WILDLIFE HABITAT

INCENTIVES PROGRAM

WHIP

2006

Implementation Plan

And

Instructions

Natural Resources Conservation Service

Columbia, South Carolina

November, 2006

**TABLE OF CONTENTS**

Table of
Contents..................................................................
2

2006 Application and Evaluation Instructions
................................ 3

Introduction\...\...\...\...\...\...\...\...\...\...\...\...\...\...\...\...\...\...\...\...\...\...\...\...\...\...\...\...\...\...\...\...
5

State
Objectives\...\...\...\...\...\...\...\...\...\...\...\...\...\...\...\...\...\...\...\...\...\...\...\...\...\...\...\...\.....
5

State Wildlife
Priorities\...\...\...\...\...\...\...\...\...\...\...\...\...\...\...\...\...\...\...\...\...\...\...\...\.....
5

Partnership Involvement
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6

Program Delivery
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6

Approved Practices for Cost
Share.............................................. 6

Funding Needs
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7

Ranking Process
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7

Quality Assurance
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7

Measuring Program Success
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8

Special WHIP Projects
........................................................... 8

Wildlife Habitat Evaluation
..................................................... 10

Cropland Worksheet ....................................................
13

Old Field Worksheet.....................................................
14

Pastureland/Hayland Worksheet....................................... 15

Pine Forest Worksheet...................................................
16

Hardwood Forest Worksheet............................................ 17

Riparian Habitat Worksheet.............................................
18

Summary
Sheet............................................................ 21

S.C. Stream Assessment
Procedure............................................. 22

Beck's Index for Invertebrates..........................................
25

Stream
Invertebrates...................................................... 26

NRCS--LTP-15, SC Revised
1/05............................................ 28

# **2006**

# **Application and Evaluation**

# **Instructions**

**PROCEDURE**

1.  After reviewing the Implementation Plan, print and/or copy only the
    forms needed to complete the application and evaluation.

2.  Complete a Wildlife Habitat Evaluation for all land uses and fields
    in the contract area for the existing condition.

3.  Determine the practices needed based on the Wildlife Habitat
    Evaluation.

4.  Complete the Wildlife Habitat Evaluation for all land uses and
    fields for the planned condition.

5.  Complete the WHIP Application and Evaluation Worksheets
    (NRCS-LTP-15, SC Revised 1/04) in entirety, [including the required
    signatures.]{.underline}

6.  When preparing WHIP Application and Evaluation Worksheets
    (NRCS-LTP-15, SC Revised 1/04), only practices listed as approved
    are authorized for cost share.

7.  After you are notified of the contracts funded, forward the
    completed worksheet to the program specialist.

**NOTE:** Incomplete worksheets will be returned to the field office for
completion prior to being placed on the state-ranking list for funding.

**GUIDANCE**

Waterfowl impoundments are not authorized for cost-share. Cost share for
land clearing is authorized for the establishment of permanent fire
breaks (12 - 15 ft. wide) and the creation of **forest openings for
enhancement of wildlife habitat which is limited to 4acs. or less.** See
Forest Openings for Wildlife Habitat (460, 645, 647).

Use the **Wildlife Habitat Evaluation Worksheets** for planning purposes
and to assist in the location of practices. Complete evaluation at the
beginning for ranking purposes, when all essential practices are
completed, and at the end of the contract period. Landowners may create
forest openings in pine stands as needed to enhance the diversity of
habitat for wildlife. Cost share is authorized for the management of
rotational disking, planting of native grasses/legume or forbs and
prescribed burning. **Cost-shared openings must be separated by at least
600 feet and have a 25ft field border around 75% of the field if they
will be planted to annuals to optimize utilization based on the Wildlife
Habitat Evaluation. The field border may be permanent or properly
managed early sucessional vegetation.** Remember that forest openings
for wildlife are 0.5 to 2.0 acres in size, and they may be planted to an
annual seed crop, the year that they are disked (every 3 years), and
then left fallow for two years. If landowners have existing openings
that are less than the minimum acreage requirement of 0.5 ac, clearing
is authorized to enlarge them to meet our requirements.

