IRRIGATION WATER
MANAGEMENT LEVEL I
CONSERVATION
PLANNING AND
IWM
CONSERVATION PLANNING
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OBJECTIVES - WHY ARE WE HERE?
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PRODUCER
• PRODUCTION
• LABOR
• ON-FARM INFRASTRUCTURE
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RESOURCE
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•
SOIL
WATER (QUALITY/QUANTITY)
AIR
PLANTS
ANIMALS
CONSERVATION PLANNING
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REFERENCES
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GENERAL MANUAL
FIELD OFFICE TECHNICAL GUIDE AND
TECHNICAL NOTES
MONTANA SUPPLEMENT TO THE EFM
FOOD SECURITY ACT MANUAL 3RD EDITION
MONTANA IRRIGATION GUIDE AND MANUAL
NEH PART 652 IRRIGATION GUIDE
NATIONAL PLANNING PROCEDURES HANDBOOK
CUSTOMER SERVICE TOOLKIT USER GUIDES
CONSERVATION PLANNING
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REFERENCES (CONTINUED)
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NEPA/MEPA
THREATENED AND ENDANGERED SPECIES (GM
190 PART 410)
WILD AND SCENIC RIVER (FOTG)
PRIME AND UNIQUE FARMLAND (GM 310 PART 403
AND FOTG SEC. II)
FEDERAL CLEAN WATER ACT
A GUIDE TO STREAM PERMITTING IN MONTANA
CULTURAL RESOURCES MANUAL & GM PART 420401
CONSERVATION PROGRAM MANUALS
SOIL SURVEY MANUAL (PUBLISHED AND
ELECTRONIC
NATIONAL ENGINEERING MANUAL
CONSERVATION PLANNING
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WHAT IS A PLAN?
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IT IS A DYNAMIC PROCESS
SETS THE FRAMWORK FOR IMPLEMENTING A
RESOURCE MANAGEMENT SYSTEM
COMPLETED IN STEPS (PROGRESSIVE)
DESIGNED FOR THE CUSTOMER NEEDS
PLAN IS ONLY OF VALUE IF IMPLEMENTED
IMPLEMENTATION REQUIRES QUALITY,
DETAILED PLANS BASED ON RESOURCE
OBJECTIVES AND PRODUCER’S CAPABILITY TO
IMPLEMENT
CONSERVATION PLANNING
 YOU
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AND THE PLAN
CAN INVOLVE A COMPLEX SET OF
RESOURCES, ENVIRONMENTAL
CONSIDERATIONS, ECONOMICS AND
SOCIAL CONDITIONS
GO AS FAR AS YOU CAN WITH YOUR
EXPERIENCE AND TRAINING
COORDINATE WITH SPECIALISTS
CONSERVATION PLANNING

PROBLEM IDENTIFICATION/RESOURCE
CONCERNS AND PLANNING
CONSIDERATIONS
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SWAPA
STARTING THE DOCUMENTATION PROCESS
• MT-CPA-9 RESOURCE IDENTIFICATION WORKSHEET
• CPA-52 ENVIRONMENTAL EVALUATION WORKSHEET
• ENG-220
CONSERVATION PLANNING
 RESOURCE
PROBLEM
IDENTIFICATION AND PLANNING
CONSIDERATIONS

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SOILS – WIND EROSION, WATER EROSION,
SOIL HEALTH, LEACHING
WATER
• QUANTITY (DELIVERY SYSTEM –
INFRASTRUCTURE AND RELIABILITY; WATER
RIGHTS; T&E SPECIES CONCERNS
• QUALITY – SURFACE AND GROUNDWATER
(SUSPENDED SOLIDS, SALINITY, CHEMICALS)
CONSERVATION PLANNING
 RESOURCE
PROBLEM
IDENTIFICATION AND PLANNING
CONSIDERATIONS
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AIR – QUALITY IS GENERALLY NOT A
PROBLEM EXCEPT WITH EXCESSIVE
EROSION DURING PRACTICE
IMPLEMENTATION OR LAND
PREPARATION PRIOR TO PLANTING, I.E.
