**Conservation Security Program (CSP)**

**OVERVIEW OF MINIMUM CRITERIA FOR ELIGIBILITY IN TIER III**

Landowner/Operator

County\_\_\_\_\_\_\_\_\_\_\_\_\_\_\_\_ Tract & Field
No.s\_\_\_\_\_\_\_\_\_\_\_\_\_\_ \_\_\_\_\_\_\_\_\_\_\_\_

**[Overview of Minimum Criteria for Tier III]{.underline}**

To be eligible for participation in CSP at the Tier III level, you must
currently be meeting the criteria for the resource concerns listed below
for your entire operation.

+-----+----------------------------------------------------------------+
| **  | ## [Water Quantity]{.underline} - In                           |
| €** | efficient water use on irrigated land and non-irrigated land.  |
+-----+----------------------------------------------------------------+
| **  | ## [Soil Condition]{.underlin                                  |
| €** | e} -- Soil contaminants from applied organic sources (Comprehe |
|     | nsive Nutrient Management Plan for animal feeding operations). |
+-----+----------------------------------------------------------------+
| **  | [Air Quality]{.underline} -- Objectionable odors, elevated     |
| €** | amounts of particulates and control of chemical drift.         |
+-----+----------------------------------------------------------------+
| **  | [Plant Condition/Native Plants]{.underline} -- Declining       |
| €** | native habitat or native plant community.                      |
+-----+----------------------------------------------------------------+
| **  | [Plant Condition/Domestic Animals]{.underline} - Inadequate    |
| €** | quality of feed and forage.                                    |
+-----+----------------------------------------------------------------+
| **  | ## [Wildlife]{.underline} - Inadeq                             |
| €** | uate cover, food, and space for grass and shrub nesting birds. |
+-----+----------------------------------------------------------------+
| **  | ## [Aquatic Life]{.underline} -- Unfavor                       |
| €** | able stream processes and poor aquatic habitat. This resource  |
|     | concern includes the adequate treatment of riparian corridors. |
+-----+----------------------------------------------------------------+

**[What Specific Treatments are Required for the Tier III Resource
Concerns?]{.underline}**

You should review the attached worksheets to determine what criteria
must be met during the life of your CSP contract to be eligible for Tier
III.

**Conservation Security Program (CSP)**

**MINIMUM CRITERIA FOR ELIGIBILITY IN TIER III:**

**Inefficient Water Use on Irrigated and Non-Irrigated Land**

Landowner/Operator

County\_\_\_\_\_\_\_\_\_\_\_\_\_\_\_\_ Tract & Field
No.s\_\_\_\_\_\_\_\_\_\_\_\_\_\_ \_\_\_\_\_\_\_\_\_\_\_\_

**[Criteria for Addressing Inefficient Water Use on Irrigated and
Non-Irrigated Land]{.underline}**

For irrigated areas, the minimum requirement for water quantity -
irrigation water management on cropland or pastureland is considered
achieved when the current level of treatment and management for the
system results in a water use index value as determined by NRCS of at
least 50.

For all non-irrigated areas within the operation, the vegetation and
residue must be managed such that the hydrologic condition is rated as
Good.

> *Hydrologic condition is rated based on a combination of factors that
> affect infiltration and runoff, including (a) density and canopy of
> vegetation, (b) the amount of year round cover, (c) amount of grass or
> close-seeded legumes in rotations, (d) percent of residue cover on the
> land surface (good \>= 50%), and (e) degree of surface roughness. A
> rating of good means that the factors encourage average or better than
> average infiltration and tend to decrease runoff. NRCS Engineering
> Field Manual, Table 2-3a, pg 2-85.*

The specific criteria for this resource concern is site dependent. Your
local NRCS staff or other NRCS specialists will develop a conservation
plan to assist you in meeting the specific criteria for this resource
concern.

**Conservation Security Program (CSP)**

**MINIMUM CRITERIA FOR ELIGIBILITY IN TIER III:**

**Soil Contaminants from Applied Organic Sources**

Landowner/Operator

County\_\_\_\_\_\_\_\_\_\_\_\_\_\_\_\_ Tract & Field
No.s\_\_\_\_\_\_\_\_\_\_\_\_\_\_ \_\_\_\_\_\_\_\_\_\_\_\_

**[Criteria for Addressing Soil Contaminants from Applied Organic
Sources]{.underline}**

This resource concern is focused on treatments to avoid contaminating
the soil with excessive metals and nutrients through the proper storage,
handling, treatment, and application of animal waste and other organic
materials on animal feeding operations.

