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National Conservation Practice Standards - NHCP

The table below is the current list of National conservation practices in alphabetical order by practice name, with the practice code in parentheses.  The table contains links to the practice standard (available in either Portable Document Format (PDF) or MS-Word), a conservation practice information sheet and the Conservation Practice Physical Effects (CPPE) worksheet for most practices, and to job sheets for a limited number of conservation practices.

The last column contains national templates for Statements of Work associated with each conservation practice. These national templates are provided in MS-Word and are for modification and adaptation by the NRCS State Offices.

These Statements of Work outline deliverables for all conservation practices in the National Handbook of Conservation Practices (NHCP), as well as for comprehensive nutrient management plan development, conservation planning, and cultural resources compliance activities.

There are five additional national templates for Statements of Work that are not directly associated with conservation practices: 1) Conservation Planning, 2) Comprehensive Nutrient Management Planning, 3) Cultural Resources Archival Research, 4) Cultural Resources Identification Surveys and 5) Cultural Resources Evaluations.

NOTICE - National Conservation Practice standards should not be used to plan, design or install a conservation practice. You must have the conservation practice standard developed by the state in which you are working to insure that you meet all state and local criteria, which may be more restrictive than national criteria.

State Conservation practice standards are available through the Field Office Technical Guide (FOTG). If no state conservation practice standard is available in the FOTG, you should contact the appropriate State Office or your local USDA Service Center.

The national statement of work templates are to be used only by NRCS state offices to develop a statement of work for each state conservation practice standard.  The state-specific statement of work documents are available through the Field Office Technical Guide (FOTG). If no statement of work is available in the FOTG for the conservation practice in question, you should contact the appropriate State Office or your local USDA Service Center.

The conservation practice standard contains information on why and where the practice is applied, and sets forth the minimum quality criteria that must be met during the application of that practice in order for it to achieve its intended purpose(s).

The conservation practice information sheet contains a photograph of the installed practice, plus a definition or description of the practice, where it is commonly used and a brief description of the conservation effects of this practice when it is properly applied.

The conservation practice physical effects (CPPE) document provides guidance on how the application of that practice will affect the resources (soil, water, air, plants, animals and human) and the resource concerns associated with each of those resources. The worksheet that is on the server reflects the best estimate of the effects, either positive or negative, of that practice on the resource concerns. States are expected to edit the worksheet to show the actual effects of applying that practice in their state.  The CPPE documents linked to this page are derived from the National CPPE spreadsheet.

The conservation practice job sheets provide detailed guidance on the application of the practice, and contain worksheets that can be used to document the practice plan and design for a specific site.

The National Handbook of Conservation Practices notices transmit updated or new National conservation practice standards.

Some of the documents require Acrobat Reader, if it is not already installed on your computer.

If your browser does not support tables, you may download the files directly from the FTP server. They are available as PDF files or MS-Word files.  You will need to know the conservation practice number (code) to recognize the correct file to download.

Conservation Practice Name (Units) (Code) (Date Issued)

Standard

Conservation Practice Information Sheet

CPPE Worksheet

Job Sheet

National Statement of Work Template

PDF

Word 

PDF or Word

Above Ground, Multi-Outlet Pipeline (Ft.) (431) (8/06) PDF DOC PDF DOC   DOC
Access Control (Ac.) (472) (5/08) PDF DOC PDF DOC DOC DOC
Access Road (Ft.) (560) (10/03) PDF DOC PDF DOC   DOC
Agrichemical Handling Facility (No.) (309) (2/08) PDF DOC PDF DOC   DOC
Alley Cropping (Ac.) (311) (1/06) PDF DOC   DOC DOC DOC
Amendments for the Treatment of Agricultural Waste (AU) (591) (4/05) PDF DOC   DOC    
Anaerobic Digester, Ambient Temperature (No.) (365) (9/03) PDF DOC DOC DOC
Anaerobic Digester, Controlled Temperature (No.) (366) (9/03) PDF DOC

