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Field Office Technical Guide
Section III - Resource Management Systems and Quality
Criteria
INTRODUCTION
Planning Process
Conservation planning is a natural resource
problem solving and management process. The process integrates economic, social,
and ecological considerations to meet private and public needs. This approach,
which emphasizes desired future conditions, helps improve natural resource
management, minimize conflict, and address problems and opportunities. The nine
step planning process used by NRCS is discussed in detail in the National
Planning Procedures Handbook (NPPH).
First Step
The first step in the planning process is an
initial determination of the client's problems, opportunities, and concerns
related to natural resources and human considerations within the planning area.
Each land use listed at the end of this introduction has a separate list of
Quality Criteria. The Quality Criteria are based on categories of resources,
considerations, and resource aspects" which correspond to the rows found in
the "Conservation Practices Physical Effects" (CPPE) matrix located in
Section V of the Field Office Technical Guide (FOTG). The QC are summarized in a
checklist called an EA-1 that can be taken to the field to aid in documentation
of consideration of all Quality Criteria.
Steps Three and Four
Resource inventories and an analysis of resource
data are completed in steps three and four. The results of this analysis are
compared to quality criteria to document the kind, amount, and extent of
existing and potential resource problems.
Alternative Development
Broad ranges of technically feasible conservation
alternatives are developed with the client. Alternatives may include, structural
and management measures as well as measures that mitigate potential adverse
impacts on the resources. The purpose of formulating alternatives is to provide
the most effective, efficient, and economical conservation treatments that
address resource concerns and are acceptable to the client in solving problems,
addressing opportunities, and meeting the stated objectives.
Resource Management System (RMS)
The conservation alternatives are developed to a
Resource Management, System (RMS) level. An RMS is a combination of practices
that, when installed, will meet or exceed established quality criteria for
identified soil, water, animals, plants and air resource problems for resource
sustainability. The installation of the planned practices will provide for the
long-term conservation, protection, and/or improvement of the resource base.
Progressive Planning
When one or more of the resource concerns do not
meet the minimum requirements for sustainability, planning is considered
progressive. Progressive planning is when a client is ready, willing, and able
to make some, but not all, of the decisions necessary to achieve an RMS level of
management.
Resource Management System Formulation
The Resource Management System formulation
process is discussed in detail in the National Planning Procedures Handbook (NPPH).
The preplanning phase can involve the use of
information found in the FOTG. These include:
- General Resource References for Resource
Planning:
Field office resource inventory and other
supporting data are located in Section I of the FOTG.
Site and soils information is found in
Section II of the FOTG.
- Conservation Practice Physical Effects (CPPE)
Document:
The CPPE document is in Section V-A-1 of the FOTG.
Quality Criteria are in Section III of the FOTG.
Guidance documents are located in section III
of the FOTG. These documents are usually specific for a particular area,
generally a county or a group of counties.
- Conservation Effects for Decision-making:
Section V-B of the FOTG shows effects of
applying practices in the RMS examples.
Resource Management System Quality Criteria
INTRODUCTION
Quality criteria establish the minimum treatment
level necessary to adequately address the natural resource considerations that
are identified during the planning process for the development of a Resource
Management System (RMS). Quality criteria are quantitative or qualitative
statements that are established in accordance with local, state, and federal
programs and regulations in consideration of ecological, economic and social
effects.
Not all resource concerns have quality criteria
that can be quantified or have assessment tools that can measure changes in the
resource. This table lists minimum treatment criteria for natural resource
planning at the RMS level.
Resource concerns with established quality
criteria are listed for each NRCS land use. Resource concerns identified using
NM-EA-1 need to be addressed when they have been identified as a resource
concern in step 1 of the planning process. Most states have developed resource
concern checklists based on categories or resources, considerations, and
resource "aspects" which correspond to the rows found in the
"Conservation Practices Physical Effects" (CPPE) matrix located in
Section V of the Field Office Technical Guide (FOTG). These checklists should be
retained and used as a reference when first doing an on-site resource inventory.
The resource checklist can provide planners with comprehensive lists of potential
planning considerations.
Definitions
Quality Criteria: Refers to the level or condition of the resource that is considered to be
minimally acceptable. All technical assistance provided to resource users will
be directed toward achieving the Quality Criteria level established for SWAPA+H
- Soil , Water, Air, Plants, Animals and Human. Resource quality criteria
provide a means of determining the adequacy of technical assistance to land
users by evaluating the ability of each planned Resource Management Systems (RMS)
to achieve certain levels in an acceptable time frame.
Resources and Considerations: NRCS
policy lists six resources (SWAPA+H) to include in all technical assistance
efforts. The policy contains specific considerations related to each of the
resources for which criteria are developed. Both the resources and their
respective considerations are addressed individually.
Treatment standards:
Refers to the planned and/or applied conservation measures necessary to achieve
quality criteria in the resources of concern. Resource quality criteria provide
a "goal" while treatment standards provide the "means" to
reach the goal. Treatment standards are the basis for an RMS and serve as the
measure of adequacy for planned treatment(s).
Establishment of Quality Criteria
In the establishment of criteria, the following
basic rules are followed for consistency and uniformity:
- Quality Criteria statements reflect a
minimally acceptable CONDITION of the resource. When Quality Criteria are
quantifiable a tool is specified to provide measurement. When qualitative a
desired future condition is specified in a statement. All resource concerns
that may be addressed during the planning process may not have established
quality criteria.
- Established criteria represent a MINIMUM level
that is acceptable for a resource or resource concern. Because resource
concerns, as written in policy, are problem oriented, criteria in effect
state the acceptable level of change in a resource
- Quality Criteria are quantifiable. Terms for
criteria must state clearly" when enough is enough", so
that planners know when planned treatment is adequate.