To select this resource concern for Tier III eligibility, you must agree
to implement a Comprehensive Nutrient Management Plan (CNMP) as part of
your CSP contract. This CNMP must include the following:

+-----+----------------------------------------------------------------+
| **  | Adequate waste storage, treatment, and handling facilities.    |
| €** |                                                                |
+-----+----------------------------------------------------------------+
| **  | ## Proper application of all sources of n                      |
| €** | utrients, including waste and other organic products. (In addi |
|     | tion to meeting the nutrient management criteria established f |
|     | or Tier I, the CNMP must also specify that no waste shall be a |
|     | pplied to fields with heavy metal concentrations in the soil t |
|     | hat exceed the thresholds specified in the NRCS 590 standard.) |
+-----+----------------------------------------------------------------+
| **  | ## Adequate provisions to address animal mortality.            |
| €** |                                                                |
+-----+----------------------------------------------------------------+
| **  | ## Land treatment of erosion on nutrient application areas     |
| €** |                                                                |
+-----+----------------------------------------------------------------+
| **  | ## Consideration of other treatment opt                        |
| €** | ions such as off-site disposal, feed management considerations |
+-----+----------------------------------------------------------------+
| **  | A specific plan for the cleanout and disposal/application of   |
| €** | lagoon sludge buildup, including potential areas specified for |
|     | disposal, as applicable.                                       |
+-----+----------------------------------------------------------------+
| **  | Other items as determined by NRCS that are needed to address   |
| €** | this resource, based on a site-specific evaluation.            |
+-----+----------------------------------------------------------------+

The specific criteria for this resource concern are site dependent. Your
local NRCS staff or other NRCS specialists will develop a CNMP to assist
you in meeting the specific criteria for this resource concern.

**Conservation Security Program (CSP)**

**MINIMUM CRITERIA FOR ELIGIBILITY IN TIER III:**

**Air Quality**

Landowner/Operator

County\_\_\_\_\_\_\_\_\_\_\_\_\_\_\_\_ Tract & Field
No.s\_\_\_\_\_\_\_\_\_\_\_\_\_\_ \_\_\_\_\_\_\_\_\_\_\_\_

Criteria for Addressing Air Quality Resources Concerns

This resource concern is focused on treatments to avoid contaminating
the air with excessive particulates, greenhouse gases, chemical drift
and odors through the proper handling, storage, treatment and
application of animal waste, agricultural chemicals and burning.

Check those that apply.

+-----+----------------------------------------------------------------+
| **  | Odor Control: Establish trees and/or shrubs as windbreaks,     |
| €** | covers for lagoons, or other practices as needed around land   |
|     | application areas and animal feeding operations. Inject liquid |
|     | wastes below soil surface, incorporate within 24 hours after   |
|     | land application, or time applications to avoid high wind      |
|     | conditions or periods. Handle and apply poultry litter or      |
|     | other dry manures when weather conditions are calm to reduce   |
|     | potential blowing. Document in CNMP.                           |
+-----+----------------------------------------------------------------+
| **  | ## Dust Control: Reduce tillage operations to minimize         |
| €** |  particulate pollutants in the atmosphere. Conservation tillag |
|     | e of all spring planted crops or documentation of average wind |
|     |  erosion for the cropping sequence ("E" of WEQ of 1.5 or less) |
+-----+----------------------------------------------------------------+
| **  | ## Chemical Drift: Time a                                      |
| €** | pplications to reduce drift, or reduce volume of chemical appl |
|     | ied through banding or other application technology, or select |
|     |  formulations that are less mobile when possible or available. |
|     |  Document material used and conditions at time of application. |
+-----+----------------------------------------------------------------+
| **  | ## Smoke Elimination: Do not burn crop residues.               |
| €** |                                                                |
+-----+----------------------------------------------------------------+
| **  | ## ST                                                          |
| €** | IR Rating: Keep STIR rating at or below CSP program Standards. |
|     |  Documentation of RUSLE2 score from NRCS office of 60 or less. |
+-----+----------------------------------------------------------------+

The specific criteria for this resource concern are site dependent. Your
local NRCS staff or other NRCS specialist will develop a plan to assist
you in meeting the specific criteria for this resource concern.

