CSP FY2018 Conservation Enhancement Activity - Associated Ag Land
FY18 Conservation Enhancement Activity
Associated Ag Land
Enhancement Name
E315134Z
Herbaceous weed treatment for plant pest pressures that helps create desired plant communities and habitats consistent with the ecological site
Applicable Land Use
Pasture; Range; Forest; Associated Ag Land
Resource Concern Addressed
Degraded Plant Condition
Enhancement Lifespan
5 years
Enhancement Description
Mechanical, chemical, or biological, herbaceous weed treatment will be employed to control targeted, herbaceous weeds so as to create, release, or restore desired plant communities that are consistent with achievable, ecological site, steady state descriptions. Download full enhancement activity E315134Z (PDF, 191KB)
Enhancement Code and Name
E327136Z1
Conservation cover to provide food habitat for pollinators and Beneficial insects
Conservation Practice 327: Conservation
Seed or plug nectar and pollen producing plants in non-cropped areas such as field borders, vegetative barriers, contour buffer strips, grassed waterways, shelterbelts, hedgerows, windbreaks, conservation cover, and riparian forest and herbaceous buffers. Download full enhancement activity E327136Z1 (PDF, 203KB)
Enhancement Code and Name
E327136Z2
Establish Monarch butterfly habitat
Conservation Practice 327: Conservation Cover
Applicable Land Use
Crop (Annual & Mixed); Crop (Perennial); Associated Ag Land; Farmstead
Conservation cover to provide cover and shelter habitat for pollinators and beneficial insects
Conservation Practice 327: Conservation Cover
Applicable Land Use
(Annual & Mixed); Crop (Perennial); Forest; Associated Ag Land; Farmstead
Resource Concern Addressed
Fish & Wildlife Inadequate Habitat
Enhancement Lifespan
5 years
Enhancement Description
Seed or plug nectar and pollen producing plants in non-cropped areas such as field borders, vegetative barriers, contour buffer strips, grassed waterways, shelterbelts, hedgerows, windbreaks, conservation cover, and riparian forest and herbaceous buffers. Download full enhancement activity E327137Z (PDF, 203KB)
Enhancement Code and Name
E327139Z
Conservation cover to provide habitat continuity for pollinators and beneficial insects Conservation Practice 327: Conservation Cover
Seed or plug nectar and pollen producing plants in non-cropped areas such as field borders, vegetative barriers, contour buffer strips, grassed waterways, shelterbelts, hedgerows, windbreaks, conservation cover, and riparian forest and herbaceous buffers.
Installation of end of pipe or ditch treatment for phosphorus
Conservation Practice 554: Drainage Water Management
Applicable Land Use
Crop (Annual & Mixed); Crop (Perennial); Associated Ag Land
Resource Concern Addressed
Water Quality Degradation
Enhancement Lifespan
1 year
Enhancement Description
Add end of pipe/ditch treatment. If dissolved phosphorus is the pollutant of concern, use Interim CPS 782, Phosphorus Treatment Structure for each drainage outlet in a field.
