Managing Cropland For Habitat

Filter Strips
CP21

Farmers & ranchers who sign up for continuous CRP may use a variety of NRCS approved practices depending on the resource need. See Possible Practices.

Description: A strip or area of herbaceous vegetation situated between cropland, grazing land, or disturbed land (including forestland) and environmentally sensitive areas.

Benefits: To reduce sediment, particulate organics, and sediment adsorbed contaminant loadings in runoff, to reduce dissolved contaminant loadings in runoff, to serve as Zone 3 of a Riparian Forest Buffer (391), to reduce sediment, particulate organics, and sediment adsorbed contaminant loadings in surface irrigation tailwater, to restore, create or enhance herbaceous habitat for wildlife and beneficial insects, and to maintain or enhance watershed functions and values.

Possible Funding: Continuous CRP

Possible Practices: Early Successional Habitat (647), Filter Strips (393), Firebreaks (394), Prescribed Burning (338), Upland Wildlife Habitat Management (645)

Riparian Forest Buffers
CP22

Farmers & ranchers who sign up for continuous CRP may use a variety of NRCS approved practices depending on the resource need. See Possible Practices.

Description: An area of predominantly trees and/or shrubs located adjacent to and up-gradient from watercourses or water bodies.

Benefits: Create shade to lower or maintain water temperatures to improve habitat for aquatic organisms, create or improve riparian habitat and provide a source of detritus and large woody debris, reduce excess amounts of sediment, organic material, nutrients, and pesticides in surface runoff and reduce excess nutrients and other chemicals in shallow ground water flow, reduce pesticide drift entering the water body, restore riparian plant communities, and increase carbon storage in plant biomass and soils.

Possible Funding: Continuous CRP

Fact Sheet Riparian Forest Buffer

Possible Practices: Early Successional Habitat (647), Fence (382), Pond (378), Riparian Forest Buffer (391), Riparian Herbaceous Cover (390), Tree/Shrub Establishment (612), Tree/Shrub Site Preparation (490), Upland Wildlife Habitat Management (645)

Wildlife Habitat for Upland Birds
CP33

Farmers & ranchers who sign up for continuous CRP may use a variety of NRCS approved practices depending on the resource need. See Possible Practices.

Description: Habitat buffers for upland birds are strips of vegetation established around the edges of crop fields to provide habitat for bobwhite quail, ring-neck pheasant, and other upland birds. 

Benefits: Buffers provide nesting, brood rearing and escape cover, serve as travel corridors between areas of suitable habitat, may provide habitat for other animals and may limit sediment, nutrients, pesticides and other contaminants from entering streams and other water bodies.

Possible Funding: Continuous CRP

Fact Sheets:

Possible Practices: Early Successional Habitat (647), Firebreak (394), Prescribed Burning (338), Restoration or Management of Declining Habitat (643), Tree/Shrub Establishment (612), Tree/Shrub Site Preparation (490), Upland Wildlife Habitat Management (645)

Success Stories: Restoration project improves quail population, habitat

Shallow Water Areas for Wildlife
CP9

Farmers & ranchers who sign up for continuous CRP may use a variety of NRCS approved practices depending on the resource need. See Possible Practices.

Description: Managing shallow water on agricultural lands and moist soil areas for wildlife habitat.

Benefits: To provide open water areas on agricultural
fields and moist soil areas to facilitate waterfowl resting and feeding and to provide habitat for reptiles and amphibians and other aquatic species which serve as important prey species for waterfowl, raptors, herons, and other wildlife.

Possible Funding: Continuous CRP

Fact Sheet - Shallow Areas for Wildlife

Possible Practices: Early Successional Habitat (647), Filter Strips (393), Prescribed Burning (338), Shallow Water Areas-Wildlife (646), Tree/Shrub Establishment (612), Tree/Shrub Site Preparation (490), Water Control Structure (587), Upland Wildlife Habitat Management (645)

Bottomland Timberland Establishment on Wetlands
CP31

Farmers & ranchers who sign up for continuous CRP may use a variety of NRCS approved practices depending on the resource need. See Possible Practices.

Description: Growing bottomland hardwood trees or adapted shrubs that will provide multipurpose forest and wildlife benefits on suitable lands to improve the quality of water, control soil erosion, and enhance wildlife habitat.

Benefits: To Control sheet, rill, scour, and other erosion; to reduce water, air, or land pollution; to restore and enhance the natural and beneficial functions of wetlands; to promote carbon equestration; and to restore and connect wildlife habitat.