**Conservation Security Program (CSP)**

**MINIMUM CRITERIA FOR ELIGIBILITY IN TIER III:**

Declining Native Habitat or Native Plant Community

Landowner/Operator

County\_\_\_\_\_\_\_\_\_\_\_\_\_\_\_\_ Tract & Field
No.s\_\_\_\_\_\_\_\_\_\_\_\_\_\_ \_\_\_\_\_\_\_\_\_\_\_\_

**[Criteria for Declining Native Habitat or Native Plant
Community]{.underline}**

This resource concern is focused on conserving the habitat functions of
declining plant communities that are associated with incidental areas of
agricultural operations. This resource concern is limited to
conservation of:

-   flood plain hardwood forests,

-   longleaf pine forests,

-   shortleaf pine forests,

-   upland oak-hickory forests,

-   native grass-like and herbaceous plants in natural prairies,
    savannas, glades and other disturbance maintained habitats.

The specific treatments to address this resource concern will vary by
site due to variations in existing plant conditions, soil and site
hydrologic conditions, land use history, the type of agricultural
operation, client objectives, the on-site threats to the at-risk
species, and other factors. Typical practices specified include:

+-----+----------------------------------------------------------------+
| **  | Restoration or enhancement of plant communities through the    |
| €** | use of prescribed burning, disking, or similar practices.      |
+-----+----------------------------------------------------------------+
| **  | Use of herbicides to eliminate to reduce populations of        |
| €** | competitive introduced species.                                |
+-----+----------------------------------------------------------------+
| **  | ## Planting of native grasses or other                         |
| €** |  species to serve as forage for livestock or wildlife habitat. |
+-----+----------------------------------------------------------------+
| **  | ## Introduction of changes to                                  |
| €** | forage, hay land, or incidental area management to encourage t |
|     | he survival and/or sustainability of native plant populations. |
+-----+----------------------------------------------------------------+
| **  | ## Other similar practices.                                    |
| €** |                                                                |
+-----+----------------------------------------------------------------+

Your local NRCS staff or other NRCS specialists will develop a
conservation plan to assist you in meeting the specific criteria for
this resource concern.

**Conservation Security Program (CSP)**

**MINIMUM CRITERIA FOR ELIGIBILITY IN TIER III:**

**Inadequate Quality of Feed and Forage**

Landowner/Operator

County\_\_\_\_\_\_\_\_\_\_\_\_\_\_\_\_ Tract & Field
No.s\_\_\_\_\_\_\_\_\_\_\_\_\_\_ \_\_\_\_\_\_\_\_\_\_\_\_

**[Criteria for Inadequate Quality of Feed and Forage]{.underline}**

This resource concern is focused on ensuring the feed and forage that
are generated and/or utilized on a livestock grazing operation are of
high quality and meeting the nutritional needs of the livestock.

The criteria for this resource concern is to ensure that forage plants
are managed to produce the desired nutritive value and palatability for
the intended use.

The specific treatments and practices to address this resource concern
will vary by operation. Your local NRCS staff or other NRCS specialists
will develop a conservation plan to assist you in meeting the specific
criteria for this resource concern.

In addition to the criteria established for Tier I grazed land,
treatments will include:

+-----+----------------------------------------------------------------+
| **  | Periodic assessment of forage using the Pasture Condition      |
| €** | Scoring (PCS) assessment tool to evaluate forage composition.  |
+-----+----------------------------------------------------------------+
| **  | The use of Body Condition Scoring to evaluate performance and  |
| €** | identify forage quality problems.                              |
+-----+----------------------------------------------------------------+
| **  | ## The use of periodic plant tissue tes                        |
| €** | ting and laboratory analysis to assess the nutritive value of  |
|     | the stored forage (e.g. hay) being generated on the operation. |
+-----+----------------------------------------------------------------+

## 

In addition, the following practices may be included in the Conservation
Plan as needed:

+-----+----------------------------------------------------------------+
| **  | The use of the Nutritional Balance Analyzer (NutBal) program   |
| €** | as needed.                                                     |
+-----+----------------------------------------------------------------+
| **  | ## Other similar practices.                                    |
| €** |                                                                |
+-----+----------------------------------------------------------------+