E381133Z
Silvopasture for wildlife habitat (structure and composition)
Applicable Land Use
Pasture; Associated Agricultural Land
Resource Concern Addressed
Degraded Plant Condition
Enhancement Lifespan
15 years
Enhancement Description
Establishing a combination of trees or shrubs and compatible forages on the same acreage, providing forage, shade, and/or shelter for livestock and including a purpose of enhancing wildlife habitat. Download full enhancement activity E381133Z (PDF, 192KB)
Enhancement Name
E381137Z
Silvopasture for wildlife habitat (cover and shelter)
Conservation Practice 381: Silvopasture Establishment
Applicable Land Use
Pasture; Associated Agricultural Land
Resource Concern Addressed
Fish & Wildlife – Inadequate Habitat
Enhancement Lifespan
15 years
Enhancement Description
Establishing a combination of trees or shrubs and compatible forages on the same acreage, providing forage, shade, and/or shelter for livestock and including a purpose of enhancing wildlife cover and shelter. Download full enhancement activity E381137Z (PDF, 192KB)
Biochar production from woody residue
Conservation Practice 384: Woody Residue Treatment
Applicable Land Use
Forest, Associated Ag Land
Resource Concern Addressed
Degraded Plant Condition
Enhancement Lifespan
10 years
Enhancement Description
Uses woody debris remaining after fuel reduction harvests or wildfires to create biochar. Biochar stores carbon and is a useful soil amendment that improves Soil Organic Matter (SOM) and water-holding capacity. Download full enhancement activity E384135Z (PDF, 192KB)
Enhancement Name
E386101Z
Enhanced field borders to reduce water induced erosion along the edge(s) of a field Conservation Practice 386: Field Border
Applicable Land Use
Crop (Annual & Mixed); Crop (Perennial); Associated Ag Land
Resource Concern Addressed
Soil Erosion
Enhancement Lifespan
10 years
Enhancement Description
Enhance existing field borders to a width of at least 30 feet and establish a single species or mixture of species that provide a dense ground cover along the edge(s) of the field. Download full enhancement activity E386101Z (PDF, 202KB)
Enhancement Name
E386102Z
Enhanced field borders to reduce wind induced erosion along the edge(s) of a field
Conservation Practice 386: Field Border
Applicable Land Use
Crop (Annual & Mixed); Crop (Perennial); Associated Ag Land
Resource Concern Addressed
Soil Erosion
Enhancement Lifespan
10 years
Enhancement Description
Enhance existing field borders to a width of at least 30 feet and establish a single species or mixture of species that provide a dense ground cover along the edge(s) of the field. Download full enhancement activity E386102Z (PDF, 202KB)
Enhancement Name
E386128Z
Enhanced field borders to decrease particulate emissions along the edge(s) of a field
Conservation Practice 386: Field Border
Applicable Land Use
Crop (Annual & Mixed); Crop (Perennial); Associated Ag Land
Resource Concern Addressed
Air Quality Impacts
Enhancement Lifespan
10 years
Enhancement Description
Enhance existing field borders to a width of at least 40 feet and establish a mixture of species that decrease the particulate emissions along the edge(s) of the field.Download full enhancement activity E386128Z (PDF, 200KB)
Enhancement Name
E386136Z
Enhanced field borders to increase food for pollinators along the edge(s) of a field
Conservation Practice 386: Field Border
Applicable Land Use
Crop (Annual & Mixed); Crop (Perennial); Associated Ag Land
Resource Concern Addressed
Fish & Wildlife - Inadequate Habitat
Enhancement Lifespan
10 years
Enhancement Description
Enhance existing field borders to a width of at least 40 feet and establish a mixture of species that provide food for pollinators along the edge(s) of the field. Download full enhancement activity E386136Z (PDF, 201KB)
Enhancement Name
E386137Z
Enhanced field borders to increase wildlife food and cover along the edge(s) of a field
Conservation Practice 386: Field Border
Applicable Land Use
Crop (Annual & Mixed); Crop (Perennial); Associated Ag Land
Resource Concern Addressed
Fish & Wildlife - Inadequate Habitat
Enhancement Lifespan
10 years
Enhancement Description
Enhance existing field borders to a width of at least 40 feet and establish a mixture of species that provide wildlife food and cover along the edge(s) of the field. Download full enhancement activity E386137Z (PDF, 201KB)
Enhancement Name
E386139Z
Enhanced field borders to increase wildlife habitat continuity along the edge(s) of a field
Conservation Practice 386: Field Border
Applicable Land Use
Crop (Annual & Mixed); Crop (Perennial); Associated Ag Land
Resource Concern Addressed
Fish & Wildlife - Inadequate Habitat
Enhancement Lifespan
10 years
Enhancement Description
