FIELD OFFICE TECHNICAL GUIDE

Section V Conservation Effects

Conservation Practice Physical Effects (CPPE)

Planning the soil, water, air, plant, animal, and human resources and their interrelationships has increased the complexity of assisting decision makers. NRCS can no longer provide alternatives and assistance that address individual problems without considering the effects on all six resources.

As a technical agency, NRCS must constantly strive to use methods to evaluate the potential effects of conservation practices on the resources when providing technical assistance. It is necessary to determine the physical effects relevant to each resource during the planning process. Because a conservation practice has a positive effect on one resource concern does not necessarily mean it will also have a positive effect on other resources.

Effects Concept

The conservationist needs to recognize the effect of applying conservation practices in order to select combinations of practices that solve the identified or potential concerns without creating new problems. The effects concept is applicable for formulation of CMS alternatives for specific fields, Conservation Treatment Units (CTUs), or other planning areas. It can also be used to assist in explaining resource problems, and display treatment options. (The entire effects process will not be needed when working with each decision maker. Only unique or complex situations would warrant documentation of the complete effects concept).

CPPE

The Conservation Practice Physical Effects (CPPE) detail in subjective language the physical effects that conservation practices have on problems for the five resources. The estimation of physical effects is based on professional experience and available technical information. Each resource may have multiple problems that are represented by one of the various columns in the CPPE worksheet. The effects of practices may be greater if they are associated with a land use change. The headings in each column of the CPPE briefly describe identified or potential resource concerns/considerations.

The primary purpose of CPPE is to document the physical effects of conservation practices on resource problems.

Secondly, the purpose of CPPE is to emphasize the realization that resources are interrelated and the treatment of one resource also affects other resources.

Matrices

The following matrices express the major effects of a single conservation practice on resource problems.  The practice is assumed to be installed according to standards in Section IV. The effect may be: 

Effect	Definition
N/A	Concern does not apply to this practice
Situational	Site specific effect; check in field (- or +)
Insignificant	Some effect (+ or -) but negligible
Slight Increase	Augment the problem slightly (-1)
Moderate Increase	Augment the problem moderately (-2)
Significant Increase	Augment the problem significantly (-3)
Slight Decrease	Diminish the problem slightly (+1)
Moderate Decrease	Diminish the problem moderately (+2)
Significant Decrease	Diminish the problem significantly (+3)
Slight to Moderate Increase	Range of augmenting the problem (-1 to -2)
Slight to Significant Increase	Range of augmenting the problem (-1 to -3)
Moderate to Significant Increase	Range of augmenting the problem (-2 to -3)
Slight to Moderate Decrease	Range of diminishing the problem (+1 to +2)
Slight to Significant Decrease	Range of diminishing the problem (+1 to + 3)
Moderate to Significant Decrease	Range of diminishing the problem (+2 to +3)

 

The given effect may be followed by modifiers for clarity. The application of a practice with a negative effect may be overcome through the application of another practice that has a greater positive effect.

Index of Conservation Practice Physical Effects 

The point of reference for the matrices is that there is a current problem with the resource, previously treated or not. The resource is less than protected and can be effected in a positive way or negative way by the installation of a conservation practice. The matrices address broad, general effects that you may expect from the practice application.