**Conservation Security Program (CSP)**

**MINIMUM CRITERIA FOR ELIGIBILITY IN TIER III:**

**Inadequate Cover, Food and Space for Grass and Shrub Nesting Birds**

Landowner/Operator

County\_\_\_\_\_\_\_\_\_\_\_\_\_\_\_\_ Tract & Field
No.s\_\_\_\_\_\_\_\_\_\_\_\_\_\_ \_\_\_\_\_\_\_\_\_\_\_\_

**[Criteria for Inadequate Food, Cover and Space for Grass and Shrub
Nesting Birds]{.underline}**

This resource concern is focused on developing and managing the proper
condition, location and amount of habitat to support sustainable
populations of birds such as Bobwhite quail, Meadowlark, Loggerhead
shrike, Sparrow and several other birds that require similar habitat.
Those of birds are traditionally associated with farm land, but their
populations are declining because of habitat loss.

The specific treatments and practices to address this resource concern
will vary by land use and management system. Typical practices include
establishment and maintenance of natural vegetation on field borders and
odd areas, thinning forests and burning their under stories, light
disking and other early succession habitat management practices.

**[How to Satisfy the Criteria]{.underline}**

1.  Complete a wildlife habitat self-assessment for your entire
    agricultural operation. Assess your crop land, pastures and hay
    fields. Answer YES or NO as appropriate for ALL of the required
    questions. Pay attention to the OR and AND conditions. Your
    responses must be based on conditions the currently exist on your
    operation.

2.  Evaluate any wildlife habitat area or forest within 500 ft. of your
    fields and pastures that are on your farm or land you control. Do
    not evaluate resources more than 500 feet away from your fields, off
    your farm, or not under your control. If Gamelands or National
    Wildlife Refuge is adjacent to your property then you may consider
    resources on that public land that are within 500 feet of your
    fields.

See the following pages for the CSP wildlife habitat self assessment.