**Prescribed burning (338)**: a detailed prescribed burning plan must be
prepared by *SCFC* or other *Certified Prescribe Fire Manager* for each
contract with prescribed

burning planned. A copy of the burn plan must be in the contract folder
prior to submitting for payment.

If fallow fields, or openings are to be managed for early successional
vegetation or native grasses/ species, and are larger than 2 acres, the
field may be divided with a hedgerow, 25 -- 50 feet wide.

**Hedgerows (422)**: The purpose of hedgerows is to subdivide larger
fields into smaller fields (open land). Shrub lespedeza strips may be
used in the hedgerow as well as other

woody vegetation, trees and shrubs. Shrub lespedeza strips are typically
15 feet wide, whereas a hedgerow is 25 to 50 feet wide. Shrub lespedeza
strips in the woods do not qualify as hedgerows nor do bicolor plots
along the edge of field, in the field borders. Shrub lespedeza strips
are cost sharable if they are a part of a legitimate hedgerow.

**TREE/Shrub Establishment (612)** Tree and shrub plantings are cost
sharable for hedgerow establishment, longleaf pine establishment or
solid hardwood plantings up to 2 acres in a location, only. The
hardwoods shall be planted on a 10 X 10 spacing resulting in 435 trees
per acre. **Remember to include appropriate Forest Site Prep, to reduce
competition, and firebreaks to protect these areas from fire.**

**Firebreaks (394):** Permanent firebreaks 12-15 feet wide are
cost-shared for establishment through disking or land clearing. They are
generally perimeter firebreaks and 1 or 2 internal breaks permanently
located which can be disked at time of burning. **Waterbars should be
planned and implemented if they are needed on sites that are susceptible
to erosion. Temporary breaks with fire plows are included in the
prescribed burning cost-share, and should not be a separate item.**

**Land Clearing (460):** **Land clearing is authorized for the creation
of Forest openings. These opening must be at a minimum of 600 ft apart
and be at least 0.5ac and 2.0acs. or less in size. If there are existing
openings, but are less that 0.5 ac. they may be enlarged to meet our
requirements.**

**Forest Site Preparation (490):** This practice may include herbicide
treatment to control undesirable herbaceous weeds, grasses, or woody
vegetation, in conjunction with tree planting. Use the most appropriate
rate for effective control. Consult your local SC State Forester for
recommendations.

**Forest Site Preparation (490) --Herbaceous Weed Control**: This may be
used in the implementation of early sucessional habitat management
(rotational disking) to allow for adequate germination and growth of
desirable plants, grasses and forbs that will benefit wildlife. **Only
one application should be planned as this should be enough to control
undesirable grasses such as common bermudagrass and fescue. Journey
should be used if fescue is problem.**

**Upland Wildlife Habitat Management (645) -- Herbicides.** This
component should be used to set back succession in clearcuts. It may be
feasible on clearcuts that are 40 acres or less in size or in 50-75 ft.
strips in any clearcut that will be replanted to pines for production at
500 or less trees per acre. **Herbicide application will not be allowed
more frequently than every 3 years ( If Sprayed in spring of 2006 then
the next spraying would be in the spring of 2010.) No trees shall be
planted in a field or portion of a field that is going to be sprayed.**

**Upland Wildlife Habitat Management Legumes (645)** Some additional
planting may be needed or desired to improve overall quality of wildlife
habitat. The **following legumes may be cost-shared for the planting of
forest openings. Florida beggarlice, Birdsfoot Trefiol,Patridge pea,
Ladino Clover, Crown Vetch, Subterranean Clover, and Shrub lespedeza.
Herbicides are included in the cost share rate.**