Possible Funding: Continuous CRP

Fact Sheet: Bottomland Timber Establishment on Wetlands Initiative

Possible Practices: Firebreak (394), Tree/Shrub Establishment (612), Tree/Shrub Site Preparation (490), Wetland Enhancement (659)

Wetland Restoration
CP23

Farmers & ranchers who sign up for continuous CRP may use a variety of NRCS approved practices depending on the resource need. See Possible Practices.

Description: A rehabilitation of a drained or degraded wetland where the soils, hydrology, vegetative community, and biological habitat are returned to the natural condition to the extent practicable.

Benefits: To restore hydric soil conditions, hydrologic conditions, hydrophytic plant communities, and wetland functions that occurred on the disturbed wetland site prior to modification to the extent practicable.

Possible Funding: Continuous CRP

Fact Sheet - Wetland Restoration

Possible Practices: Early Successional Habitat (647), Firebreak (394), Prescribed Burn (338), Shallow Water Areas-Wildlife (646), Tree/Shrub Establishment (612), Tree/Shrub Site Preparation (490), Water Control Structure (587), Wetland Enhancement (659), Wetland Restoration (657), Wetland Wildlife Habitat Management (644)

Success Stories: Ducks Unlimited Waterfowl Habitat in East Arkansas

Wetland Restoration -
Non Floodplain
CP23A

Farmers & ranchers who sign up for continuous CRP may use a variety of NRCS approved practices depending on the resource need. See Possible Practices.

Description: Restore upland and other non-floodplain wetlands to return soils, hydrology, vegetative community and biolotical habitat to the natural condition to the extent practical.

Possible Funding: Continuous CRP

Possible Practices: Early Successional Habitat (647), Firebreak (394), Prescribed Burn (338), Tree/Shrub Establishment (612), Tree/Shrub Site Preparation (490), Water Control Structure (587), Wetland Enhancement (659), Wetland Restoration (657), Wetland Wildlife Habitat Management (644)

Contour Buffer Strips
NRCS Code 332

Description: Narrow strips of permanent, herbaceous vegetative cover established across the slope and alternated down the slope with parallel, wider cropped strips.

Benefits: To reduce sheet and rill erosion, to reduce transport of sediment and other water-borne contaminants downslope, onsite or off-site, and to to enhance wildlife habitat

Possible Funding: CSP, Continuous CRP

NRCS Practice Standard (NRCS link)

Filter Strips
NRCS Code 393

Description: A strip or area of herbaceous vegetation situated between cropland, grazing land, or disturbed land (including forestland) and environmentally sensitive areas.

Benefits: To reduce sediment, particulate organics, and sediment adsorbed contaminant loadings in runoff, to reduce dissolved contaminant loadings in runoff, to serve as Zone 3 of a Riparian Forest Buffer, Practice Standard 391, to reduce sediment, particulate organics, and sediment adsorbed contaminant loadings in surface irrigation tailwater, to restore, create or enhance herbaceous habitat for wildlife and beneficial insects, and to maintain or enhance watershed functions and values.

Possible Funding: EQIP, CSP, Continuous CRP

NRCS Practice Standard (NRCS link)
NRCS Specification Guide (NRCS link)
NRCS Job Sheet (NRCS link)

Description: A strip of permanent vegetation established at the edge or around the perimeter of a field.

Benefits: Reduce erosion from wind and water, soil and water quality protection, management of harmful insect populations, provide wildlife food and cover, increase carbon storage in biomass and soils, and improve air quality.

Possible Funding: EQIP, CSP, Continuous CRP

NRCS Practice Standard (NRCS link)
NRCS Specification Guide (NRCS link)
NRCS Job Sheet (NRCS link)

Grassed Waterway
NRCS Code-412

Description: A natural or constructed channel that is shaped
or graded to required dimensions and established with suitable vegetation.

Benefits: To convey runoff from terraces, diversions, or other water concentrations without causing erosion or flooding, to reduce gully erosion, and to protect/improve water quality.

Possible Funding: EQIP, CSP, Continuous CRP

NRCS Practice Standard (NRCS link)

Windbreak/Shelterbelt Establishment
NRCS Code 380

Description: Windbreaks or shelterbelts are single or multiple rows of trees or shrubs in linear configurations.