**CSP** Wildlife Habitat Self Assessment

+-----------------------------------------------------------+---+---+---+
| **Does All Your Cropland?**                               |   | * | * |
|                                                           |   | * | * |
|                                                           |   | Y | N |
|                                                           |   | E | O |
|                                                           |   | S | * |
|                                                           |   | * | * |
|                                                           |   | * |   |
+-----------------------------------------------------------+---+---+---+
| Use no-till or strip-till in the rotation to provide      |   |   |   |
| brood foraging cover.                                     |   |   |   |
+-----------------------------------------------------------+---+---+---+
| **AND**                                                   |   |   |   |
+-----------------------------------------------------------+---+---+---+
| Include 2 or more patches of escape cover at least 1,500  |   |   |   |
| square feet on the edges of each field. That escape cover |   |   |   |
| is:                                                       |   |   |   |
|                                                           |   |   |   |
| -   Covered by a stand of shrubs and woody vines- for     |   |   |   |
|     instance elderberry, sumac, privet, honeysuckle,      |   |   |   |
|     green brier, and grapes. Sapling sized trees may be a |   |   |   |
|     sub-component. A canopy of mature trees may also      |   |   |   |
|     stand above this cover type.                          |   |   |   |
|                                                           |   |   |   |
| -   Available year-round, except for brief periods        |   |   |   |
|     following management burning or mowing.               |   |   |   |
+-----------------------------------------------------------+---+---+---+
| **AND AT LEAST ONE OF THE FOLLOWING**                     |   | * | * |
|                                                           |   | * | * |
|                                                           |   | Y | N |
|                                                           |   | E | O |
|                                                           |   | S | * |
|                                                           |   | * | * |
|                                                           |   | * |   |
+-----------------------------------------------------------+---+---+---+
| Include 20 feet (or wider) nesting cover strips           |   |   |   |
| surrounding more than 25% of the fields' perimeter. That  |   |   |   |
| nesting cover is:                                         |   |   |   |
|                                                           |   |   |   |
| -   Managed to sustain stands of naturally occurring      |   |   |   |
|     warm-season bunch grasses and forbs (weeds like       |   |   |   |
|     broomsedge, rag weed, poke weed, dog fennel) using    |   |   |   |
|     management such as a 2 to 3 year rotation of light    |   |   |   |
|     disking, prescribed fire, or herbicide treatment of   |   |   |   |
|     saplings and shrubs.                                  |   |   |   |
|                                                           |   |   |   |
| -   Not disturbed during April 15 to Sept 15.             |   |   |   |
|                                                           |   |   |   |
| -   Not used as travel ways, paths, turn rows or storage  |   |   |   |
|     areas.                                                |   |   |   |
|                                                           |   |   |   |
| -   Not more than one-quarter covered by Tall fescue,     |   |   |   |
|     Bermuda grass, or Bahia grass.                        |   |   |   |
+-----------------------------------------------------------+---+---+---+
| > **OR**                                                  |   |   |   |
+-----------------------------------------------------------+---+---+---+
| Include at least two nesting cover patch, at least ¼ acre |   |   |   |
| in size, located in an odd area, pivot corner, forested   |   |   |   |
| strips, or "incidental" forest. That nesting cover is:    |   |   |   |
|                                                           |   |   |   |
| -   Managed to sustain stands of naturally occurring      |   |   |   |
|     warm-season bunch grasses and forbs (weeds like       |   |   |   |
|     broomsedge, rag weed, poke weed, dog fennel) using    |   |   |   |
|     management such as a 2 to 3 year rotation of light    |   |   |   |
|     disking, prescribed fire, or herbicide treatment of   |   |   |   |
|     saplings and shrubs.                                  |   |   |   |
|                                                           |   |   |   |
| -   Not disturbed during April 15 to Sept 15.             |   |   |   |
|                                                           |   |   |   |
| -   Not used as travel ways, paths, turn rows or storage  |   |   |   |
|     areas.                                                |   |   |   |
|                                                           |   |   |   |
| -   Not more than one-quarter covered by Tall fescue,     |   |   |   |
|     Bermuda grass, or Bahia grass.                        |   |   |   |
+-----------------------------------------------------------+---+---+---+
| **OR**                                                    |   |   |   |
+-----------------------------------------------------------+---+---+---+
| Adjacent forest stands (pine or hardwood) that has been   |   |   |   |
| thinned and is managed to sustain at least two nesting    |   |   |   |
| cover patches, each at least ¼ acre in size, of naturally |   |   |   |
| occurring perennial warm-season bunch grasses and forbs   |   |   |   |
| in the under story. Under story management typically      |   |   |   |
| involves a 2 to 3 year rotation of light disking,         |   |   |   |
| prescribed fire, or herbicide treatment of saplings and   |   |   |   |
| shrubs.                                                   |   |   |   |
+-----------------------------------------------------------+---+---+---+