CULTIVATION, LAND PLANING
CONSERVATION PLANNING
 RESOURCE
PROBLEM
IDENTIFICATION AND PLANNING
CONSIDERATIONS
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PLANTS – TYPES OF PLANTS GROWN,
CROP SEQUENCE, WEEDS, PLANT
ADAPABILITY, INSECTS
ANIMALS – EXISTING OR PLANNED
IMPACTS TO DOMESTIC AND WILDLIFE
(T&E SPECIES)
CONSERVATION PLANNING
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RESOURCE PROBLEM IDENTIFICATION
AND PLANNING CONSIDERATIONS
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HUMAN – ENERGY CONSERVATION, ECONOMIC
IMPACTS (SHORT/LONG TERM), LABOR, SOCIAL
SPECIAL ENVIRONMENTAL CONSIDERATIONS
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NEPA, CLEAN WATER ACT (NATIONAL AND STATE
WETLANDS
FLOODPLAINS
CULTURAL RESOURCES
T&E
PRIME AND UNIQUE FARMLANDS
WILD AND SCENIC RIVERS
CONSERVATION PLANNING
 RESOURCE
PROBLEM
IDENTIFICATION AND PLANNING
CONSIDERATIONS
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LAWS AND REGULATIONS
• 404 PERMITS (COE)
• STATE AND LOCAL (SB310, 3A, ETC.)
• MITIGATION (WETLANDS)
CONSERVATION PLANNING
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DETERMINE OBJECTIVES – LANDOWNER
AND RESOURCE
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INVENTORY RESOURCES
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PLANNER MUST FULLY UNDERSTAND THE
LANDUSER’S OBJECTIVE
OUR OBJECTIVE IS TO PROMOTE THE WISE USE
OF THE RESOURCES WITH MINIMUM IMPACT TO
THE ENVIRONMENT
MT EFH – MONTANA ENGINEERING PRACTICE
PLANNING AND DESIGN GUIDE
MT-ENG-220 IRRIGATION INVENTORY SHEET
ANALYZE DATA
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FIRI, MT IRRIGATION MANUAL AND GUIDE
CONSERVATION PLANNING
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FORMULATE AND EVALUATE
ALTERNATIVES
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THINK ABOUT ALL POSSIBLE ALTERNATIVES
HOW WILL THE ALTERNATIVE(S) FIT THE
RESOURCE MANAGEMENT SYSTEM (PRACTICES +
MANAGEMENT = CONSERVATION MANAGEMENT
SYSTEM
FORMULATE THE MOST PROMISING
EXCELLENT OPPORTUNITY FOR PLANNING AND
APPLICATION DISCIPLINES TO COORDINATE
PRESENT TO THE LANDOWNER IN A FORM HE/SHE
CAN UNDERSTAND
DISCUSS PROS AND CONS OF EACH
CONSERVATION PLANNING
 CLIENT
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DECISIONS
DOCUMENT LANDUSER DECISIONS IN
CUSTOMER SERVICE TOOLKIT FOR ALL
PLANNING (CONS 68) AND CONTRACTING
(AD 1155)
 IMPLEMENTATION
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PHASE
DEVELOPMENT OF DETAILED PLANS AND
SPECIFICATIONS
INCLUDES INSTALLATION PHASE AND
PROJECT INSPECTION/CERTIFICATION
CONSERVATION PLANNING
 EVALUATION/MONITORING/FOLLOW
UP
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DID WE MEET THE OBJECTIVES OF THE
PLAN? (WATER SAVINGS, LABOR,
STRUCTURAL CHANGES, ETC.)
TIME TO MAKE ADJUSTMENTS
CONTINUED EDUCATIONAL OPPORTUNITY
FOR LANDUSER….AND NRCS