Benefits: Reduce soil erosion from wind, protect plants from wind related damage, alter the microenvironment for enhancing plant growth, manage snow deposition, provide shelter for structures, animals, and people, enhance wildlife habitat, provide noise screens, provide visual screens, improve air quality by reducing and intercepting air borne particulate matter, chemicals, and odors, delineate property and field boundaries, improve irrigation efficiency, and increase carbon storage in biomass and soils.

Possible Funding: CSP, Continuous CRP

Fact Sheet Windbreak/Shelterbelt Establishment

NRCS Practice Standard (NRCS link)
NRCS Specification Guide (NRCS link)
NRCS Job Sheet (NRCS link)

Windbreak/Shelterbelt Renovation
NRCS Code-650

Description: Replacing, releasing, and/or removing selected trees and shrubs or rows within an existing windbreak or shelterbelt, adding rows to the windbreak or shelterbelt, or removing selected tree and shrub branches...

Benefits: Restoring or enhancing the original planned function of existing windbreaks or shelterbelts.

Possible Funding: CSP, Continuous CRP

NRCS Practice Standard (NRCS link)

Hedgerow Planting
NRCS Code-422

Description: Establishment of dense vegetation composed of shrubs and/or trees in a linear design in, across, or around a field to achieve a natural resource conservation purpose.

Benefits:To provide at least one of the following conservation functions: food, cover and corridors for terrestrial wildlife, food and cover for aquatic organisms that live in watercourses with bank-full width less than 5 feet, to intercept airborne particulate matter, to reduce chemical drift and odor movement, to increase carbon storage in biomass and soils, living fences, boundary delineation, contour guidelines, screens and barriers to noise and dust, and improvement of landscape appearance

NRCS Practice Standard (NRCS link)

Wildlife Habitat for Upland Birds CP33

Farmers & ranchers who sign up for continuous CRP may use a variety of NRCS approved practices depending on the resource need. Farmers & ranchers who sign up for continuous CRP may use a variety of NRCS approved practices depending on the resource need. See Possible Practices.

Description: Habitat buffers for upland birds are strips of vegetation established around the edges of crop fields to provide habitat for bobwhite quail, ring-neck pheasant, and other upland birds. 

Benefits: Buffers provide nesting, brood rearing and escape cover, serve as travel corridors between areas of suitable habitat, may provide habitat for other animals and may limit sediment, nutrients, pesticides and other contaminants from entering streams and other water bodies.

Possible Funding: Continuous CRP, WHIP

Fact Sheets:

Possible Practices: Early Successional Habitat (647), Firebreak (394), Prescribed Burning (338), Restoration or Management of Declining Habitat (643), Tree/Shrub Establishment (612), Tree/Shrub Site Preparation (490), Upland Wildlife Habitat Management (645)

Success Stories: Restoration project improves quail population, habitat

Description: Manage early plant succession to benefit desired wildlife or natural communities.

Benefits: Increase plant community diversity, provide wildlife or aquatic habitat for early successional species, and provide habitat for declining species.

NRCS Practice Standard (NRCS link)
NRCS Specification Guide (NRCS link)

Firebreak
NRCS Code-394

Description: A permanent or temporary strip of bare or vegetated land planned to retard fire.

Benefits: Reduce the spread of wildfire and contain prescribed burns.

Possible Funding: EQIP

Fact Sheet: Firebreak

NRCS Practice Standard (NRCS link)
NRCS Specification Guide (NRCS link)
NRCS Job Sheet (NRCS link)

Prescribed Burning
NRCS Code-338

Description: Controlled fire applied to a predetermined area.

Benefits: Control undesirable vegetation, prepare sites for harvesting, planting or seeding, control plant disease, reduce wildfire hazards, improve wildlife habita, improve plant production quantity and/or quality, remove slash and debris, enhance seed and seedling production, facilitate distribution of grazing and browsing animals, and restore and maintain ecological sites.

Possible Funding: WHIP, EQIP, CSP, Continuous CRP

Fact Sheet: Prescribed Burning

NRCS Practice Standard (NRCS link)
NRCS Specification Guide (NRCS link)
NRCS Job Sheet (NRCS link)

Shallow Water Areas for Wildlife
CP9

Farmers & ranchers who sign up for continuous CRP may use a variety of NRCS approved practices depending on the resource need.See Possible Practices.

Description: Managing shallow water on agricultural lands and moist soil areas for wildlife habitat.