**COMPLETE THE SECOND PAGE ...**

+------------------------------------------------------------+---+---+---+---+
| **Do All Your Pastures and Hay Fields?**                   |   | * | * |   |
|                                                            |   | * | * |   |
|                                                            |   | Y | N |   |
|                                                            |   | E | O |   |
|                                                            |   | S | * |   |
|                                                            |   | * | * |   |
|                                                            |   | * |   |   |
+------------------------------------------------------------+---+---+---+---+
| Include 2 or more patches of escape cover at least 1,500   |   |   |   |   |
| square feet on the edges of each field. That escape cover  |   |   |   |   |
| is:                                                        |   |   |   |   |
|                                                            |   |   |   |   |
| -   Covered by a stand of shrubs and woody vines- for      |   |   |   |   |
|     instance elderberry, sumac, privet, honeysuckle, green |   |   |   |   |
|     brier, and grapes. Sapling sized trees may be a        |   |   |   |   |
|     sub-component. A canopy of mature trees may also stand |   |   |   |   |
|     above this cover type.                                 |   |   |   |   |
|                                                            |   |   |   |   |
| -   Available year-round, except for brief periods         |   |   |   |   |
|     following management burning or mowing.                |   |   |   |   |
+------------------------------------------------------------+---+---+---+---+
| **AND AT LEAST ONE OF THE FOLLOWING**                      |   | * | * |   |
|                                                            |   | * | * |   |
|                                                            |   | Y | N |   |
|                                                            |   | E | O |   |
|                                                            |   | S | * |   |
|                                                            |   | * | * |   |
|                                                            |   | * |   |   |
+------------------------------------------------------------+---+---+---+---+
| Include 20 feet (or wider) nesting cover strips            |   |   |   |   |
| surrounding more than 25% of the fields' perimeter. That   |   |   |   |   |
| nesting cover is:                                          |   |   |   |   |
|                                                            |   |   |   |   |
| -   Managed to sustain stands of naturally occurring       |   |   |   |   |
|     warm-season bunch grasses and forbs (weeds like        |   |   |   |   |
|     broomsedge, rag weed, poke weed, dog fennel) using     |   |   |   |   |
|     management such as a 2 to 3 year rotation of light     |   |   |   |   |
|     disking, prescribed fire, or herbicide treatment of    |   |   |   |   |
|     saplings and shrubs.                                   |   |   |   |   |
|                                                            |   |   |   |   |
| -   Not disturbed during April 15 to Sept 15.              |   |   |   |   |
|                                                            |   |   |   |   |
| -   Not used as travel ways, paths, turn rows or storage   |   |   |   |   |
|     areas.                                                 |   |   |   |   |
|                                                            |   |   |   |   |
| -   Not more than one-quarter covered by Tall fescue,      |   |   |   |   |
|     Bermuda grass, or Bahia grass.                         |   |   |   |   |
+------------------------------------------------------------+---+---+---+---+
| > **OR**                                                   |   |   |   |   |
+------------------------------------------------------------+---+---+---+---+
| Include at least two nesting cover patch, at least ¼ acre  |   |   |   |   |
| in size, located in an odd area, pivot corner, forested    |   |   |   |   |
| strips, or "incidental" forest. That nesting cover is:     |   |   |   |   |
|                                                            |   |   |   |   |
| -   Managed to sustain stands of naturally occurring       |   |   |   |   |
|     warm-season bunch grasses and forbs (weeds like        |   |   |   |   |
|     broomsedge, rag weed, poke weed, dog fennel) using     |   |   |   |   |
|     management such as a 2 to 3 year rotation of light     |   |   |   |   |
|     disking, prescribed fire, or herbicide treatment of    |   |   |   |   |
|     saplings and shrubs.                                   |   |   |   |   |
|                                                            |   |   |   |   |
| -   Not disturbed during April 15 to Sept 15.              |   |   |   |   |
|                                                            |   |   |   |   |
| -   Not used as travel ways, paths, turn rows or storage   |   |   |   |   |
|     areas.                                                 |   |   |   |   |
|                                                            |   |   |   |   |
| -   Not more than one-quarter covered by Tall fescue,      |   |   |   |   |
|     Bermuda grass, or Bahia grass.                         |   |   |   |   |
+------------------------------------------------------------+---+---+---+---+
| **OR**                                                     |   |   |   |   |
+------------------------------------------------------------+---+---+---+---+
| Adjacent forest stands (pine or hardwood that has been     |   |   |   |   |
| thinned and is managed to sustain at least two nesting     |   |   |   |   |
| cover patches, each at least ¼ acre in size, of naturally  |   |   |   |   |
| occurring perennial warm-season bunch grasses and forbs in |   |   |   |   |
| the under story. Under story management typically involves |   |   |   |   |
| a 2 to 3 year rotation of light disking, prescribed fire,  |   |   |   |   |
| or herbicide treatment of saplings and shrubs.             |   |   |   |   |
+------------------------------------------------------------+---+---+---+---+

If you answered YES to all the required items, then your agricultural
operation provides at least 50% of its potential for cover, food and
space for grass and shrub nesting birds; and that satisfies NRCS
wildlife conservation quality criteria. That determination helps you
qualify for CSP Tier II or Tier III.

If you answered NO to one or more of the required items, then your
operation will not qualify for CSP Tier II or III enrollment at this
time. The NRCS staff, the NC Wildlife Resources Commission biologists,
and wildlife TSPs are willing to help you select and plan wildlife
habitat conservation practices that improve habitat conditions on your
farm.

I certify that these conditions exist, to the best of my knowledge, on
the offered area as indicated in the above table.

