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Svensen-Knappa-Brownsmede (SKB) Soil Health Improvement

County or Counties: Clatsop

Primary Resource Concern Addressed:

  • Soil quality limitations - Organic matter depletion
  • Degraded plant condition - Plant productivity and health
  • Field sediment, nutrient and pathogen loss - Nutrients transported to groundwater

Project Description
Declining soil health of the pasture and croplands of the Svensen-Knappa and Brownsmede areas along the Columbia River Corridor is occurring due to low inputs, management levels and farming experience.  This strategy seeks to improve soil quality through better management practices, provide better forage for livestock and wildlife, increase productivity and profitability for agricultural operations, and mitigate risk to water bodies leading to Columbia River.

Conservation Practices Offered

  • Heavy Use Area Protection (561)
  • Hedgerow Planting (422)
  • Conservation Cover (327)
  • High Tunnel System (325)
  • Cover Crop (340)
  • Roof Runoff Structure (558)
  • Underground Outlet (620)
  • Tree/Shrub Site Preparation (490)
  • Tree/Shrub Establishment (612)
  • Pasture and Hay Planting (512)
  • Fence (382)
  • Herbaceous Weed Treatment (315)
  • Brush Management (314)
  • Critical Area Planting (342)


Project Partners

  • Clatsop Soil and Water Conservation District
  • US Fish and Wildlife Service
  • OSU Extension Service
  • North Coast Watershed Council
  • NRCS Oregon
  • Private landowners

Application Questions

NRCS uses prioritization questions to evaluate applications for this initiative. See the list of workload prioritization questions on the Oregon EQIP page. Ranking questions below will also apply.

Ranking Questions

  1. Is the applicant's property located within 1000 feet of a perennial stream with potential ESA listed species?
  2. Will the application include practices that address other natural resource concerns beyond soil health and water quality? (i.e. plant productivity, fish and wildlife habitat, etc.)?
  3. Will the application include practices such as, cross fencing, heavy use areas, forage, and biomass planting, that allow grazing improvements and rest periods?
  4. The applicant has a current market strategy. (i.e. applicant currently sells their product to customers or donates their produce to local food pantries)?
  5. The applicant has been active in this operation for more than 3 years.
  6. The application will address noxious weed issues on the operation?
  7. The schedule of operations includes practices that will improve plant productivity.