**Field Border (386)** Will be maintained in early successional
vegetation by use of rotational disking or native warm season grasses.
Approved native legumes or forbs may be planted in a mix with native
grasses to add more diversity. **The following plant species are
approved: Partridge pea, Illinois bundle flower, Black-eyed Susan,
Maximillian Sunflower, , Florida Beggarlice, and Birdsfoot Trefoil. (
Herbicides are included in the cost share rate.) If managed for natives
use (490 Forest Site Prep --Herbaceous Weed Control as needed.)**

Early Successional Wildlife Habitat (647): **The purpose of this
practice is to improve diversity in the plant communities in a given
area. This is achieved through cultivation. Refer to Jobsheets for
examples on achieving this objective. Use Forest Site Prep (490) --
Herbaceous Weed Control to help facilitate this practice as needed to
control undesirable plants such as common bermuda and fescue**

**Forest Stand Improvement (666):** This practice may include mechanized
removal of under story or mid story woody vegetation, such as with a KG
blade, roller chopper, or gyro-trac.

**Remember:** When reporting Upland Wildlife Habitat Management (645),
any field that ranks out on the Wildlife Habitat Evaluation with a score
\>0.5, 645 may be reported for the entire field ranked, not just the
field border or hedgerow. The entire field benefits from the management.

**If any additional questions or further clarification please contact
the State Resource Staff.**

**INTRODUCTION**

The Wildlife Habitat Incentives Program (WHIP) was established by the
1996 Farm Bill for the purpose of making technical and financial
assistance available to landowners to develop, enhance, and restore
upland wildlife, wetland wildlife, threatened and endangered species,
fish and other types of wildlife habitat. South Carolina's Department of
Natural Resources has identified bobwhite quail and other species
associated with grassland, and early successional/shrub habitat as being
a "Priority Conservation Concern" in the state. The Natural Resources
Conservation Service and the State Technical Committee followed in
identifying these species and habitat to also be of primary concern, in
order to target technical and financial assistance to landowners in
South Carolina. Because of the dependence of quail and other edge
species on very specific types of early successional habitat, current
land use practices (both forestry and farming) eliminate suitable
nesting, brood rearing, escape, and winter cover in most instances.

**STATE OBJECTIVES**

1\. Restore early successional habitat, and riparian areas.

2\. Restore historical rice field and marshland habitat for wintering
waterfowl and shorebird habitat.

3\. Restore Longleaf Pine ecosystem, including wiregrass.

4\. Restore and enhance trout stream habitat in the Upstate of South
Carolina.

**STATE WILDLIFE PRIORITIES**

The following priorities have been identified as needs throughout the
state, and extending across state lines throughout the southeast region.
Bobwhite quail populations have declined drastically in over
three-fourths of the states within their geographical distribution since
the 1960's. The decline has been steeper in the southeastern United
States than in the midwestern or northern regions. South Carolina has
been especially hard hit by the quail decline as populations have
plummeted by about fifty percent since the 1980's alone.

**PARTNERSHIP INVOLVEMENT**

Existing partnerships were used to deliver a public information and
education program to inform landowners and land users of the ecological
and economic importance of wildlife habitat management. Cooperative
roles by these partners were defined as delivering on-site technical
assistance to evaluate habitat conditions and providing sound
ecologically based recommendations, as identified by the priorities.

*POTENTIAL PARTNERSHIPS ROLE*

Natural Resources Conservation Service
Information/Education/Technical/Financial

U. S. Fish and Wildlife Service
Information/Education/Technical/Financial

Farm Services Agency Administrative/Information

S.C. Department of Natural Resources Information/Education/Technical

S.C. State University Cooperative Extension Service
Information/Education

Clemson University Cooperative Extension Service Information/Education

Soil and Water Conservation Districts Information/Education

National Wild Turkey Federation Information/Education

Quail Unlimited Information/Education

Ducks Unlimited Information/Education/Technical

S. C. Waterfowl Association Information/Education

National Audubon Society Information/Education

S. C. Forestry Commission Information/Education/Technical

The Nature Conservancy Information/Education

S.C. Wildlife Federation Information/Education

U.S. Forest Service Information/Education

S.C. Department of Agriculture Information/Education

**PROGRAM DELIVERY**

There are about 1600 Forest Stewardship plans existing with unfunded
practices that target wildlife habitat, fish habitat, and riparian
areas. The existing unfunded practices represent significant financial
assistance needs, which are consistent with the WHIP objectives and
priorities. There are numerous existing conservation plans with wildlife
enhancement practices that are awaiting opportunities for financial
assistance to be installed.