\_\_\_\_\_\_\_\_\_\_\_\_\_\_\_\_\_\_\_\_\_\_\_\_\_\_\_\_\_\_\_\_\_\_\_\_
\_\_\_\_\_\_\_\_\_\_\_\_\_\_\_\_\_\_\_\_\_\_\_\_

Participant's Signature Date

**Conservation Security Program (CSP)**

**MINIMUM CRITERIA FOR ELIGIBILITY IN TIER III:**

**Criteria for Unfavorable Stream Processes and Poor Aquatic Habitat**

Landowner/Operator

County\_\_\_\_\_\_\_\_\_\_\_\_\_\_\_\_ Tract & Field
No.s\_\_\_\_\_\_\_\_\_\_\_\_\_\_ \_\_\_\_\_\_\_\_\_\_\_\_

**[Criteria for Unfavorable Stream Processes and Poor Aquatic
Habitat]{.underline}**

This resource concern is focused on developing, restoring, and
maintaining natural stream processes on the margins of farm land so that
the all the needed habitat components for a healthy, viable population
of fish and other aquatic animals are provided within the capabilities
of a farming operation.

The specific treatments and practices to address this resource concern
will vary by land use and management system. Typical practices include
establishment of natural vegetation along water courses, stabilizing
eroding stream banks with vegetation, removing barriers to fish
migration, and adopting practices that reconnect the stream with its
floodplain, and similar practices.

**[How to Satisfy the Criteria]{.underline}**

1.  Identify all fields and incidental areas to be enrolled in CSP and
    categorize the land as either crop land, pasture, or hay land
    according to their use.

2.  Answer a wildlife habitat self-assessment for each land-use category
    you will enroll. Your answers need to be based on conditions in all
    of the fields in that land use.

3.  When you can answer YES to all the questions for a land-use
    category, then that land meets the NRCS wildlife habitat quality
    criteria for CSP.

4.  If you answer NO to a question, then additional conservation
    practice(s) are needed to meet the habitat quality criteria. Your
    local NRCS staff or TSP can plan practices needed for your land to
    meet the specific criteria for this resource concern.

See the aquatic habitat self assessment on the following page.

[Background:]{.underline} Healthy populations of native fish, shellfish,
crayfish, and insects are indications of clean water in adequate supply.
Many aquatic species once common in North Carolina are experiencing
long-term population declines. The processes affecting aquatic habitat
are strongly influenced by land management practices at a scale larger
than an individual farm. In order for CSP to reward landowners who
manage their land to conserve aquatic habitat, NRCS is providing a
simplified version of its Stream *Visual Assessment Protocol* (SVAP) to
help you evaluate elements of streams that indicate responsible
stewardship on your farm.

The following questions allow you to evaluate aquatic habitat in streams
and rivers beside the fields you will enroll in CSP and to determine if
those fields already meet the quality criteria NRCS has established for
fish and aquatic wildlife habitat conservation. Meeting those criteria
in each field will help establish your eligibility for the CSP Tiers 2
and 3.

[Instructions:]{.underline} Answer YES or NO as appropriate for
[ALL]{.underline} the surface waters (including rivers, swamps,
perennial or seasonal streams, and channelized streams, field ditches
and embankment ponds) located along or beside the fields you will enroll
in CSP. Evaluate each field independently. Do not average among fields.

+-------------------------------------------------------------+---+---+
|                                                             | * | * |
|                                                             | * | * |
|                                                             | Y | N |
|                                                             | E | O |
|                                                             | S | * |
|                                                             | * | * |
|                                                             | * |   |
+-------------------------------------------------------------+---+---+
| 1.  Other than normal, routine ditch maintenance, all       |   |   |
|     mining, dredging and other excavation has been          |   |   |
|     discontinued in surface waters.                         |   |   |
+-------------------------------------------------------------+---+---+
| 2.  All ditch maintenance is performed outside the fish     |   |   |
|     spawning season -- March 15 to May 30.                  |   |   |
+-------------------------------------------------------------+---+---+
| 3.  All surface waters are buffered (on all sides, if all   |   |   |
|     sides are under control of the participant) by a filter |   |   |
|     strip, or riparian herbaceous cover, riparian forest    |   |   |
|     buffer.                                                 |   |   |
+-------------------------------------------------------------+---+---+
| 4.  All stream and channel banks are protected by natural   |   |   |
|     vegetation (not rock armor), so that bank erosion is    |   |   |
|     controlled to a level commensurate with upstream land   |   |   |
|     use and normal geologic processes of the watershed.     |   |   |
+-------------------------------------------------------------+---+---+
| 5.  All livestock access to surface waters controlled in    |   |   |
|     ways that prevent animals from lounging in and around   |   |   |
|     the waters.                                             |   |   |
+-------------------------------------------------------------+---+---+
| 6.  All surface waters are:                                 |   |   |
|                                                             |   |   |
| > Clear (or tea colored), except after storms, but they     |   |   |
| > clear rapidly after storms                                |   |   |
| >                                                           |   |   |
| > AND                                                       |   |   |
| >                                                           |   |   |
| > Free of green algae film on the surface or coating the    |   |   |
| > bottom of the channel                                     |   |   |
| >                                                           |   |   |
| > AND                                                       |   |   |
| >                                                           |   |   |
| > Free of oily sheen and foam on the surface                |   |   |
| >                                                           |   |   |
| > AND                                                       |   |   |
| >                                                           |   |   |
| > Free of "rotten egg" and ammonia odors                    |   |   |
+-------------------------------------------------------------+---+---+