DOC DOC
Animal Mortality Facility (No.) (316) (3/03) PDF DOC DOC DOC
Animal Trails and Walkways (Ft.) (575) (11/02) PDF DOC PDF DOC DOC
Anionic Polyacrylamide (PAM) Erosion Control (Ac.) (450) (3/01) PDF DOC DOC DOC
Aquaculture Ponds (Ac.) (397) (3/03) PDF DOC PDF DOC DOC
Atmospheric Resource Quality Management (Ac.) (370) (9/03) PDF DOC DOC DOC
Bedding (Ac.) (310) (3/03) PDF DOC PDF DOC DOC
Brush Management (Ac.) (314) (12/03) PDF DOC PDF DOC DOC
Channel Bank Vegetation (Ac.) (322) (11/02) PDF DOC PDF DOC DOC
Channel Stabilization (Ft.) (584) (7/02) PDF DOC PDF DOC DOC
Clearing and Snagging (Ft.) (326) (11/02) PDF DOC PDF DOC DOC
Closure of Waste Impoundments (No.) (360) (2/05) PDF DOC DOC DOC
Composting Facility (No.) (317) (10/03) PDF DOC PDF DOC DOC
Conservation Cover (Ac.) (327) (6/07) PDF DOC PDF DOC DOC
Conservation Crop Rotation (Ac.) (328) (2/00) PDF DOC PDF DOC DOC
Constructed Wetland (Ac.) (656) (5/08) PDF DOC DOC DOC
Contour Buffer Strips (Ac.) (332) (6/07) PDF DOC PDF DOC DOC DOC
Contour Farming (Ac.) (330) (6/07) PDF DOC PDF DOC DOC
Contour Orchard and Other Fruit Area (Ac.) (331) (3/03) PDF DOC PDF DOC DOC
Cover Crop (Ac.) (340) (5/06) PDF DOC PDF DOC DOC
Critical Area Planting (Ac.) (342) (6/07) PDF DOC PDF DOC DOC
Cross Wind Ridges (Ac.) (588) (9/08) PDF DOC PDF DOC DOC DOC
Cross Wind Trap Strips (Ac.) (589C) (2/05) PDF DOC PDF DOC DOC DOC
Dam, Diversion (No.) (348) (4/02) PDF DOC PDF DOC DOC
Dam (No. and Ac-Ft) (402) (7/02) PDF DOC PDF DOC DOC
Deep Tillage (Ac.) (324) (11/08) PDF DOC DOC DOC DOC
Dike (Ft.) (356) (11/02) PDF DOC PDF DOC DOC
Diversion (Ft.) (362) (9/01) PDF DOC PDF DOC DOC
Drainage Water Management (Ac.) (554) (9/08) PDF DOC PDF DOC   DOC
Dry Hydrant (No.) (432) (3/99) PDF DOC DOC DOC
Early Successional Habitat Development/Management (Ac.) (647) (8/05) PDF DOC DOC DOC
Feed Management (No. of Systems and AUs Affected) (592) (9/03) PDF DOC DOC DOC
Fence (Ft.) (382) (2/08) PDF DOC PDF DOC DOC
Field Border (Ft.) (386) (6/07) PDF DOC PDF DOC DOC DOC
Filter Strip (Ac.) (393) (5/08) PDF DOC PDF DOC DOC DOC
Firebreak (Ft.) (394) (4/05) PDF DOC DOC DOC
Fish Passage (Mi.) (396) (8/06) PDF DOC DOC DOC
Fish Raceway or Tank (Ft. and Ft3) (398) (9/03) PDF DOC PDF DOC DOC
Fishpond Management (Ac.) (399) (8/06) PDF DOC PDF DOC DOC
Forage Harvest Management (Ac.) (511) (12/03) PDF DOC PDF DOC DOC
Forest Slash Treatment (Ac.) (384) (4/05) PDF DOC   DOC    
Forest Stand Improvement (Ac.) (666) (1/06) PDF DOC PDF DOC DOC
Forest Trails and Landings (Ac.) (655) (1/06) PDF DOC PDF DOC DOC
Fuel Break (Ac.) (383) (4/05) PDF DOC   DOC    
Grade Stabilization Structure (No.) (410) (10/85) PDF DOC PDF DOC DOC
