RESOURCE CONCERNS Conservation Delivery Streamlining Initiative September 28, 2010 Resource Concern A resource concern (RC) is an expected degradation of the soil, water, air, plant, or animal resource base to an extent that the sustainability or intended use of the resource is impaired. Because NRCS quantifies or describes resource concerns as part of a comprehensive conservation planning process that includes client objectives, human and energy resources are considered components of the resource base. Resource Concern Description of Concern SOIL EROSION Sheet, rill, & Detachment and transportation of soil particles caused by – wind erosion rainfall runoff/splash, irrigation runoff, or wind that degrades soil quality. SOIL EROSION Concentrated Untreated classic gullies may enlarge progressively by head – flow erosion cutting and/or lateral widening. Ephemeral gullies occur in the same flow area and are obscured by tillage. This includes EROSION concentrated flow erosion caused by runoff from rainfall, snowmelt, or irrigation water. SOIL EROSION Excessive bank Sediment from banks or shorelines threatens to degrade water – SOIL erosion from streams, shorelines, quality and limit use for intended purposes. or water conveyance channels SOIL QUALITY Loss of volume and depth of organic soils due to oxidation DEGRADATION Subsidence caused by above normal microbial activity resulting from – excessive water drainage, soil disturbance, or extended drought. SOIL QUALITY Management induced soil compaction resulting in decreased DEGRADATION Compaction rooting depth that reduces plant growth, animal habitat, and soil – biological activity. SOIL QUALITY Soil organic matter is not adequate to provide a suitable QUALITY DEGRADATION Organic medium for plant growth, animal habitat, and soil biological – matter depletion activity. SOIL QUALITY Concentration of salts leading to salinity and/or sodicity DEGRADATION SOIL DEGRADATION Concentration reducing productivity or limiting desired use. – of or other chemicals Concentrations of other chemicals impacting productivity or limiting desired use. EXCESS WATER Ponding, Surface water or poor subsurface drainage restricts land use and – flooding, seasonal high water table, management goals. Wind-blown snow accumulates around and / seeps, and drifted snow over surface structures, restricting access to humans and animals. WATER INSUFFICIENT WATER Natural precipitation is not optimally managed to support – Inefficient moisture management desired land use goals or ecological processes. EXCESS INSUFFFICIENT WATER Irrigation water is not stored, delivered, scheduled, and/or –
RESOURCE CONCERNS Conservation Delivery Streamlining Initiative September 28, 2010 Resource Concern A resource concern (RC) is an expected degradation of the soil, water, air, plant, or animal resource base to an extent that the sustainability or intended use of the resource is impaired. Because NRCS quantifies or describes resource concerns as part of a comprehensive conservation planning process that includes client objectives, human and energy resources are considered components of the resource base. Resource Concern Description of Concern SOIL EROSION SOIL EROSION – Sheet, rill, & wind erosion Detachment and transportation of soil particles caused by rainfall runoff/splash, irrigation runoff, or wind that degrades soil quality. SOIL EROSION – Concentrated flow erosion Untreated classic gullies may enlarge progressively by head cutting and/or lateral widening. Ephemeral gullies occur in the same flow area and are obscured by tillage. This includes concentrated flow erosion caused by runoff from rainfall, snowmelt, or irrigation water. SOIL EROSION – Excessive bank erosion from streams, shorelines, or water conveyance channels Sediment from banks or shorelines threatens to degrade water quality and limit use for intended purposes. SOIL QUALITY DEGRADATION SOIL QUALITY DEGRADATION – Subsidence Loss of volume and depth of organic soils due to oxidation caused by above normal microbial activity resulting from excessive water drainage, soil disturbance, or extended drought. SOIL QUALITY DEGRADATION – Compaction Management induced soil compaction resulting in decreased rooting depth that reduces plant growth, animal habitat, and soil biological activity. SOIL QUALITY DEGRADATION – Organic matter depletion Soil organic matter is not adequate to provide a suitable medium for plant growth, animal habitat, and soil biological activity. SOIL QUALITY DEGRADATION – Concentration of or other chemicals Concentration of salts leading to salinity and/or sodicity reducing productivity or limiting desired use. Concentrations of other chemicals impacting productivity or limiting desired use. EXCESS / WATER EXCESS WATER – Ponding, flooding, seasonal high water table, seeps, and drifted snow Surface water or poor subsurface drainage restricts land use and management goals. Wind-blown snow accumulates around and over surface structures, restricting access to humans and animals. INSUFFICIENT WATER – Inefficient moisture management Natural precipitation is not optimally managed to support desired land use goals or ecological processes. INSUFFFICIENT WATER – Irrigation water is not stored, delivered, scheduled, and/or