Benefits: To provide open water areas on agricultural
fields and moist soil areas to facilitate waterfowl resting and feeding and to provide habitat for reptiles and amphibians and other aquatic species which serve as important prey species for waterfowl, raptors, herons, and other wildlife.

Possible Funding: Continuous CRP

Fact Sheet - Shallow Water Areas for Wildlife

Possible Practices: Early Successional Habitat (647), Filter Strips (393), Prescribed Burning (338), Shallow Water Areas-Wildlife (646), Tree/Shrub Establishment (612), Tree/Shrub Site Preparation (490), Water Control Structure (587), Upland Wildlife Habitat Management (645)

Filter Strips
CP21

Farmers & ranchers who sign up for continuous CRP may use a variety of NRCS approved practices depending on the resource need.See Possible Practices.

Description: A strip or area of herbaceous vegetation situated between cropland, grazing land, or disturbed land (including forestland) and environmentally sensitive areas.

Benefits: To reduce sediment, particulate organics, and sediment adsorbed contaminant loadings in runoff, to reduce dissolved contaminant loadings in runoff, to serve as Zone 3 of a Riparian Forest Buffer (391), to reduce sediment, particulate organics, and sediment adsorbed contaminant loadings in surface irrigation tailwater, to restore, create or enhance herbaceous habitat for wildlife and beneficial insects, and to maintain or enhance watershed functions and values.

Possible Funding: Continuous CRP

Possible Practices: Early Successional Habitat (647), Filter Strips (393), Firebreaks (394), Prescribed Burning (338), Upland Wildlife Habitat Management (645)

Riparian Forest Buffers
CP22

Farmers & ranchers who sign up for continuous CRP may use a variety of NRCS approved practices depending on the resource need.See Possible Practices.

Description: An area of predominantly trees and/or shrubs located adjacent to and up-gradient from watercourses or water bodies.

Benefits: Create shade to lower or maintain water temperatures to improve habitat for aquatic organisms, create or improve riparian habitat and provide a source of detritus and large woody debris, reduce excess amounts of sediment, organic material, nutrients, and pesticides in surface runoff and reduce excess nutrients and other chemicals in shallow ground water flow, reduce pesticide drift entering the water body, restore riparian plant communities, and increase carbon storage in plant biomass and soils.

Possible Funding: Continuous CRP

Fact Sheet Riparian Forest Buffer

Possible Practices: Early Successional Habitat (647), Fence (382), Pond (378), Riparian Forest Buffer (391), Riparian Herbaceous Cover (390), Tree/Shrub Establishment (612), Tree/Shrub Site Preparation (490), Upland Wildlife Habitat Management (645)

Wildlife Habitat for Upland Birds CP33

Farmers & ranchers who sign up for continuous CRP may use a variety of NRCS approved practices depending on the resource need. See Possible Practices.

Description: Habitat buffers for upland birds are strips of vegetation established around the edges of crop fields to provide habitat for bobwhite quail, ring-neck pheasant, and other upland birds. 

Benefits: Buffers provide nesting, brood rearing and escape cover, serve as travel corridors between areas of suitable habitat, may provide habitat for other animals and may limit sediment, nutrients, pesticides and other contaminants from entering streams and other water bodies.

Possible Funding: Continuous CRP

Fact Sheets:

Possible Practices: Early Successional Habitat (647), Firebreak (394), Prescribed Burning (338), Restoration or Management of Declining Habitat (643), Tree/Shrub Establishment (612), Tree/Shrub Site Preparation (490), Upland Wildlife Habitat Management (645)

Success Stories: Restoration project improves quail population, habitat

Bottomland Timberland Establishment on Wetlands
CP31

Farmers & ranchers who sign up for continuous CRP may use a variety of NRCS approved practices depending on the resource need. See Possible Practices.

Description: Growing bottomland hardwood trees or adapted shrubs that will provide multipurpose forest and wildlife benefits on suitable lands to improve the quality of water, control soil erosion, and enhance wildlife habitat.

Benefits: To Control sheet, rill, scour, and other erosion; to reduce water, air, or land pollution; to restore and enhance the natural and beneficial functions of wetlands; to promote carbon equestration; and to restore and connect wildlife habitat.

