usda & drainage practices

Conservation Engineering Division - Excellence in Conservation, By Design

USDA & DRAINAGE PRACTICES

America’s Ag Water Management SummitOctober 12, 2011

Douglas W. Toews, P.E.USDA-NRCS

Conservation Engineering Division - Excellence in Conservation, By Design

NRCS Practices for Drainage Water Management (DWM)

• Range of practices

• Integrated water management

• Infrastructure needed before DWM

• USDA programs & practices

Conservation Engineering Division - Excellence in Conservation, By Design

U.S. Drained Cropland

Conservation Engineering Division - Excellence in Conservation, By Design

U.S. Subsurface Drainage

Conservation Engineering Division - Excellence in Conservation, By Design

U.S. Irrigated Cropland

Source: U.S. Census of Agriculture, 2007.

Conservation Engineering Division - Excellence in Conservation, By Design

Irrigated Cropland Changes, 1969-2007

Conservation Engineering Division - Excellence in Conservation, By Design

DWM Process

Plan → Design → Install → Manage

Conservation Engineering Division - Excellence in Conservation, By Design

World of NRCS Practices

DWMPractice Category Related Total

Conservation Practices 10 160

Conservation Engineering Division - Excellence in Conservation, By Design

Subsurface Drain (606)

Conservation Engineering Division - Excellence in Conservation, By Design

Surface Drain, Field Ditch (607)

Conservation Engineering Division - Excellence in Conservation, By Design

Surface Drain, Main or Lateral (608)

Conservation Engineering Division - Excellence in Conservation, By Design

Structure for Water Control (587)

Conservation Engineering Division - Excellence in Conservation, By Design

Structure forWater Control (587)

Conservation Engineering Division - Excellence in Conservation, By Design

Tile Drain Pumped Outlet

Pumping Plant (533)

Conservation Engineering Division - Excellence in Conservation, By Design

Riparian Forest Buffer (391)

Conservation Engineering Division - Excellence in Conservation, By Design

Wetland Restoration (657)

Conservation Engineering Division - Excellence in Conservation, By Design

Drainage Water Management(554)

Conservation Engineering Division - Excellence in Conservation, By Design

Evolution of DWM (554)

Year Conservation Practice

1977 Regulating Water in Drainage Systems (554)

1987 Water Table Control (641)

1990 Controlled Drainage (335)

2001 Drainage Water Management (554)

Conservation Engineering Division - Excellence in Conservation, By Design

World of NRCS Practices

DWMPractice Category Related Total

Conservation Practices 10 160

Interim Cons. Practices 2 50

Conservation Engineering Division - Excellence in Conservation, By Design

DenitrifyingBioreactor (747)

Conservation Engineering Division - Excellence in Conservation, By Design

Monitoring & Evaluation (799)

Conservation Engineering Division - Excellence in Conservation, By Design

World of NRCS Practices

DWMPractice Category Related Total

Conservation Practices 10 160

Interim Cons. Practices 2 50

Conservation Activity Plans 1 16

Conservation Engineering Division - Excellence in Conservation, By Design

Conservation Activity Plan (CAP) 130: DWM Plan

1. Farm/field information

2. Producer objectives

3. Maps of fields/soils/drainage systems/wetland delineations

4. DWM zones

5. Conservation Practices & infrastructure needed

6. DWM schedule

7. Management instructions

Conservation Engineering Division - Excellence in Conservation, By Design

World of NRCS Practices

DWMPractice Category Related Total

Conservation Practices 10 160

Interim Cons. Practices 2 50

Conservation Activity Plans 1 16

Enhancements (CSP) 2 97

Conservation Engineering Division - Excellence in Conservation, By Design

DWM Enhancements

SQL03 DWM for nutrient, pathogen,or pesticide reduction

ANM01 DWM for seasonal wildlifehabitat

Conservation Engineering Division - Excellence in Conservation, By Design

DWM ProcessPlan → Design → Install → Manage

Conservation Engineering Division - Excellence in Conservation, By Design

DWM ProcessPlan → Design → Install → Manage

Cons PlanCAP 130

Conservation Engineering Division - Excellence in Conservation, By Design

DWM ProcessPlan → Design → Install → Manage

Cons Plan CP 587 CAP 130 CP 606

CP 607/8CP 533CP 390/1CP 657/8/9ICP 747

Conservation Engineering Division - Excellence in Conservation, By Design

DWM ProcessPlan → Design → Install → Manage

Cons Plan CP 587 CP 554CAP 130 CP 606 ICP 799

CP 607/8CP 533CP 390/1CP 657/8/9ICP 747

Conservation Engineering Division - Excellence in Conservation, By Design

Program/Practice Results

Average AnnualAmount Applied

Management Practice Nationally (acres)

Integrated Pest Mgmt (595) 5,215,000

Conservation Engineering Division - Excellence in Conservation, By Design

Program/Practice Results

Average AnnualAmount Applied

Management Practice Nationally (acres)

Integrated Pest Mgmt (595) 5,215,000

Nutrient Mgmt (590) 4,333,000

Conservation Engineering Division - Excellence in Conservation, By Design

Program/Practice Results

Average AnnualAmount Applied

Management Practice Nationally (acres)

Integrated Pest Mgmt (595) 5,215,000

Nutrient Mgmt (590) 4,333,000

Irrigation Water Mgmt (449) 1,163,000

Conservation Engineering Division - Excellence in Conservation, By Design

Program/Practice Results

Average AnnualAmount Applied

Management Practice Nationally (acres)

Integrated Pest Mgmt (595) 5,215,000

Nutrient Mgmt (590) 4,333,000

Irrigation Water Mgmt (449) 1,163,000

Drainage Water Mgmt (554) 4,000

Conservation Engineering Division - Excellence in Conservation, By Design

Technical ServiceProvider (TSP) Certification Requirements for CAP 130

Conservation Engineering Division - Excellence in Conservation, By Design

TSP Certification Options for DWM

1. Certification: ADMC or LICA2. Education: B.S. in Ag/Bio Engineering, Agronomy, or Plant Science3. Experience: One year minimum4. Engineering License: Registered P.E.

in the State Two references required, and CAP 130 requires

completion of NRCS Conservation Planning Part 1, Modules 1-5.

Conservation Engineering Division - Excellence in Conservation, By Design

More Information• NRCS website link to TechReg (DWM Plans): http://www.techreg.usda.gov/RptActivityPlans.aspx • NRCS website link to State’s eFOTG (DWM

Standards & Specifications): http://www.nrcs.usda.gov/technical/efotg

• NRCS website link to CSP Enhancements:http://www.nrcs.usda.gov/wps/portal/nrcs/main?ss=16&navid=100120300000000&pnavid=100120000000000&position=SUBNAVIGATION&ttype=main&navtype=SUBNAVIGATION&pname=Conservation%20Stewardship%20Program%20|%20NRCS