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The federal government gave more than $140,000 to Moffat County in 2005 for conservation projects.

The money funded work that included watershed and irrigation projects.

Conservation groups gathered for a workshop in Craig on Wednesday to discuss what projects the federal government will fund in 2006.

"Our intent is to have local input decide conservational programming rather than have the government dictate rules and where money goes," said Rick Stephenson of the U.S. Department of Agriculture's Natural Resources Conservation Services.

The Colorado First Conservation District Board and the Natural Resources Conservation Services staff met to discuss the Environmental Quality Incentive Program.

Stephenson said the meeting was meant to look at the way money was being allocated for local conservation projects.

Colorado First is a local work group that works closely with the NRCS, Stephenson said.

"It's a long-term relationship," he said. "Our mission is to assist private landowners."

The 1996 Farm Bill initiated the EQIP and the Wildlife Habitat Incentives Program. The 2002 Farm Bill reauthorized both.

According to the NRCS Web site, the programs are meant to provide a voluntary conservation program for farmers and ranchers that promotes agricultural production and environmental quality as compatible national goals.

At the meeting, Stephenson mentioned different applications for funding in Moffat County.

He said that last year, Moffat County put in 17 applications for watershed funding but was granted only eight contracts.

"A major portion of the watershed funds went to grazing land," Stephenson said.

He said the group's second biggest priority was irrigation, a popular topic at Wednesday's meeting.

Stephenson said that he was aware of a dozen cases of center-pivot irrigation in Moffat County.

Center pivot is an irrigation technique that is used for flat land watering.

He added that providing funds for center-pivot irrigation will make it more attractive to local farmers.

"The more we improve preservation efforts, the better off we are going to be," Stephenson said.