Possible Funding: Continuous CRP

Fact Sheet: Bottomland Timber Establishment on Wetlands Initiative

Possible Practices: Firebreak (394), Tree/Shrub Establishment (612), Tree/Shrub Site Preparation (490), Wetland Enhancement (659)

Wetland Restoration
CP23

Farmers & ranchers who sign up for continuous CRP may use a variety of NRCS approved practices depending on the resource need. See Possible Practices.

Description: A rehabilitation of a drained or degraded wetland where the soils, hydrology, vegetative community, and biological habitat are returned to the natural condition to the extent practicable.

Benefits: To restore hydric soil conditions, hydrologic conditions, hydrophytic plant communities, and wetland functions that occurred on the disturbed wetland site prior to modification to the extent practicable.

Possible Funding: Continuous CRP

Fact Sheet - Wetland restoration

Possible Practices: Early Successional Habitat (647), Firebreak (394), Prescribed Burn (338), Shallow Water Areas-Wildlife (646), Tree/Shrub Establishment (612), Tree/Shrub Site Preparation (490), Water Control Structure (587), Wetland Enhancement (659), Wetland Restoration (657), Wetland Wildlife Habitat Management (644)

Wetland Restoration -
Non Floodplain
CP23A

Farmers & ranchers who sign up for continuous CRP may use a variety of NRCS approved practices depending on the resource need. See Possible Practices.

Possible Funding: Continuous CRP

Possible Practices: Early Successional Habitat (647), Firebreak (394), Prescribed Burn (338), Tree/Shrub Establishment (612), Tree/Shrub Site Preparation (490), Water Control Structure (587), Wetland Enhancement (659), Wetland Restoration (657), Wetland Wildlife Habitat Management (644)

Marginal Pastureland Wildlife Habitat Buffers
CP29

Farmers & ranchers who sign up for continuous CRP may use a variety of NRCS approved practices depending on the resource need. See Possible Practices.

Description: Plantings of trees and shrubs that are a source of food, nesting cover and shelter for many wildlife species. Pastureland adjacent or parallel to rivers, creeks, seasonal streams, other permanent water bodies, such as lakes & ponds that provide water throughout most of the year. 20-120 feet

Benefits: Restore land or aquatic habitats degraded by
human activity, provide habitat for rare and declining
wildlife species by restoring and conserving native plant communities, increase native plant community diversity, and management of unique or declining native
habitats.

Possible Funding: Continuous CRP

Watering Facility
NRCS Code-614

Description: Develop, improve, or modify watering places and systems for wildlife.

Benefits: Provide adequate drinking water, during critical periods, for wildlife, create or expand suitable habitat for wildlife, and improve water quality and accessibility for wildlife.

Possible Funding: EQIP, Continuous CRP, WHIP, CSP

NRCS Practice Standard (NRCS link)

Description: A structure in an irrigation, drainage, or other water management systems that conveys water, controls the direction or rate of flow, or maintains a desired water surface elevation.

Benefits: To control the stage, discharge, distribution, delivery, or direction of flow of water in open channels or water use areas. Also used for water quality control, such as sediment reduction or temperature regulation. These structures are also used to protect fish and wildlife and other natural resources.

Possible Funding: EQIP, Ducks Unlimited

Types of Water Control Structures- Ducks Unlimited

NRCS Practice Standard (NRCS link)

Description: Manage early plant succession to benefit desired wildlife or natural communities.

Benefits: Increase plant community diversity, provide wildlife or aquatic habitat for early successional species, and provide habitat for declining species.

NRCS Practice Standard (NRCS link)
NRCS Specification Guide (NRCS link)

Bottomland Timberland Establishment on Wetlands
CP31

Farmers & ranchers who sign up for continuous CRP may use a variety of NRCS approved practices depending on the resource need.See Possible Practices.

Description: Growing bottomland hardwood trees or adapted shrubs that will provide multipurpose forest and wildlife benefits on suitable lands to improve the quality of water, control soil erosion, and enhance wildlife habitat.

Benefits: To Control sheet, rill, scour, and other erosion; to reduce water, air, or land pollution; to restore and enhance the natural and beneficial functions of wetlands; to promote carbon equestration; and to restore and connect wildlife habitat.

Possible Funding: Continuous CRP

Fact Sheet: Bottomland Timber Establishment on Wetlands Initiative

Possible Practices: Firebreak (394), Tree/Shrub Establishment (612), Tree/Shrub Site Preparation (490), Wetland Enhancement (659)

Riparian Forest Buffers
CP22

Farmers & ranchers who sign up for continuous CRP may use a variety of NRCS approved practices depending on the resource need.See Possible Practices.