Enhance existing field borders to a width of at least 40 feet and establish a mixture of species that provide wildlife habitat continuity along the edge(s) of the field. Download full enhancement activity E386139Z (PDF, 203KB)
Enhancement Name
E393118Z
Extend existing filter strip to reduce excess nutrients in surface water
Conservation Practice 393: Filter Strip
Applicable Land Use
Crop (Annual & Mixed); Crop (Perennial); Associated Ag Land
Resource Concern Addressed
Water Quality Degradation
Enhancement Lifespan
10 years
Enhancement Description
Extend existing filter strips for water quality protection (reduce excess nutrients in surface water). Extend the existing buffer for a total of 60 feet or more to enhance water quality functions. The extended buffers must be composed of at least 5 species of non-noxious, wildlife friendly grasses and/or perennial forbs best suited to site conditions. Include species that provide pollinator food and habitat where possible. Download full enhancement activity E393118Z (PDF, 200KB)
Enhancement Name
E393122Z
Extend filter strip to reduce excess pathogens and chemicals in surface water
Conservation Practice 393: Filter Strip
Applicable Land Use
Crop (Annual & Mixed); Crop (Perennial); Associated Agricultural Land
Resource Concern Addressed
Water Quality Degradation
Enhancement Lifespan
10 years
Enhancement Description
Extend existing filter strips for water quality protection (reduce excess pathogens and chemicals from manure, bio-solids or compost applications in surface waters). Extend the existing buffer for a total of 60 feet or more to enhance water quality functions. The extended buffers must be composed of at least 5 species of non-noxious, wildlife friendly grasses and/or perennial forbs best suited to site conditions. Include species that provide pollinator food and habitat where possible. Download full enhancement activity E393122Z (PDF, 200KB)
Enhancement Name
E393126Z
Extend existing filter strip to reduce excess sediment in surface water
Conservation Practice 393: Filter Strip
Applicable Land Use
Crop (Annual & Mixed); Crop (Perennial); Associated Agricultural Land
Resource Concern Addressed
Water Quality Degradation
Enhancement Lifespan
10 Years
Enhancement Description
Extend existing filter strips for water quality protection (reduce excess sediment in surface waters). Extend the existing buffer for a total of 60 feet or more to enhance water quality functions. The extended buffers must be composed of at least 5 species of non-noxious, wildlife friendly grasses and/or perennial forbs best suited to site conditions. Include species that provide pollinator food and habitat where possible. Download full enhancement activity E393126Z (PDF, 201KB)
Enhancement Code and Name
E390136Z
Increase riparian herbaceous cover width to enhance wildlife habitat
Conservation Practice 390: Riparian Herbaceous Cover
Applicable Land Use
Crop (Annual & Mixed); Crop (Perennial); Pasture; Range; Associated Ag Land; and Farmstead
Resource Concern Addressed
Fish & Wildlife – Inadequate Habitat
Enhancement Lifespan
5 Years
Enhancement Description
Where an existing herbaceous riparian buffer is located along a river, stream, pond, lake, or other waterbody, increase the diversity of native species, control invasive species, install fencing and relocate equipment operations, trails, and livestock, and increase the width of the buffer.
Where an existing riparian forest buffer is located along a river, stream, pond, lake, or other waterbody, increase the diversity of native species, control invasive species, install fencing and relocate equipment operations, trails, and livestock to increase the functional width of the buffer.
Stream habitat improvement through placement of woody biomass
Conservation Practice 395: Stream Habitat Improvement & Management
Applicable Land Use
Crop (Annual & Mixed); Crop (Perennial); Pasture; Range; Forest; Associated Ag Land
Resource Concern Addressed
Fish & Wildlife Inadequate Habitat
Enhancement Lifespan
5 years
Enhancement Description
Flexible placement of wood (unanchored/unpinned) in small, 1st and 2nd order streams to improve stream habitat conditions for aquatic species and natural stream processes.
Complete pumping plant evaluation for all pumps on a farm
Conservation Practice 449: Irrigation Water Management
Applicable Land Use
Crop (Annual & Mixed); Crop (Perennial); Pasture; Associated Ag Land
Resource Concern Addressed
Inefficient Energy Use
Enhancement Lifespan
1 year
Enhancement Description
Evaluation of all pumping plants to determine the potential to rehabilitate/replace/reconfigure to perform 10% more efficiently. Evaluate to determine if a Variable Frequency Drive motor controller(s) is recommended and the simple payback in terms of energy savings is less than 10 years.