Grassed Waterway (Ac.) (412) (9/08) PDF DOC PDF DOC DOC DOC
Grazing Land Mechanical Treatment (Ac.) (548) (3/03) PDF DOC DOC DOC
Heavy Use Area Protection (Ac.) (561) (10/03) PDF DOC PDF DOC DOC
Hedgerow Planting (Ft.) (422) (10/03) PDF DOC PDF DOC DOC
Herbaceous Wind Barriers (Ft.) (603) (10/03) PDF DOC PDF DOC DOC DOC
Hillside Ditch (Ft.) (423) (5/08) PDF DOC PDF DOC DOC
Irrigation Canal or Lateral (Ft.) (320) (3/03) PDF DOC PDF DOC DOC
Irrigation Field Ditch (Ft.) (388) (3/03) PDF DOC PDF DOC DOC
Irrigation Land Leveling (Ac.) (464) (9/01) PDF DOC PDF DOC DOC
Irrigation Regulating Reservoir (No.) (552) (7/02) PDF DOC PDF DOC DOC
Irrigation Storage Reservoir (No. and Ac-Ft) (436) (7/02) PDF DOC PDF DOC DOC
Irrigation System, Microirrigation (No. and Ac.) (441) (8/06) PDF DOC PDF DOC DOC
Irrigation System, Sprinkler (No. and Ac.) (442) (12/03) PDF DOC PDF DOC DOC
Irrigation System, Surface and Subsurface (No. and Ac.) (443) (3/03) PDF DOC PDF DOC DOC
Irrigation System, Tailwater Recovery (No.) (447) (6/07) PDF DOC PDF DOC DOC
Irrigation Water Conveyance, Ditch and Canal Lining, Flexible Membrane (Ft.) (428B) (12/03) PDF DOC PDF DOC DOC
Irrigation Water Conveyance, Ditch and Canal Lining, Galvanized Steel (Ft.) (428C) (3/03) PDF DOC PDF DOC DOC
Irrigation Water Conveyance, Ditch and Canal Lining,  Plain Concrete (Ft.) (428A) (3/03) PDF DOC PDF DOC DOC
Irrigation Water Conveyance, Pipeline, Aluminum Tubing  (Ft.) (430AA) (10/78) PDF DOC PDF DOC DOC
Irrigation Water Conveyance, Pipeline, Asbestos-Cement (Ft.) (430BB) (4/82) PDF DOC DOC DOC
Irrigation Water Conveyance, Pipeline, High-Pressure, Underground, Plastic (Ft.) (430DD) (5/88) PDF DOC PDF DOC DOC
Irrigation Water Conveyance, Pipeline, Low-Pressure, Underground, Plastic (Ft.) (430EE) (5/88) PDF DOC PDF DOC DOC
Irrigation Water Conveyance, Pipeline, Nonreinforced Concrete (Ft.) (430CC) (6/84) PDF DOC PDF DOC DOC
Irrigation Water Conveyance, Pipeline, Reinforced Plastic Mortar (Ft.) (430GG) (4/82) PDF DOC DOC DOC
Irrigation Water Conveyance, Pipeline, Steel (Ft.) (430FF) (10/78) PDF DOC PDF DOC DOC
Irrigation Water Management (Ac.) (449) (2/05) PDF DOC PDF DOC DOC
Land Clearing (Ac.) (460) (9/03) PDF DOC PDF DOC DOC
Land Reclamation, Landslide Treatment (No. and Ac) (453) (2/05) PDF DOC DOC DOC
Land Reclamation, Toxic Discharge Control (No.) (455) (4/05) PDF DOC PDF DOC DOC
Land Reclamation, Abandoned Mined Land (Ac.) (543) (8/06) PDF DOC PDF DOC DOC
Land Reclamation, Currently Mined Land (Ac.) (544) (8/06) PDF DOC PDF DOC DOC
Land Smoothing (Ac.) (466) (7/02) PDF DOC PDF DOC DOC
Lined Waterway or Outlet (Ft.) (468) (7/02) PDF DOC PDF DOC DOC
