Training on Conservation System Guides and Performance Results System

1
Training on Conservation System Guides and
Performance Results System

• February, 2006

2
Training Team Developers

• Conservation System Guides A general overview
  by John Copeland
• Understanding and using the new functionality of
  the Conservation System Guide Application by Phil
  Smith
• Understanding and using the Conservation System
  Guide Application by Lori Ziehr and Greta
  Steverson
• CSG role in FY2006 performance measures by Keith
  Rogers and Dan Mullarkey
• How to complete a CS physical effects over ride
  by Greta Steverson and Lori Ziehr.
• Future enhancements using the CSG-PRS linked data
  by Ken Tootle.
• Frequently asked questions and answers A Text
  document by the team members

3
Module 1 - Conservation System Guides, A General
Overview

• February 2006

4
Objectives

• Upon completion of this training, participants
  will be able to
• Explain the uses of Conservation System Guides
  (CSG) and Conservation Systems (CS)
• Describe Conservation System Guides and
  Conservation Systems
• Explain the history behind the guides
• Describe when additional guides/systems are
  needed for their Field Office work area

5
Uses

• Improve efficiency in conservation planning
• Training tools for employees, partners, Technical
  Service Providers
• Provide typical resource effects and impacts that
  can be automatically harvested by the
  Performance Results System (PRS)
• Serve as a source of information

6
Definition

• Common Resource Area (CRA) is a geographical area
  where resource concerns, problems, or treatment
  needs are similar.

7
Definition

• A Conservation System Guide (CSG) is composed of
  the resource settings, resource concerns, and
  resource conditions for a typical field by
  landuse within a Common Resource Area (CRA).

8
Conservation System Guides

• Conservation System Guides are developed for each
  appropriate land use within the CRA.
• Contain baseline data and threshold data for
  measurable resource concerns

9
Definition

• Conservation Systems (CS) identify conservation
  practices typically applied to address the
  resource concerns identified in the Conservation
  System Guide and show system effects and impacts
  on the resource concerns.

10
Conservation Systems

• At least one conservation system is required for
  each guide
• Conservation systems are developed at the RMS
  level
• Each system identifies a primary resource concern
• Each system contains a system description

11
Definition

• Baseline Description Describes the condition of
  the resource setting.
• Baseline Condition - The condition of the
  resource concerns of a typical land unit,
  expressed in measurement units of the applicable
  quality criteria.
• Can be thought of as the before condition

12
Baseline Condition Examples

• Sheet and rill erosion - 8 Tons/Acre/Year
• Classic gully erosion 25 Tons/Year
• Soil condition index -0.2
• Rangeland site stability departure of 2
• Particulate matter lt2.5 500 Lbs./Year
• Wildfire hazard 50 Acres/Year

13
Definition

• Threshold Value the most extreme value allowed
  (in terms of use, loss or degradation) for a
  resource concern, in quality criteria measurement
  units, that still maintains long-term
  sustainability.

14
Threshold Value

• Only for
• Sheet and Rill Erosion
• Wind Erosion
• Organic Matter Depletion (SCI)
• Sheet and Rill erosion soil loss tolerance
• Used to compare field conditions to threshold
  value

15
Definition

• System Effects - The results, in qualitative or
  quantitative terms, of applying a conservation
  system or practice on a resource concern in a
  particular resource setting.
• Can be thought of as the after condition

16
Definition

• System Impacts - The difference, for a resource
  concern, between the baseline condition and the
  effect of applying the conservation system or
  practice.
• Can be thought of as the difference between
  before and after conditions

17
Definition

• Resource considerations/ Resource concerns -
  Elements of the natural resources that may be
  sensitive to change by natural forces or human
  activity.

18
Erosion
Sheet rill
Excessive nutrients and organics in surface water
Quality
Quality
Objectionable odors
Plants not adapted or suited
Suitability
Fish and wildlife
Inadequate food
19
Definition

• Measurable resource concern a resource concern
  for which measurement units and a measurement
  procedure have been established
• Examples
• Sheet and rill erosion
• Organic matter depletion
• Rangeland site stability
• PM 2.5

20
Definition

• Non-Measurable resource concern a resource
  concern for which measurement units and
  measurement procedures are not available or have
  not been established, or are not appropriate for
  NRCS use.
• Examples
• Compaction
• Inadequate outlets
• Harmful levels of pesticides in surface water

21
History of CRA/CSG

• Guidance documents existed in the FOTG
• 2003 decision made to develop a system that
  could automatically harvest progress
• Common Resource Area development and delineation
  began in August 2003

22
History of CRA/CSG

• National Bulletins provided guidance for
  Conservation System Guides and Conservation
  Systems
• Programming allowed only three of the national
  resource concerns to be populated
• Additional programming was done to
  CSG/measurement units determined
• Evolved into present format

23
How can FO staff view CSG?

• EFOTG Section III

24
(No Transcript)
25
How can FO staff view CSG?

• Conservation System Guide web site
• my.NRCS gt Field Tools tab gt Conservation System
  Guides button gt Conservation System Guides page
  gt Reports at a minimum select State, CRA, and
  landuse

26
(No Transcript)
27
(No Transcript)
28
(No Transcript)
29
How can FO staff view CSG?

• Customer Service Toolkit

30
(No Transcript)
31
How can FO staff view CSG?

• Performance Reporting System
• Land units tab
• Impact tab

32
(No Transcript)
33
(No Transcript)
34
(No Transcript)
35
(No Transcript)
36
(No Transcript)
37
Requesting additional guides

• Only when current guides or systems do not cover
  the majority of typical field situations found
  in the Field Office work area.
• For FY2006, when current guides or systems do not
  provide reporting opportunities for all
  appropriate National Performance Measures.

38
How do CSG impact FO staff?

• Reduces plan documentation time.
• Enables PRS to automatically harvest progress
  associated with National Performance Measures.
• Reduces progress reporting time
• Helps ensure that appropriate progress is captured

39
Youve completed the overviewofConservation
System Guides