Description: An area of predominantly trees and/or shrubs located adjacent to and up-gradient from watercourses or water bodies.

Benefits: Create shade to lower or maintain water temperatures to improve habitat for aquatic organisms, create or improve riparian habitat and provide a source of detritus and large woody debris, reduce excess amounts of sediment, organic material, nutrients, and pesticides in surface runoff and reduce excess nutrients and other chemicals in shallow ground water flow, reduce pesticide drift entering the water body, restore riparian plant communities, increase carbon storage in plant biomass and soils.

Possible Funding: Continuous CRP

Fact Sheet: Riparian Forest Buffer

Description: Establishing woody plants by planting seedlings or cuttings, direct seeding, or natural regeneration.

Benefits: Establish woody plants for: forest products such as timber, pulpwood, and energy biomass, wildlife habitat, long-term erosion control and improvement of water quality, treating waste, storing carbon in biomass, energy conservation, improving or restoring natural diversity, and enhancing aesthetics.

Possible Funding: EQIP, WHIP, Continuous CRP

NRCS Fact Sheet: Tree/Shrub Establishment

NRCS Practice Standard (NRCS link)
NRCS Specification Guide (NRCS link)
NRCS Job Sheet (NRCS link)

Tree & Shrub Pruning
NRCS Code 660

Description: The removal of all or part of selected branches, leaders, or roots from trees and shrubs.

Benefits: Improve the appearance of trees or shrubs, e.g., ornamental plants and Christmas trees, improve the quality of wood products, improve the production of plant products, e.g., nuts, fruits, boughs, and tips, reduce fire and/or safety hazards, improve the growth and vigor of understory plants, adjust the foliage and branching density or rooting length for other specific intents, such as wind and snow control, noise abatement, access control, visual screens, and managing competition, and improve health and vigor of woody plants, e.g. disease, insect, and injury management.

NRCS Fact Sheet: Tree/Shrub Pruning

NRCS Practice Standard (NRCS link)
NRCS Specification Guide (NRCS link)
NRCS Job Sheet (NRCS link)

Tree & Shrub Site
Preparation
NRCS Code-490

Description: Treatment of areas to improve site conditions for establishing trees and/or shrubs.

Benefits: Encourage natural regeneration of desirable woody plants and permit artificial establishment of woody plants.

Fact Sheet: Tree/Shrub Site Preparation

NRCS Practice Standard (NRCS link)
NRCS Specification Guide (NRCS link)
NRCS Job Sheet (NRCS link)

Forest Stand Improvement
NRCS Code-666

Description:The manipulation of species composition, stand structure, and stocking by cutting or killing selected trees and understory vegetation.

Benefits: Increase the quantity and quality of forest products by manipulating stand density and structur, harvest forest products, initiate forest stand regeneration, reduce wildfire hazard, improve forest health by reducing the potential of damage from pests and moisture stress, restore natural plant communities, achieve or maintain a desired native understory plant community for special forest products, grazing, and browsing, improve aesthetic and recreation values, improve wildlife habitat, alter water yield, increase carbon storage in selected trees.

Possible Funding: EQIP, WHIP, Continuous CRP

Fact Sheet: Forest Stand Improvement

NRCS Practice Standard (NRCS link)
NRCS Specification Guide (NRCS link)
NRCS Job Sheet (NRCS link)

Firebreak
NRCS Code-394

Description: A permanent or temporary strip of bare or vegetated land planned to retard fire.

Benefits: Reduce the spread of wildfire and contain prescribed burns.

Fact Sheet: Firebreak

NRCS Practice Standard (NRCS link)
NRCS Specification Guide (NRCS link)
NRCS Job Sheet (NRCS link)

Riparian Forest Buffers
NRCS Code-391

Description: An area of predominantly trees and/or shrubs located adjacent to and up-gradient from watercourses or water bodies.

Benefits: Create shade to lower or maintain water temperatures to improve habitat for aquatic organisms, create or improve riparian habitat and provide a source of detritus and large woody debris, reduce excess amounts of sediment, organic material, nutrients, and pesticides in surface runoff and reduce excess nutrients and other chemicals in shallow ground water flow, reduce pesticide drift entering the water body, restore riparian plant communities, increase carbon storage in plant biomass and soils.