I certify that these conditions exist, to the best of my knowledge, on
the offered area as indicated in the above table.

\_\_\_\_\_\_\_\_\_\_\_\_\_\_\_\_\_\_\_\_\_\_\_\_\_\_\_\_\_\_\_\_\_\_\_\_
\_\_\_\_\_\_\_\_\_\_\_\_\_\_\_\_\_\_\_\_\_\_\_\_

Participant's Signature Date

**Conservation Security Program (CSP)**

**MINIMUM CRITERIA FOR ELIGIBILITY IN TIER III:**

**Other Resource Concerns and Special Requirements**

Landowner/Operator

County\_\_\_\_\_\_\_\_\_\_\_\_\_\_\_\_ Tract & Field
No.s\_\_\_\_\_\_\_\_\_\_\_\_\_\_ \_\_\_\_\_\_\_\_\_\_\_\_

**[Criteria for Addressing Other Resource Concerns and Special
Requirements]{.underline}**

To be eligible for Tier III, your operation must also address any other
natural resource concerns observed on the site during the conservation
planning process, including adequate protection of riparian areas and
production areas. You must agree to implement a Conservation Plan that
addresses each of the following, if applicable:

[Production Areas]{.underline} (Includes areas such as farmsteads,
barns, waste treatment facilities, access roads, and other areas that
are not considered cropland, hayland, pastureland, or incidental
woodland)

+-----+----------------------------------------------------------------+
| **  | All production areas maintained in vegetation that protects    |
| €** | the site from sheet and rill, ephemeral, and gully erosion.    |
|     | Heavily used areas are protected from soil erosion through the |
|     | use of appropriate surfacing materials (e.g. gravel,           |
|     | pavement,) and/or surface water diversion, as needed.          |
+-----+----------------------------------------------------------------+
| **  | ## S                                                           |
| €** | ites used for pesticide/chemical mixing, loading, and storage  |
|     | in these areas shall be located, designed, and maintained to p |
|     | revent the pollution of surface water, ground water, and soil. |
+-----+----------------------------------------------------------------+
| **  | ## Sites used for pet                                          |
| €** | roleum storage shall be located, designed, and maintained to p |
|     | revent the pollution of surface water, ground water, and soil. |
+-----+----------------------------------------------------------------+

[Riparian Areas]{.underline} (Including rivers, perennial/seasonal
streams, or channelized streams.)

  ------- ----------------------------------------------------------------
  **€**   All perennial or seasonal streams or channelized streams shall
          be protected (both sides, if under control of participant) by
          either a natural vegetation buffer, filter strip, riparian
          herbaceous cover, or a riparian forest buffer. Buffered area
          will extend at least 2.5 times the channel width on either side
          of the stream or 33 feet in width, whichever is less.

  **€**   All riparian areas maintained in vegetation that protects the
          site from sheet and rill, ephemeral, and gully erosion.
          Streambank erosion does not exceed a level commensurate with
          upstream land use and normal geological/landform processes of
          the site.
  ------- ----------------------------------------------------------------

The specific criteria for this resource concern are site dependent. Your
local NRCS staff or other NRCS specialists will develop a Conservation
Plan to assist you in meeting the specific criteria that apply to your
site.