The Field Office The Field Office Technical Guide and Other Technical Guide and Other

Technical ResourcesTechnical Resources

CNMP Core CurriculumSection 2 — Conservation Planning

CNMP Development Core Training Curriculum

These course materials have been developed as a cooperative effort between five land-grant universities and The Natural Resources Conservation Service.

Ames, Iowa 50011, (515) 294-4111.

Copyright © 1995-2006, Iowa State University of Science and Technology. All rights reserved.

Copyright Information

ObjectivesObjectives

At the end of this module, the participant will be able to:

•Explain the significance of the NRCS Field Office Technical Guide in planning and applying conservation practices and systems, particularly associated with cost-share programs and permitting of CNMP’s.

•Basically describe the contents of the 5 sections of the NRCS FOTG.

•Navigate and find the needed information in the eFOTG (web-based electronic Field Office Technical Guide).

Required Materials• National Planning Procedures Handbook,

Section 600.11.

• The Planning Process National Planning Procedures Handbook, Section 600.50, CNMP Technical Guidance.

Supplemental Materials• NEDC Course: “Introduction to the FOTG” – available for NRCS and

non-NRCS enrollees.

• NRCS Policy: General Manual 450, Part 401, Subparts A, B, & C.

• eFOTG Guides located at the following web address: http://efotg.nrcs.usda.gov/help/help.html.

• NEDC Course: “Conservation Planning Modules, 1-5” – available for NRCS and non-NRCS enrollees.

• NRCS Policy: General Manual 180, Part 409 eFOTG Guides Section III located at http://efotg.nrcs.usda.gov/help/help.html.

All Planning and Application Must Meet the Technical

Standards and Specifications of the Field Office Technical Guide

(FOTG)

This is the method used to store the Field Office This is the method used to store the Field Office Technical Guide (FOTG) in NRCS Offices for Technical Guide (FOTG) in NRCS Offices for decades up until 2002.decades up until 2002.

•The FOTG is the most important tool used by the NRCS The FOTG is the most important tool used by the NRCS field office staffs in carrying out the conservation field office staffs in carrying out the conservation activities of the agency.activities of the agency.

•The guide represents the latest conservation treatment The guide represents the latest conservation treatment technology. It helps NRCS decision-makers to identify technology. It helps NRCS decision-makers to identify resource problems, evaluate the effects of conservation resource problems, evaluate the effects of conservation treatments, compare alternatives, and select the best treatments, compare alternatives, and select the best options to meet their objectives while protecting their options to meet their objectives while protecting their natural resources.natural resources.

•Technical guides are the primary technical references for Technical guides are the primary technical references for NRCS. NRCS.

What is the Field Office Technical What is the Field Office Technical Guide (FOTG)?Guide (FOTG)?

•The FOTG contains technical information about the The FOTG contains technical information about the conservation of soil, water, air, and related plant and conservation of soil, water, air, and related plant and animal resources, also known as SWAPA. animal resources, also known as SWAPA.

•Technical guides are localized (2,700+ offices) so the Technical guides are localized (2,700+ offices) so the technical information applies specifically to the technical information applies specifically to the geographic area. These documents are referred to geographic area. These documents are referred to collectively as Field Office Technical Guides (FOTGs). collectively as Field Office Technical Guides (FOTGs).

•The FOTG is a dynamic document that regularly changes The FOTG is a dynamic document that regularly changes to incorporate new technology and field experience to incorporate new technology and field experience (especially University and ARS research, field (especially University and ARS research, field experiences, and experimental trials).experiences, and experimental trials).

What is the Field Office Technical What is the Field Office Technical Guide (FOTG)?Guide (FOTG)? ContinueContinue

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How is the Field Office Technical How is the Field Office Technical Guide (FOTG) OrganizedGuide (FOTG) Organized

Section I - Section I - General Resource General Resource References References

Section II - Section II - Natural Resources Natural Resources Information Information

Section III - Section III - Resource Management Resource Management Systems and Quality CriteriaSystems and Quality Criteria

Section IV - Section IV - Practice Standards Practice Standards and Specificationsand Specifications

Section V – Section V – Conservation Effects Conservation Effects

•General state and county mapsGeneral state and county maps

•Descriptions of Major Land Resource AreasDescriptions of Major Land Resource Areas

•Watersheds and watershed information Watersheds and watershed information

•Lists of NRCS references, manuals and handbooksLists of NRCS references, manuals and handbooks

•Conservation practice costsConservation practice costs

•Agricultural and environmental laws and regulationsAgricultural and environmental laws and regulations

•Natural resources inventoriesNatural resources inventories

•Seismic zones, River Basin reports and published soil surveysSeismic zones, River Basin reports and published soil surveys

A Detailed Look at the A Detailed Look at the FOTGFOTG

Section I - General Resource ReferencesSection I - General Resource References

•Soils Information and Interpretations, local soils legendSoils Information and Interpretations, local soils legend

•Technical and non-technical soil descriptionsTechnical and non-technical soil descriptions

•Climatic DataClimatic Data

•Cultural Resources InformationCultural Resources Information

•Threatened and Endangered Species ListsThreatened and Endangered Species Lists

•Ecological Site DescriptionsEcological Site Descriptions

•Forage Suitability Group DescriptionsForage Suitability Group Descriptions

•Woodland Suitability Group DescriptionsWoodland Suitability Group Descriptions

A Detailed Look at the A Detailed Look at the FOTGFOTG

Section II - Natural Resources InformationSection II - Natural Resources Information