Possible Funding: EQIP, Continuous CRP, CSP, WHIP

Fact Sheet: Riparian Forest Buffer

NRCS Practice Standard (NRCS link)
NRCS Specification Guide (NRCS link)
NRCS Job Sheet (NRCS link)

Converting Ag Land to Wetlands, Forest or Grassland

Shallow Water Areas for Wildlife CP9

Farmers & ranchers who sign up for continuous CRP may use a variety of NRCS approved practices depending on the resource need. See Possible Practices.

Description: Managing shallow water on agricultural lands and moist soil areas for wildlife habitat.

Benefits: To provide open water areas on agricultural
fields and moist soil areas to facilitate waterfowl resting and feeding and to provide habitat for reptiles and amphibians and other aquatic species which serve as important prey species for waterfowl, raptors, herons, and other wildlife.

Possible Funding: Continuous CRP

Fact Sheet - Shallow Water Areas for Wildlife

Possible Practices: Early Successional Habitat (647), Filter Strips (393), Prescribed Burning (338), Shallow Water Areas-Wildlife (646), Tree/Shrub Establishment (612), Tree/Shrub Site Preparation (490), Water Control Structure (587), Upland Wildlife Habitat Management (645)

Filter Strips
CP21

Farmers & ranchers who sign up for continuous CRP may use a variety of NRCS approved practices depending on the resource need.See Possible Practices.

Description: A strip or area of herbaceous vegetation situated between cropland, grazing land, or disturbed land (including forestland) and environmentally sensitive areas.

Benefits: To reduce sediment, particulate organics, and sediment adsorbed contaminant loadings in runoff, to reduce dissolved contaminant loadings in runoff, to serve as Zone 3 of a Riparian Forest Buffer (391), to reduce sediment, particulate organics, and sediment adsorbed contaminant loadings in surface irrigation tailwater, to restore, create or enhance herbaceous habitat for wildlife and beneficial insects, and to maintain or enhance watershed functions and values.

Possible Funding: Continuous CRP

Possible Practices: Early Successional Habitat (647), Filter Strips (393), Firebreaks (394), Prescribed Burning (338), Upland Wildlife Habitat Management (645)

Riparian Forest Buffers
CP22

Farmers & ranchers who sign up for continuous CRP may use a variety of NRCS approved practices depending on the resource need.See Possible Practices.

Description: An area of predominantly trees and/or shrubs located adjacent to and up-gradient from watercourses or water bodies.

Benefits: Create shade to lower or maintain water temperatures to improve habitat for aquatic organisms, create or improve riparian habitat and provide a source of detritus and large woody debris, reduce excess amounts of sediment, organic material, nutrients, and pesticides in surface runoff and reduce excess nutrients and other chemicals in shallow ground water flow, reduce pesticide drift entering the water body, restore riparian plant communities, and increase carbon storage in plant biomass and soils.

Possible Funding: Continuous CRP

Fact Sheet Riparian Forest Buffer

Possible Practices: Early Successional Habitat (647), Fence (382), Pond (378), Riparian Forest Buffer (391), Riparian Herbaceous Cover (390), Tree/Shrub Establishment (612), Tree/Shrub Site Preparation (490), Upland Wildlife Habitat Management (645)

Wetland Restoration
CP23

Farmers & ranchers who sign up for continuous CRP may use a variety of NRCS approved practices depending on the resource need. See Possible Practices.

Description: A rehabilitation of a drained or degraded wetland where the soils, hydrology, vegetative community, and biological habitat are returned to the natural condition to the extent practicable.

Benefits: To restore hydric soil conditions, hydrologic conditions, hydrophytic plant communities, and wetland functions that occurred on the disturbed wetland site prior to modification to the extent practicable.

Possible Funding: Continuous CRP

Fact Sheet - Wetland restoration

Possible Practices: Early Successional Habitat (647), Firebreak (394), Prescribed Burn (338), Shallow Water Areas-Wildlife (646), Tree/Shrub Establishment (612), Tree/Shrub Site Preparation (490), Water Control Structure (587), Wetland Enhancement (659), Wetland Restoration (657), Wetland Wildlife Habitat Management (644)

Wetland Restoration -
Non Floodplain
CP23A

Farmers & ranchers who sign up for continuous CRP may use a variety of NRCS approved practices depending on the resource need. See Possible Practices.

