Planning and Documentation Guidance for Development of Conservation Plans

Note:  The following guidance should help you in plan development and documentation. It is not intended to replace the National Planning Procedures Handbook (NPPH) and other Handbooks or Manuals used in the planning process.

1. Resource Setting.  The resource setting should provide an overview of the planning site. It will include items such as land use, climatic conditions, soils, irrigation system, crop rotation, tillage operations, use of fertilizer, animal waste and pesticides, and livestock operations as examples. A good resource setting will help determine which Conservation System Guide to use in the planning process. A Resource Setting template can be accessed through the electronic CPA-52.

2. Maps.  Conservation plan maps need to include property and field borders, field numbers, acres, HEL/NHEL/Wetland determinations and land use. Conservation plans that include structural practices, such as a pipeline and water facility should show the approximate location of the practice on the conservation plan map. Map legends need to describe practices and features of the map such as soil map units on the soils map and threatened or endangered species of concern on the conservation data center map. Refer to the NPPH – 600.31(8) for details on map content and formatting.

3. Conservation Assistance Notes.  Assistance notes should describe and document the planning and application process. Assistance notes are to be dated and include the initials of the person who provided assistance.

4. Field Resource Inventory Worksheet.  The case file needs to include documentation of the resource inventory. The Field Resource Inventory Worksheet can be used to record observations and producer concerns during the field visit. The use of this worksheet is optional. Planning and Implementation (P&I) Notes, a resource inventory map, aerial photographs, etc are also acceptable for documenting resource concerns or opportunities.

5. CPA-52. The CPA-52 Sections A through F are used to record the client name, objective, land use, resource concerns, planning level, currently applied practices, planned practices and additional practices (RMS Alternative) needed when the selected plan is at the progressive level.

6. CPA-52 No Action and Alternative Effects.  Effects information needs to describe what is happening with the no action and proposed action alternatives. The following are examples of how effects information in Sections H, I and K could read: Note: The RMS Alternative column is not shown. If the proposed action will not meet quality criteria for all identified resource concerns, an RMS Alternative needs to be developed and effects information shown.

Section H – Resource Consideration Effects

Section I – Economic and Social Consideration Effects

Section K – Special Environmental Consideration Effects. Note: The CPA-52 is hot linked to Guide Sheets that will provide you with guidance on evaluating most of the special environmental considerations.

7. System Narrative.  The system narrative provides the land user information on how planned practices work together to solve identified resource concerns and meets his/her planning objectives. If the selected plan does not meet quality criteria for all identified resource concerns, it is a progressive plan. The narrative will indicate which resource concerns are not meeting quality criteria. NRCS policy states that when the producer’s selected plan will not address all resource concerns, an RMS Alternative will be developed and provided to the producer. A system narrative for the RMS alternative will be completed when the selected plan is at the progressive level. A System Narrative template can be accessed through the electronic CPA-52.
8. Evaluation worksheets.  Worksheets help determine when a resource concern does not meet quality criteria for the benchmark. They are also used to determine if planned practices will bring identified resource concerns to the quality criteria level. Common evaluations we see in folders include RUSLE2, SISL, Water Quality Indicator Guides, Wind Erosion Equation and Wildlife Habitat Appraisal Guide, Idaho Pest Management Worksheet and the Idaho Nutrient Transport Risk Assessment (INTRA). Idaho’s Quality Criteria provides a list of evaluation tools that can be used for each resource concern.
9. Conservation Plan.  Practices in the conservation plan should be the same as those shown on the CPA-52 – Proposed Action Column.
10. Practice Narratives.  Practice narratives need to provide enough detail that the producer knows what is expected when applying practices. Basic ToolKit narrative should be modified to fit the planning site. For example, Conservation Crop Rotation should include the crops that will be included in the rotation. Irrigation Water Management should refer the producer to an IWM plan or to the IWM Job Sheet. Pest management needs to refer to the WinPST interpretation and identify mitigating practices. Upland Wildlife Habitat Management needs to include species benefited, habitat created, enhanced or restored (nesting habitat for upland birds, winter cover, food, etc.). Fence should describe the type of fence installed and refer the producer a specification.

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