Highly Erodible Land Conservation Compliance

HEL Cropland with a Prior Cropping History - Substantial Reduction in Soil Erosion:

A conservation system must provide for a substantial reduction in soil erosion from the "pre-plan" level (the condition that existed before conservation measures were applied). The conservation system must include all treatments and measures needed to meet the HELC requirements, including treatment required to control sheet and rill, wind, and ephemeral and classic gully erosion.

A Substantial Reduction in Soil Erosion is defined as:

Generally, a 75% reduction of the potential erodibility (PE), not to exceed two (2) times the soil loss tolerance (T) level for the predominant highly erodible soil map unit in the highly erodible field.

HEL Cropland Broken out of Native Vegetation (Sodbuster) - No Substantial Increase in Soil Erosion:

A conservation system must provide for No substantial increase in soil erosion from the "pre-plan" level (the condition that existed before conservation measures were applied). The conservation system must include all treatments and measures needed to meet the HELC requirements, including treatment required to control sheet and rill, wind, and ephemeral and classic gully erosion.

A Substantial Increase in Soil Erosion is defined as:

A substantial increase in soil erosion is defined as any soil erosion level that is greater than the sustainable level (soil loss tolerance) – (T) of the predominant HEL soil mapping unit in the highly erodible field.

HEL Cropland with Ephemeral Gully Erosion:

A conservation system must provide for reduction and control of soil erosion from ephemeral gully erosion.  The conservation system must include all treatments and measures needed to meet the HELC requirements, including treatment required to control sheet and rill, wind, and ephemeral and classic gully erosion.

A Substantial Reduction in Soil Erosion is defined as:

Generally, a 75% reduction of the potential erodibility (PE), not to exceed two (2) times the soil loss tolerance (T) level for the predominant highly erodible soil map unit in the highly erodible field.