Possible Funding: Continuous CRP

Possible Practices: Early Successional Habitat (647), Firebreak (394), Prescribed Burn (338), Tree/Shrub Establishment (612), Tree/Shrub Site Preparation (490), Water Control Structure (587), Wetland Enhancement (659), Wetland Restoration (657), Wetland Wildlife Habitat Management (644)

Bottomland Timberland Establishment on Wetlands
CP31

Farmers & ranchers who sign up for continuous CRP may use a variety of NRCS approved practices depending on the resource need.See Possible Practices.

Description: Growing bottomland hardwood trees or adapted shrubs that will provide multipurpose forest and wildlife benefits on suitable lands to improve the quality of water, control soil erosion, and enhance wildlife habitat.

Benefits: To Control sheet, rill, scour, and other erosion; to reduce water, air, or land pollution; to restore and enhance the natural and beneficial functions of wetlands; to promote carbon equestration; and to restore and connect wildlife habitat.

Possible Funding: Continuous CRP

Fact Sheet: Bottomland Timber Establishment on Wetlands Initiative

Possible Practices: Firebreak (394), Tree/Shrub Establishment (612), Tree/Shrub Site Preparation (490), Wetland Enhancement (659)

Wildlife Habitat for Upland Birds CP33

Farmers & ranchers who sign up for continuous CRP may use a variety of NRCS approved practices depending on the resource need. See Possible Practices.

Description: Habitat buffers for upland birds are strips of vegetation established around the edges of crop fields to provide habitat for bobwhite quail, ring-neck pheasant, and other upland birds. 

Benefits: Buffers provide nesting, brood rearing and escape cover, serve as travel corridors between areas of suitable habitat, may provide habitat for other animals and may limit sediment, nutrients, pesticides and other contaminants from entering streams and other water bodies.

Possible Funding: Continuous CRP

Fact Sheets:

Possible Practices: Early Successional Habitat (647), Firebreak (394), Prescribed Burning (338), Restoration or Management of Declining Habitat (643), Tree/Shrub Establishment (612), Tree/Shrub Site Preparation (490), Upland Wildlife Habitat Management (645)

Success Stories: Restoration project improves quail population, habitat

Description: Manage early plant succession to benefit desired wildlife or natural communities.

Benefits: Increase plant community diversity, provide wildlife or aquatic habitat for early successional species, and provide habitat for declining species.

NRCS Practice Standard (NRCS link)
NRCS Specification Guide (NRCS link)

Description: Establishing woody plants by planting seedlings or cuttings, direct seeding, or natural regeneration.

Benefits: Establish woody plants for: forest products such as timber, pulpwood, and energy biomass, wildlife habitat, long-term erosion control and improvement of water quality, treating waste, storing carbon in biomass, energy conservation, improving or restoring natural diversity, and enhancing aesthetics.

Possible Funding: EQIP, WHIP, Continuous CRP

Fact Sheet: Tree/Shrub Establishment

NRCS Practice Standard (NRCS link)
NRCS Specification Guide (NRCS link)
NRCS Job Sheet (NRCS link)

Marginal Pastureland Wildlife Habitat Buffers
CP29

Farmers & ranchers who sign up for continuous CRP may use a variety of NRCS approved practices depending on the resource need. See Possible Practices.

Description: Plantings of trees and shrubs that are a source of food, nesting cover and shelter for many wildlife species. Pastureland adjacent or parallel to rivers, creeks, seasonal streams, other permanent water bodies, such as lakes & ponds that provide water throughout most of the year. 20-120 feet

Benefits: Restore land or aquatic habitats degraded by
human activity, provide habitat for rare and declining
wildlife species by restoring and conserving native plant communities, increase native plant community diversity, and management of unique or declining native
habitats.

Possible Funding: Continuous CPR

Wildlife Habitat for Upland Birds CP33

Farmers & ranchers who sign up for continuous CRP may use a variety of NRCS approved practices depending on the resource need. See Possible Practices.

Description: Habitat buffers for upland birds are strips of vegetation established around the edges of crop fields to provide habitat for bobwhite quail, ring-neck pheasant, and other upland birds. 

Benefits: Buffers provide nesting, brood rearing and escape cover, serve as travel corridors between areas of suitable habitat, may provide habitat for other animals and may limit sediment, nutrients, pesticides and other contaminants from entering streams and other water bodies.

Possible Funding: Continuous CRP

Fact Sheets:

Possible Practices: Early Successional Habitat (647), Firebreak (394), Prescribed Burning (338), Restoration or Management of Declining Habitat (643), Tre