Complete pumping plant evaluation for all pumps on a farm
Conservation Practice 449: Irrigation Water Management
Applicable Land Use
Crop (Annual & Mixed); Crop (Perennial); Pasture; Associated Ag Land
Resource Concern Addressed
Insufficient Water
Enhancement Lifespan
1 year
Enhancement Description
Evaluation of all pumping plants to determine the potential to rehabilitate/replace/reconfigure pump performance to improve water delerivery efficiency 10% or more. Evaluate to determine if a Variable Frequency Drive motor controller(s) is recommended and the simple payback in terms of energy savings is less than 10 years. Download full enhancement activity E449114Z5 (PDF,174 KB)
Enhancement Code and Name
E472118Z
Manage livestock access to streams, ditches, and other waterbodies to reduce nutrients in surface water
Conservation Practice 472: Access Control
Installation of structures and implementation of grazing management actions that restrict livestock access to streams, ditches, and other waterbodies in order to reduce nutrient loading to surface waters.
Installation of structures and implementation of grazing management actions that restrict livestock access to streams, ditches, and other waterbodies in order to reduce the introduction of pathogens to surface waters.
Native grasses or legumes in forage base to improve plant community structure and composition
Conservation Practice 512: Forage and Biomass Planting
Applicable Land Use
Pasture, Associated Ag Land
Resource Concern Addressed
Degraded Plant Condition
Enhancement Lifespan
5 years
Enhancement Description
Establishing adapted and/or compatible species, varieties, or cultivars of perennial, herbaceous species that can provide the structure and composition needed to enhance livestock and wildlife habitat, particularly when targeted forage supply and quality, cover, and shelter are not available in other pastures. Download full enhancement activity E512133Z1 (PDF, 193KB)
Enhancement Name
E512133Z2
Forage plantings that enhance bird habitat (structure and composition)
Conservation Practice 512: Forage and Biomass Planting
Applicable Land Use
Pasture, Associated Ag Land
Resource Concern Addressed
Degraded Plant Condition
Enhancement Lifespan
5 years
Enhancement Description
Establishing adapted and/or compatible species, varieties, or cultivars of herbaceous species suitable for pasture, hay, or biomass production that can provide cover and shelter components of bird habitat. Download full enhancement activity E512133Z2 (PDF, 194KB)
Enhancement Name
E512139Z1
Establish wildlife corridors to provide habitat continuity
Conservation Practice 512: Forage and Biomass Planting
Applicable Land Use
Pasture, Associated Ag Land, Farmstead
Resource Concern Addressed
Fish & Wildlife Inadequate Habitat
Enhancement Lifespan
5 years
Enhancement Description
Establishing adapted and/or compatible species, varieties, or cultivars of perennial, herbaceous species that can provide cover needed for wildlife species of concern to move from food/cover/water sources to other food/cover/water sources as needed for their life cycles, and/or to enhance the utility of underused wildlife habitat areas. Download full enhancement activity E512139Z1 (PDF, 195KB)
Enhancement Name
E512138Z
Establish wildlife corridors to enhance access to water
Conservation Practice 512: Forage and Biomass Planting
Applicable Land Use
Pasture, Associated Ag Land, Farmstead
Resource Concern Addressed
Fish & Wildlife Inadequate Habitat
Enhancement Lifespan
5 years
Enhancement Description
Establishing adapted and/or compatible species, varieties, or cultivars of perennial, herbaceous species that can provide cover needed for wildlife species of concern to move from food/cover/water sources to other food/cover/water sources as needed for their life cycles, and/or to enhance the utility of underused wildlife habitat areas.
Establish pollinator and/or beneficial insect habitat continuity (space)
Conservation Practice 512: Forage and Biomass Planting
Applicable Land Use
Pasture, Associated Ag Land, Farmstead
Resource Concern Addressed
Fish & Wildlife Inadequate Habitat
Enhancement Lifespan
5 years
Enhancement Description
Establishing adapted and/or compatible species, varieties, or cultivars of herbaceous species that can provide nectar for pollinators and forage and other habitat values for wildlife and livestock, particularly at times when targeted nectar, forage supply and quality, cover, and shelter are not available in other pastures. Download full enhancement activity (PDF, 193KB)
Enhancement Name
E512139Z3
Establish Monarch butterfly habitat in pastures
Conservation Practice 512: Forage and Biomass Planting
Applicable Land Use
Pasture, Associated Ag Land, Farmstead
Resource Concern Addressed
Fish & Wildlife Inadequate Habitat
Enhancement Lifespan
5 years
Enhancement Description
Establishing adapted and/or compatible species, varieties, or cultivars of herbaceous species that can provide nectar for Monarch butterflies and forage and other habitat values for wildlife and livestock, particularly at times when targeted nectar, forage supply and quality, cover, and shelter are not available in other pastures.
