Buchholz for access.
GBERBA staff are asking our partners to please update MS4Front annually by March 31st with Other Funded Projects and Education/Outreach. This includes activities such as local cost-share projects, easement acquisition, habitat contracts, education and outreach, and anything else that contributes towards the Watonwan Watershed Comprehensive Plan goals.
MS4Front Log in Page MS4Front Log in Link
Helpful Reporting Guidance for entering information into MS4Front:
Watonwan Watershed MS4Front Data entry Procedures
Appendix A – Watonwan CWMP Practice Codes & Reporting Cheatsheet
Education – Outreach Table cheatsheet