- Quality Criteria levels must be ATTAINABLE
with current technology and approved conservation practices.
- Quality Criteria relate directly to an
acceptable PLANNING level.
- Quality Criteria of the resource represents a
level that SUSTAINS the use and productivity of the resource indefinitely.
There may be some negative short term effects on the resources to obtain the
long term positive effects.
- Quality Criteria levels should be USABLE,
MEASURABLE, and/or RECOGNIZABLE.
Application of Quality Criteria
Quality Criteria establishes the minimum
treatment level necessary to adequately address the resource concerns identified
during the planning process for the development of a RMS.
The RMS criteria are met when treatment has been
planned that, when applied, will resolve all of the identified resource problems
(concerns) according to the Quality Criteria. The RMS will be considered applied
when all of the conservation practices that make up the system have been
Installed, Implemented or applied according to Practice Standards and
Specifications in Section IV of the FOTG.
In some instances, actions by individual
decision-makers cannot solve the resource concerns because it involves more than
one decision-maker. In these instances group planning, project measures or
multi-program activities may be required to meet the respective Quality
Criteria. In cases where the decision-maker can not solve the problem as an
individual, the criteria will be met when the land under the control of the
decision-maker does not adversely contribute to the problem.
The use and implementation of these criteria will
be consistent with federal, state, and local laws and regulations.
Planning Resource Management Systems
RESOURCE MANAGEMENT SYSTEM
A Resource Management System (RMS )is a
combination of practices that will solve the identified resource problems to at
least the level indicated in the quality criteria and meet the cooperator's
objectives. Successful resource management is dependent on the correct
application of the practices that make up a RMS for managing all SWAPA+H
aspects. These practices are essential to prevent resource degradation and
ensure sustainable use. Other practices are used to enhance the resource
management system and/or adequately treat a resource concern.
QUALITY CRITERIA FOR EACH LAND USE
The Quality Criteria (QC) for each land use
contains the framework for development of RMS level conservation plans. The QC
table can be developed on a Major Land Resource Area (MLRA) basis in order to
maintain consistency across state and/or agency boundaries. All resource must
be evaluated for each major land use, as a minimum, to achieve RMS level
plans. For each NRCS land use the labeled "Essential Practices"
includes conservation practices that will generally address the listed resource
concerns. These practices will be the minimally accepted practices required in
the conservation plan to meet a RMS. The table labeled "Needed and/or
Desirable" lists practices alphabetically that may also be needed to
compliment the essential practices, depending upon the circumstances. Any
practice in Section IV can be included in the plan.
Technical Judgment
An RMS must satisfy the quality criteria for all
Resource Concerns and address other resource concerns, as needed, on a case by
case basis. Technical judgment will be required to determine treatment levels
for resource concerns with no measurable quality criteria. The practices listed
in the "Essential" and "Needed and/or Desirable" tables are
the commonly used practices for that land use, however, any practice contained
in Section VI of the Field Office Technical Guide (FOTG) may be used to address
any resource concern (Pay attention to each practices description and purpose
statements when deciding if a practice may be used to address a concern.)
Section IV Standards and Specifications
All practices contained in Section IV of the FOTG
must be applied according to its specifications. Any change in the primary
resource concerns will be measured by the respective assessment tool. Resource
concerns without an assessment tool will be considered adequately treated when
the practice(s) used to treat the resource concern has been installed according
to the standards and specifications developed for the practice.
OFFICIAL NRCS LAND USE DESIGNATIONS
- Crop – Land used primarily for
the production of field crops or orchard crops alone or in association with
sod crops.
- Forest – Land on which the
primary vegetation is forest (climax, natural, or introduced plant community)
and the use is primarily for production of wood products.
- Grazed Forest – Forest land that
produces under-story vegetation that is used for the production of livestock.
- Grazed Range – Rangeland that is
primarily for the production of domestic livestock. Includes native plant
communities and those seeded to native or introduced species, or naturalized
by introduced species, that are ecologically managed using range management
principles.
- Hay – Land on which perennial
plants are managed and harvested for hay. (Annual plants planted for hay, and
forage crops in short-term rotation are cropland.)
- Headquarters – Land used for
dwellings, barns, pens, corrals, or other facilities used in connection with
farm and ranch operations.
- Mined – Land on which the soil has been disturbed by the
mining of minerals.
- Native or Naturalized Pasture – Forest
land that is used primarily for the production of forage for grazing by
livestock rather than for the production of wood products. Over-story trees are
removed or managed to promote the native or introduced under-story vegetation
occurring on the site. This vegetation is managed for its forage value through
the use of grazing management principles.
- Natural Area – Land or water
used for the preservation, protection, and observation of the existing
resources, archeological or historical interpretation, resource
interpretation, or for aesthetic value. Some of these may be officially
designated by legislation or other authorities.
- Pasture – Grazing lands composed
of introduced or domesticated native forage species that are used primarily
for the production of domestic livestock. They receive periodic renovation
and/or cultural treatments, such as tillage, fertilization, mowing, weed
control, and may be irrigated. They are not in rotation with crops.
- Recreation – Land and water used
and managed for recreational purposes.
- Urban – Land occupied by
buildings and related facilities use for residences, industrial sites,
institutional sites, public highways, airports, and similar uses associated
with towns and cities.
- Water – A geographic area whose
dominant characteristic is open water, but which may include a large portion
of intermingled land, including coastal marsh lands.
- Watershed Protection –
Land managed and used specifically for water production into streams, rivers,
lakes and aquifers.
- Wildlife – Land or water used, protected, and managed primarily as habitat for wildlife.
Reference: 180 – vi – National Planning Procedures Handbook (NPPH), Amendment 2,
April, 1998
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