Native grasses or legumes in forage base
Conservation Practice 512: Forage and Biomass Planting
Applicable Land Use
Crop (perennial); Pasture; Associated Ag Land
Resource Concern Addressed
Livestock Production Limitation
Enhancement Lifespan
5 years
Enhancement Description
Establishing adapted and/or compatible species, varieties, or cultivars of perennial, herbaceous species that can provide the structure and composition needed to enhance livestock and wildlife habitat, particularly when targeted forage supply and quality, cover, and shelter are not available in other pastures. Download full enhancement activity E512140Z (PDF, 192KB)
Enhancement Name
E528132Z2
Stockpiling cool season forage to improve plant productivity and health
Conservation Practice 528: Prescribed Grazing
Applicable Land Use
Pasture; Associated Agricultural Land
Resource Concern Addressed
Degraded Plant Condition
Enhancement Lifespan
1 year
Enhancement Description
Grazing management employed will stop grazing events of selected paddock(s) to allow pasture forages to grow to maximum vegetative biomass accumulation before the end of the growing season. Download full enhancement activity E528132Z2 (PDF, 183KB)
Enhancement Name
E528133Z1
Stockpiling cool season forage to improve structure and composition
Conservation Practice 528: Prescribed Grazing
Applicable Land Use
Pasture; Associated Agricultural Land
Resource Concern Addressed
Degraded Plant Condition
Enhancement Lifespan
1 year
Enhancement Description
Grazing management employed will stop grazing events of selected paddock(s) to allow pasture forages to grow to maximum vegetative biomass accumulation before the end of the growing season. Download full enhancement activity E528133Z1 (PDF, 183KB)
Enhancement Name
E528133Z2
Grazing management for improving quantity and quality of plant structure and composition for wildlife
Conservation Practice 528: Prescribed Grazing
Applicable Land Use
Pasture; Range; Associated Ag Land
Resource Concern Addressed
Degraded Plant Condition
Enhancement Lifespan
1 year
Enhancement Description
Managing the harvest of vegetation with grazing and/or browsing animals for the purpose of improving the quantity and quality of the structure and composition of the plant community that is available for wildlife. Download full enhancement activity E528133Z2 (PDF, 194KB)
Enhancement Name
E528140Z1
Maintaining quantity and quality of forage for animal health and productivity
Conservation Practice 528: Prescribed Grazing
Applicable Land Use
Pasture, Range, Associated Ag Land
Resource Concern Addressed
Livestock Production Limitation
Enhancement Lifespan
1 year
Enhancement Description
Managing the harvest of vegetation with grazing and/or browsing animals for the purposes of maintaining desired pasture composition/plant vigor and improving/maintaining quantity and quality of forage for the animals' health and productivity following the recommendations of a qualifying professional, as detailed in the documentation and implementation requirements. Download full enhancement activity E528140Z1 (PDF, 189KB)
Enhancement Name
E612132Z
Establishing tree/shrub species to restore native plant communities
Conservation Practice 612: Tree/Shrub Establishment
Applicable Land Use
Forest; Range; Associated Ag Land
Resource Concern Addressed
Degraded Plant Condition
Enhancement Lifespan
15 years
Enhancement Description
Establish trees and/or shrubs to restore elements of plant diversity that have been lost through past diseases or improper management. For example, disease-resistant varieties of elm and chestnut can be established to restore the ecological functions of American elm and American chestnut. At the stand level, past forest management may have eliminated certain native tree species. Restoring stand-level diversity and function addresses a wide array of resource concerns and strengthens ongoing management activities. This enhancement improves a forest that is already in good condition by increasing plant diversity, and improving health and vigor through adding plants with resistance to disease, pests, or other local hazards. Additional benefits include contributing to carbon storage, and providing diversity in wildlife habitat and food sources. Download full enhancement activity E612132Z (PDF, 179KB)
Enhancement Name
E612133X2
Cultural plantings
Conservation Practice 612: TREE/SHRUB ESTABLISHMENT
