Forestry NRCS Conservation Practices Exempted from 404 Permitting
(314) Brush Management - The management or removal of woody (non-herbaceous or
succulent) plants including those that are invasive or noxious.
(315) Herbaceous Weed Control - The removal or control of herbaceous weeds including
invasive, noxious and prohibited plants.
(326) Clearing and Snagging - Clearing and snagging is removing logs, boulders, drifts, and
other obstructions from a channel.
(327) Conservation Cover - This practice involves establishing and maintaining a protective
cover of perennial vegetation on land retired from agriculture production.
(338) Prescribed Burning - Prescribed Burning is applying controlled fire to a predetermined
area of land.
(342) Critical Area Planting - Planting vegetation on critically eroding areas that require
extraordinary treatment.
(380) Windbreak/Shelterbelt Establishment - Windbreaks and shelterbelts are single or
multiple rows of trees or shrubs planted for environmental purposes.
(383) Fuel Break - A strip or block of land on which the vegetation, debris and detritus have
been reduced and/or modified to control or diminish the risk of the spread of fire crossing the
strip or block of land.
(386) Field Border - A strip of perennial grass, shrubs or trees established
at or around the edge of a field.
(391) Riparian Forest Buffer - A riparian forest buffer is an area of trees and/or shrubs located
adjacent to a body of water. The vegetation extends outward from the water body for a
specified distance necessary to provide a minimum level of protection and/or enhancement.
(393) Filter Strip - A filter strip is an area of vegetation established for the purpose of removing
sediment, organic material, and other pollutants from runoff and waste water.
(394) Fire Break - A permanent or temporary strip of bare or vegetated land planned to retard
fire.
(395) Stream Habitat Improvement and Management - Maintain, improve or restore physical,
chemical and biological functions of a stream, and its associated riparian zone, necessary for
meeting the life history requirements of desired aquatic species.
(422) Hedgerow Planting - A hedgerow planting involves establishing a living fence of shrubs
or trees in, across, or around a field.
(460) Land Clearing - Land Clearing is removing trees, stumps, and other vegetation from
wooded areas.
(490) Tree/Shrub Site Preparation - Forest site preparation is the practice of treating areas to
encourage natural regeneration of desirable trees and shrubs or to accelerate the process by
providing optimum site conditions for planting or direct seeding of desirable woody species.
(500) Obstruction Removal - Obstruction Removal is removal and disposal of unwanted,
unsightly or hazardous building, structures, vegetation, landscape features, trash and other
material.
(544) Land Reclamation, Abandoned Mined Land – Reclamation of Abandoned Mined Land is
restoring the natural resources on are as adversely affected by past mining activity.
(550) Range Planting - Range planting is establishment of adapted perennial vegetation.
(568) Trails and Walkways - A recreation trail and walkway is a pathway prepared especially
for pedestrian, equestrian, and cycle travel.
(575) Animal Trails and Walkways - Animal trails and walkways provide a travel lane through
difficult or ecologically sensitive terrain.
(612) Tree/Shrub Establishment - Tree and Shrub Establishment is establishing
woody plants by planting or seeding.
(643) Restoration and Management of Rare and Declining Habitats - Restoring, conserving, and
managing unique or diminishing native terrestrial and aquatic ecosystems.
(644) Wetland Wildlife Habitat Management - Retaining, developing or managing wetland
habitat for wetland wildlife.
(647) Early Successional Habitat Development/Management- Manage plant succession to
develop and maintain early successional habitat to benefit desired wildlife and/or natural
communities.
(650) Windbreak/Shelterbelt Renovation - Renovation involves widening, partial replanting,
releasing, removing, and replacing selected trees and shrubs to improve an existing windbreak
or shelterbelt.
(654) Road/Trail/Landing Closure and Treatment - The closure, decommissioning, or
abandonment of roads, trails, and/or landings and associated treatment to achieve conservation
objectives.
(655) Forest Trails and Landings - Laying out, constructing, and using forest trails and landings.
(657) Wetland Restoration - The rehabilitation of a drained or degraded wetland where the
hydrology, vegetation and biological habitat are as close to the natural condition as possible.
(659) Wetland Enhancement - The augmentation of wetland functions beyond the original
natural conditions on a former, degraded, or naturally functioning wetland site; sometimes at
the expense of other functions.
(660) Tree/Shrub Pruning –Tree or shrub pruning is removing all or parts of selected branches
from trees and shrubs.
(666) Forest Stand Improvement - To manipulate species of trees by cutting or killing selected
trees and understory vegetation.
Forestry Practices NOT Exempted from 404 Permitting
(331) Contour orchard and other fruit area - Contour orchard and other fruit area is the practice
of planting orchards, vineyards, or small fruit so that all cultural operations are done on the
contour.
(381) Silvopasture establishment - An application establishing a combination of trees or shrubs
and compatible forages on the same acreage.
(384) Woody Residue Treatment - The treatment of residual woody material that is created due
to management activities or natural disturbances.
(560) Access Road - An access road is a travelway included in a conservation plan to provide a
safe, fixed route of travel for moving livestock, equipment, products and supplies. The practice
applies to roads that provide access for proper management of the enterprise, including
operation and maintenance of conservation practices. The roads also provide access to farms,
ranches, specific fields, woodlands, recreation areas and various kinds of structures.
(561) Heavy Use Area Protection - Heavy use area protection is protecting heavily used areas by
establishing vegetative cover, by surfacing with suitable materials, or by installing needed
structures.
(562) Recreation Area Improvement - Recreation Area Improvement is establishing
plants or manipulating existing plants to improve an area for use as recreation land.
(645) Upland Wildlife Habitat Management - Upland Wildlife Habitat Management is creating,
maintaining, or enhancing areas of food and cover for upland wildlife.