Conservation Planning - The Natural Resources Conservation Service (NRCS) is the U.S. Department of Agriculture's principal agency for providing conservation technical assistance to private landowners, conservation districts, tribes, and other organizations. NRCS delivers conservation technical assistance through its voluntary Conservation Technical Assistance Program (CTA). CTA is available to any group or individual interested in conserving our natural resources and sustaining agricultural production in this country.
Draft Iowa Conservation Practice Standards and Technical Notes - Iowa's updated or newly developed practice standards and technical notes are available for public comment for 30 days.
Ecological Sciences - NRCS uses many science-based disciplines in helping people help the land. This inter-disciplinary approach to natural resources conservation is revealed through these disciplines and related technical references and tools.
Electronic Field Office Technical Guide (eFOTG) - Technical guides are the primary scientific references for NRCS. They contain technical information about the conservation of soil, water, air, and related plant and animal resources. Technical guides used in each field office are localized so that they apply specifically to the geographic area for which they are prepared. These documents are referred to as Field Office Technical Guides (FOTGs).
Engineering - The Iowa NRCS Engineering staff is comprised of agricultural and civil engineers, geologists, and engineering technicians that provide innovative, economical, and timely services to NRCS staff, conservation partners and private landowners. We provide planning, design, and construction services to solve problems related to soil erosion, water quality, agricultural waste management, and wetland restoration. We invite you to view our Iowa NRCS Engineering Web Page to locate the tools and information to solve your conservation engineering issues.
Geospatial Technology Support - This site was developed to provide technical support to NRCS staff that are using geographic information systems (GIS), global positioning systems (GPS), mobile computers, and associated geospatial technologies.
Iowa Conservation Practice Standards - Standards are available under Section IV of the electronic Field Office Technical Guide.
National Conservation Practice Standards
Soils Program - The Iowa NRCS Soils Program provides quality soil, geographic, and resources information, products, and services to internal and external customers.
State Technical Committee - Per section 1446 of the 1990 Farm Bill, the Iowa USDA established a technical committee to provide advice for technical considerations and technical guidelines necessary to implement conservation provisions of USDA legislation. The committee also helps assure that Civil Rights requirements in Program Delivery are met. The NRCS State Conservationist chairs the committee.
Contacts
Ecological Sciences and Conservation Planning
Kevin McCall, State Resource Conservationist
Phone: 515-284-4262
Engineering
Christian Osborn, State Engineer
Phone: 515-284-4135
Soils
Rick Bednarek, State Soil Scientist
Phone: 515-284-4262