•Identifies all resource concerns at or above the level of sustainabilityIdentifies all resource concerns at or above the level of sustainability

•Takes into account human-cultural, economic, and social concernsTakes into account human-cultural, economic, and social concerns

•Concerns stated for each resource (SWAPA)Concerns stated for each resource (SWAPA)

•Quality Criteria for treatment of each concernQuality Criteria for treatment of each concern

•Commonly used conservation systems by CRA for land useCommonly used conservation systems by CRA for land use

•Defines legislated systems (Alternative systems for HEL compliance)Defines legislated systems (Alternative systems for HEL compliance)

•Concerns (25-60 per state) - soil erosion, water quality, water quantity, air Concerns (25-60 per state) - soil erosion, water quality, water quantity, air emissions, air odors, wildlife habitat, soil quality, domestic water supplies, etc.emissions, air odors, wildlife habitat, soil quality, domestic water supplies, etc.

•Contains definitions and tools for assessmentsContains definitions and tools for assessments

A Detailed Look at the A Detailed Look at the FOTGFOTG

Section IIISection III - Resource Management Systems and Quality - Resource Management Systems and Quality

CriteriaCriteria

•Identifies conservation practice standards applicable for each field officeIdentifies conservation practice standards applicable for each field office

•Standards which establish the minimum level of acceptable quality for Standards which establish the minimum level of acceptable quality for planning, designing, installing, operating, and maintaining conservation planning, designing, installing, operating, and maintaining conservation practicespractices

•Access to tools used in the field for design and installation of practicesAccess to tools used in the field for design and installation of practices

•Conservation practice documentation requirements and SOW’sConservation practice documentation requirements and SOW’s

•Operations and maintenance information if not in the standardOperations and maintenance information if not in the standard

•Job sheets and fact sheets for practicesJob sheets and fact sheets for practices

•Conservation practice specificationsConservation practice specifications

A Detailed Look at the A Detailed Look at the FOTGFOTG

Section IVSection IV - Practice Standards and Specifications - Practice Standards and Specifications

•Identifies indicators of the impacts conservation Identifies indicators of the impacts conservation practices and systems have on the natural and cultural practices and systems have on the natural and cultural resource concernsresource concerns

•Case studies are often used to display the effects of the Case studies are often used to display the effects of the most commonly used practices and systems for local most commonly used practices and systems for local resource concernsresource concerns

•See example on next slideSee example on next slide

A Detailed Look at the A Detailed Look at the FOTGFOTG

Section VSection V - Conservation Effects - Conservation Effects

Section V - Conservation Effects - CPPESection V - Conservation Effects - CPPE

Works best with Microsoft Explorer

6.0 or better

Address for public use is http://www.nrcs.usda.gov/technical/efotg/

eFOTG provides common look eFOTG provides common look to Technical Guidesto Technical Guides

eFOTG provides common look eFOTG provides common look to Technical Guidesto Technical Guides

Tree Listing provides navigation to five

(5)sections of the FOTG.

The FOTG is county specific.

All Types of Technical Guide All Types of Technical Guide Content are accommodated in Content are accommodated in

eFOTGeFOTG

PDF files

Word document

or spreadshee

t

Web application

Each Each eFOTGeFOTG Section has a Table of Section has a Table of Contents Displayed AlphabeticallyContents Displayed Alphabetically

eFOTG Provides Two Search OptionseFOTG Provides Two Search Options

Searches for a match from Title, Abstract, and Keywords

Searches for match from Subject only

Search Tab

HELP SCREENS, TRAINING, AND CONTACT INFORMATION HELP SCREENS, TRAINING, AND CONTACT INFORMATION AVAILABLE TO ASSIST THE NEW eFOTG USERAVAILABLE TO ASSIST THE NEW eFOTG USER

Hit HELP in the eFOTG and documents are available for Reference and Training.

Make HELP contacts by email or at the USDA Service Center.

Suggested References for this ModuleSuggested References for this Module

NEDC Course:NEDC Course: “Introduction to the FOTG” – “Introduction to the FOTG” – Available for NRCS employees and non-NRCS Available for NRCS employees and non-NRCS participants. participants. NRCS Policy:NRCS Policy: General Manual 450, Part 401, General Manual 450, Part 401, Subparts A, B, and C.Subparts A, B, and C.eFOTG Training GuideseFOTG Training Guides can be located by can be located by selecting “HELP” from the menu in the eFOTG.selecting “HELP” from the menu in the eFOTG.

Other Technical ResourcesOther Technical ResourcesA list of technical resources and references specific to the state and county can be found in Section I of every FOTG.

The National Website at http://www.nrcs.usda.gov/technical/ contains detailed subject matter information sorted by technical discipline.

A list and web links containing state and local laws affecting technical decisions are contained in Section I of the eFOTG.

All access to technical tools, models, maps, resource data, environmental compliance information, specialized technical websites, and other technical items are contained in both the eFOTG and the National website http://www.nrcs.usda.gov/.

Web-based training is available at the NRCS National Employee Development Center on conservation planning, FOTG, pest management, nutrient management, and water quality. http://www.nedc.nrcs.usda.gov/catalog/index.html

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