Applicable Land Use
Pasture, Range, Forest, Associated Ag Land, Farmstead
Resource Concern Addressed
Degraded Plant Condition
Enhancement Lifespan
15 years
Enhancement Description
Plant trees and shrubs that are of cultural significance, such as those species utilized by Tribes in traditional practices, medicinal plants, species used in basket-making, etc. (e.g., paper birch, slippery elm, witch hazel). Download full enhancement activity E612133X2 (PDF, 191KB)
Enhancement Name
E612133X3
Sugarbush Management
Conservation Practice 612: TREE/SHRUB ESTABLISHMENT
Applicable Land Use
Range, Forest, Associated Ag Land
Resource Concern Addressed
Degraded Plant Condition
Enhancement Lifespan
15 years
Enhancement Description
Establish or maintain species diversity in a sugarbush to enhance pollinator and wildlife needs. Maintain at least 20% of basal area in species other than sugar maple (Acer saccharum) to provide species diversity. Half of the trees that are not sugar maples (10%) will be mast producing species (hard or soft mass). Use maple tree tapping guidelines that minimize tree damage. Download full enhancement activity E612133X3 (PDF, 190KB)
Enhancement Name
E666106Z1
Implementing sustainable practices for pine straw raking
Conservation Practice 666: Forest Stand Improvement
Applicable Land Use
Forest; Associated Ag Land
Resource Concern Addressed
Soil Quality Degradation
Enhancement Lifespan
10 Years
Enhancement Description
Adopts guidelines for sustaining soil quality and wildlife habitat on sites where pine straw raking is currently practiced. Raking and removal of pine needles (“pine straw”) provides valuable landscaping material but at a high cost to soil fertility, soil organic matter, wildlife habitat, and in some cases, soil compaction, soil erosion and water quality degradation. Straw removal also makes prescribed burning less feasible by removal of the fine fuels needed to carry frequent surface fires that maintain longleaf pine and its characteristic understory. This enhancement is most applicable to longleaf pine forestland because: (1) longleaf-dominated ecosystems with their characteristic suite of flora and fauna historically predominated in most places where pines are currently grown in the Southeast, and (2) longleaf is the favored species for pine straw operations. Download full enhancement activity E666106Z1 (PDF, 200KB)
Enhancement Name
E666130Z
Increase on-site carbon storage
Conservation Practice 666: Forest Stand Improvement
Applicable Land Use
Forest; Associated Ag Land; Farmstead
Resource Concern Addressed
Air Quality Impacts
Enhancement Lifespan
10 Years
Enhancement Description
Use forest management techniques to maintain and increase on-site carbon storage. These include, but are not limited to, applying uneven-aged management, using longer rotations, retaining cavity/den trees, snags, and down woody debris, and protecting or increasing soil organic material. Download full enhancement activity E666130Z (PDF, 197KB)
Enhancement Name
E666132Z1
Crop tree management for mast production
Conservation Practice 666: Forest Stand Improvement
Creating structural diversity with patch openings
Conservation Practice 666: Forest Stand Improvement
Applicable Land Use
Forest; Associated Ag Land; Farmstead
Resource Concern Addressed
Degraded Plant Condition
Enhancement Lifespan
10 Years
Enhancement Description
Forest stand improvement that creates patch openings. Size and shape of patches will be based on characteristic natural wind disturbances, which will vary geographically and by forest type. Download full enhancement activity E666133Z1 (PDF, 194KB)
Enhancement Name
E666137Z1
Snags, den trees, and coarse woody debris for wildlife habitat
Conservation Practice 666: Forest Stand Improvement
Applicable Land Use
Forest; Associated Ag Land; Farmstead
Resource Concern Addressed
Fish & Wildlife – Inadequate Habitat
Enhancement Lifespan
10 Years
Enhancement Description
Improve wildlife habitat through creation and retention of snags, den trees, forest stand structural diversity, and coarse woody debris on the forest floor, to provide cover/shelter for native wildlife species. Download full enhancement activity E666137Z1 (PDF, 193KB)
Enhancement Name
E666137Z2
Summer roosting habitat for native forest-dwelling bat species
Conservation Practice 666: Forest Stand Improvement
Applicable Land Use
Forest; Associated Ag Land; Farmstead