Mine Shaft and Adit Closing (No.) (457) (2/05) PDF DOC PDF DOC DOC
Mole Drain (Ft.) (482) (3/03) PDF DOC DOC DOC
Monitoring Well (No.) (353) (9/03) PDF DOC DOC DOC
Mulching (Ac.) (484) (9/08) PDF DOC PDF DOC DOC
Multi-Story Cropping (Ac.) (379) (1/06) PDF DOC   DOC    
Nutrient Management (Ac.) (590) (8/06) PDF DOC PDF DOC PDF DOC
Obstruction Removal (Ac.) (500) (4/02) PDF DOC PDF DOC DOC
Open Channel (Ft.) (582) (10/87) PDF DOC PDF DOC DOC
Pasture and Hay Planting (Ac.) (512) (9/03) PDF DOC PDF DOC DOC
Pest Management (Ac.) (595) (3/01) PDF DOC PDF DOC
PDF
DOC
Pipeline (Ft.) (516) (8/00) PDF DOC PDF DOC DOC
Pond (No.) (378) (7/02) PDF DOC PDF DOC DOC
Pond Sealing or Lining, Bentonite Sealant (No.) (521C) (9/01) PDF DOC PDF DOC DOC
Pond Sealing or Lining, Compacted Clay Treatment (No.) (521D) (2/05) PDF DOC   DOC    
Pond Sealing or Lining, Flexible Membrane (No.) (521A) (8/06) PDF DOC PDF DOC DOC
Pond Sealing or Lining, Soil Dispersant (No.) (521B) (9/01) PDF DOC PDF DOC DOC
Precision Land Forming (Ac.) (462) (7/02) PDF DOC PDF DOC DOC
Prescribed Burning (Ac.) (338) (1/06) PDF DOC PDF DOC DOC
Prescribed Forestry (Ac.) (409) (5/06) PDF DOC        
Prescribed Grazing (Ac.) (528) (6/07) PDF DOC PDF DOC DOC
Pumping Plant (No.) (533) (7/02) PDF DOC PDF DOC DOC
Range Planting (Ac.) (550) (10/03) PDF DOC PDF DOC DOC
Recreation Area Improvement (Ac.) (562) (10/77) PDF DOC PDF DOC DOC
Recreation Land Grading and Shaping (Ac.) (566) (4/02) PDF DOC PDF DOC DOC
Recreation Trail and Walkway (Ft.) (568) (4/02) PDF DOC PDF DOC DOC
Residue and Tillage Management, Mulch Till (Ac.) (345) (8/05) PDF DOC PDF DOC PDF DOC
Residue and Tillage Management, No-Till/Strip Till/Direct Seed (Ac.) (329) (5/06) PDF DOC PDF DOC PDF DOC
Residue and Tillage Management, Ridge Till (Ac.) (346) (8/05) PDF DOC PDF DOC DOC
Residue Management, Seasonal (Ac.) (344) (9/08) PDF DOC PDF DOC DOC
Restoration and Management of Rare and Declining Habitats (Ac.) (643) (8/05) PDF DOC DOC DOC
Riparian Forest Buffer (Ac.) (391) (1/06) PDF DOC PDF DOC DOC DOC
Riparian Herbaceous Cover (Ac.) (390) (8/05) PDF DOC DOC DOC
Road/Trail/Landing Closure and Treatment (Ft.) (654) (11/08) PDF DOC   DOC   DOC
Rock Barrier (Ft.) (555) (7/02) PDF DOC PDF DOC DOC
Roof Runoff Structure (No.) (558) (9/01) PDF DOC PDF DOC DOC
Row Arrangement (Ac.) (557) (11/02) PDF DOC PDF DOC DOC
Runoff Management System (No. and Ac.) (570) (10/78) PDF DOC PDF DOC DOC
Salinity and Sodic Soil Management (Ac.) (610) (5/04) PDF DOC   DOC DOC
Sediment Basin (No.) (350) (9/03) PDF DOC PDF DOC DOC
Shallow Water Development and Management (Ac.) (646)(8/05) PDF DOC DOC DOC