Resource Concern Addressed
Fish & Wildlife – Inadequate Habitat
Enhancement Lifespan
10 Years
Enhancement Description
Create new potential roost trees within upland and riparian forests to achieve desired summer habitat for forest-dwelling bat species Download full enhancement activity E666137Z2 (PDF, 193KB)
Enhancement Name
E666137Z3
Increase diversity in pine plantation monocultures
Conservation Practice 666: Forest Stand Improvement
Applicable Land Use
Forest; Associated Ag Land; Farmstead
Resource Concern Addressed
Fish & Wildlife – Inadequate Habitat
Enhancement Lifespan
10 Years
Enhancement Description
Create small openings to provide diversity in pine plantations, which are typically monocultures and inhospitable to wildlife. Small openings are one-half (0.5) to three (3) acres in size. The cleared area will have the vegetation removed through cutting, mulching, or other means compatible with the site. Download full enhancement activity E666137Z3 (PDF, 190KB)
Enhancement Name
E666137Z5
Implementing sustainable practices for pine straw raking to enhance wildlife habitat
Conservation Practice 666: Forest Stand Improvement
Applicable Land Use
Forest; Associated Ag Land
Resource Concern Addressed
Fish & Wildlife – Inadequate Habitat
Enhancement Lifespan
10 Years
Enhancement Description
Adopts guidelines for sustaining soil quality and wildlife habitat on sites where pine straw raking is currently practiced. Raking and removal of pine needles (“pine straw”) provides valuable landscaping material but at a high cost to soil fertility, soil organic matter, wildlife habitat, and in some cases, soil compaction, soil erosion and water quality degradation. Straw removal also makes prescribed burning less feasible by removal of the fine fuels needed to carry frequent surface fires that maintain longleaf pine and its characteristic understory. This enhancement is most applicable to longleaf pine forestland because: (1) longleaf-dominated ecosystems with their characteristic suite of flora and fauna historically predominated in most places where pines are currently grown in the Southeast, and (2) longleaf is the favored species for pine straw operations. Download full enhancement activity E666137Z5 (PDF, 203KB)
Enhancement Code and Name
E578139X
Stream crossing elimination
Conservation Practice 578: Stream Crossing
Applicable Land Use
Crop (Annual & Mixed); Crop (Perennial); Pasture; Range; Forest; Farmstead; Associated Ag Land
Resource Concern Addressed
Fish & Wildlife – Inadequate Habitat
Enhancement Lifespan
10 years
Enhancement Description
Existing stream crossings on an operation are consolidated into fewer crossings in order to reduce impacts to stream habitat.
Plant tree species and use stocking levels for higher growth to increase the rate of carbon sequestration (capture). Use species with a longer life span as well as relatively fast growth, and species suitable for durable manufactured products. Increase stocking levels in forests that are not fully stocked. Implement afforestation on appropriate open lands.
Plant food-producing trees and shrubs for wildlife or human consumption within windbreaks, alley cropping, multi-story cropping, silvopasture systems, and/or riparian forest buffers.
Tree and shrub planting will enhance habitat for native wildlife. A minimum of five tree and shrub species will be used; they will be species that provide food for identified wildlife species.
Tree and shrub planting will enhance habitat for native wildlife. A minimum of five tree and shrub species will be used; they will be species that provide cover for identified wildlife species.
Reduction of attractants to human-subsidized predators in sensitive wildlife species habitat
Conservation Practice 645: Upland Wildlife Habitat Management
Reduction of artificial perching sites, nest sites, food, and water available to subsidized predators in areas where human-subsidized predators are a threat to sensitive wildlife species. Human-subsidized predators may include ravens, crows, magpies, coyotes, foxes, skunks, raccoons, and other species. Activities under this enhancement may include removal of non-native or invasive trees; removal of unused power poles, corrals, windmills, buildings, and other vertical structures; and/or removal or management of watering facilities, dead livestock, road kill, garbage, animal feed, dumps, and other non-natural food sources.