Silvopasture Establishment (Ac.) (381) (5/06) PDF DOC   DOC DOC
Sinkhole and Sinkhole Area Treatment (No.) (527) (6/07) PDF DOC   DOC    
Solid/Liquid Waste Separation Facility (No.) (632) (4/05) PDF DOC   DOC    
Spoil Spreading (Ac.) (572) (9/03) PDF DOC PDF DOC DOC
Spring Development (No.) (574) (5/06) PDF DOC PDF DOC DOC
Streambank and Shoreline Protection (Ft.) (580) (4/05) PDF DOC PDF DOC DOC
Stream Crossing (No.) (578) (12/03) PDF DOC   DOC   DOC
Stream Habitat Improvement and Management (Ac.) (395) (8/06) PDF DOC DOC DOC
Stripcropping (Ac.) (585) (9/08) PDF DOC PDF DOC DOC
Structure for Water Control (No.) (587) (12/03) PDF DOC PDF DOC DOC
Subsurface Drain (Ft.) (606) (9/03) PDF DOC PDF DOC DOC
Surface Drainage, Field Ditch (Ft.) (607) (3/03) PDF DOC PDF DOC DOC
Surface Drainage, Main or Lateral (Ft.) (608) (7/02) PDF DOC PDF DOC DOC
Surface Roughening (Ac.) (609) (9/01) PDF DOC PDF DOC DOC
Terrace (Ft.) (600) (9/08) PDF DOC PDF DOC DOC
Tree/Shrub Establishment (Ac.) (612) (1/06) PDF DOC PDF DOC DOC
Tree/Shrub Pruning (Ac.) (660) (1/06) PDF DOC PDF DOC DOC
Tree/Shrub Site Preparation (Ac.) (490) (1/06) PDF DOC PDF DOC DOC
Underground Outlet (Ft.) (620) (9/08) PDF DOC PDF DOC DOC DOC
Upland Wildlife Habitat Management (Ac.) (645) (8/05) PDF DOC PDF DOC DOC
Vegetated Treatment Area (Ac.) (635) (5/08) PDF DOC DOC DOC
Vegetative Barriers (Ft.) (601) (10/03) PDF DOC DOC DOC DOC
Vertical Drain (No.) (630) (5/04) PDF DOC PDF DOC DOC
Waste Facility Cover (No.) (367) (9/03) PDF DOC   DOC DOC
Waste Storage Facility (No.) (313) (10/03) PDF DOC PDF DOC DOC
Waste Transfer (No.) (634) (11/08) PDF DOC PDF DOC DOC DOC
Waste Treatment (No.) (629) (4/05) PDF DOC   DOC   DOC
Waste Treatment Lagoon (No.) (359) (10/03) PDF DOC PDF DOC DOC
Waste Utilization (Ac.) (633) (10/03) PDF DOC PDF DOC DOC
Water and Sediment Control Basin (No.) (638) (9/08) PDF DOC PDF DOC DOC DOC
Water Harvesting Catchment (No.) (636) (9/03) PDF DOC PDF DOC DOC
Water Well (No.) (642) (2/05) PDF DOC PDF DOC DOC
Watering Facility (No.) (614) (8/06) PDF DOC DOC DOC
Waterspreading (Ac.) (640) (7/02) PDF DOC PDF DOC DOC
Well Decommissioning (No.) (351) (12/03) PDF DOC PDF DOC DOC
Well Water Testing (No.) (355) (5/04) PDF DOC   DOC DOC
Wetland Creation (Ac.) (658) (8/05) PDF DOC DOC DOC
Wetland Enhancement (Ac.) (659) (8/06) PDF DOC DOC DOC
Wetland Restoration (Ac.) (657) (8/05) PDF DOC PDF DOC DOC
Wetland Wildlife Habitat Management (Ac.) (644) (8/05) PDF DOC PDF DOC DOC
Windbreak/Shelterbelt Establishment (Ft.) (380) (1/06) PDF DOC PDF DOC DOC DOC
Windbreak/Shelterbelt Renovation (Ft.) (650) (1/06) PDF DOC PDF DOC DOC