• *Information and education delivery:* Publicize WHIP program by local
newspapers, radio spot announcements, organization newsletters, SC
Department of Agriculture, SC Wildlife Magazine, SCDNR brochure on all
Farm Bill programs, and public meetings.

**Delivery of wildlife technical expertise to field offices:**

• *Technical assistance to landowners:*

NRCS - 39 field offices, 1 wildlife biologist, 7 RC&D offices.

FWS - 2 wildlife biologist

DNR - 23 wildlife biologists

SCFC - 30 foresters

DU - 1 wildlife biologists

Clemson University -- 2 biologists

**APPROVED PRACTICES FOR COST SHARE**

*Required Practices (At least one of the following must be planned):*

645 Upland Wildlife Habitat Management

644 Wetland Wildlife Habitat Management ( Applies to Special Partners
Projects Only!!!)

657 Wetland Development or Restoration ( Applies to Special Partners
Projects Only!!!)

395 Stream Habitat Improvement and Management

( Applies to Special Partners Projects Only!!!)

647 Early Successional Habitat Management

*Associated Practices:*

560 Access Road

342 Critical Area Planting (native grasses/legumes only)

356 Dike

386 Field Borders (early succsessional vegetation or planted native
grasses/legumes only)

394 Firebreaks

490 Forest Site Preparation

666 Forest Stand Improvement

422 Hedgerow Planting (Shrubs and Mast producing hardwoods)

460 Land Clearing (permanent firebreaks and forest openings 2ac. or less
only)

338 Prescribed Burning

391 Riparian Forest Buffer

612 Tree/Shrub Establishment (Longleaf Pines, and (Hardwoods up to 2acs.
in plots)

512 Pasture/Hayland Planting (Native Warm Season Grasses only)

382 Fence (livestock exclusion)

**FUNDING NEEDS**

Technical Assistance funds are used to participate in training, site
evaluations, and plan development consistent with WHIP objectives.
Technical assistance funds contributed by partnership consisted of
in-kind assistance through participating in education programs, training
sessions, public information distribution, and on-site technical
assistance in preparing WHIP plans.

Financial Assistance funds are used in conjunction with partnership and
participant funds to implement the approved practices as detailed in the
WHIP plans.

**RANKING PROCESS**

The ranking process is based on the Wildlife Habitat Evaluation.
Applications will be ranked on the net effect of the plan according to
the wildlife habitat evaluation. Additional points are awarded for
minimum amounts of habitat development as indicated on the LTP-15, as
revised 1/04.

**QUALITY ASSURANCE**

The NRCS district conservationist will complete a status review of each
contract before the end of the fiscal year, noting progress in applying
the conservation plan or WHDP, need for revision, condition of practice
installed, and need for technical assistance.

1\. Complete a status review each fiscal year until all required
practices are installed. Reviews will be conducted with the contract
participant, if possible.

2\. Status reviews may be conducted at any time of year.

3\. Expiring contracts and must be reviewed at least 90 days before
expiration and a new Wildlife Habitat Evaluation must be completed to
document the effect of the plan.

4\. The district conservationist has the option of monitoring activities
as appropriate in conjunction with the status review.

The state conservationist will conduct quality assurance reviews of the
conservation plan or WHDP according to the national NRCS policy.

**MEASURING PROGRAM SUCCESS**

*Information Collection*: The NRCS will collect the following
information to evaluate the effectiveness of the WHIP in restoring
wildlife habitat. The attached wildlife habitat evaluation will be
completed accordingly.

1\. Measure practices applied under the WHIP through established
reporting methods; and

2\. Complete wildlife habitat evaluation for baseline and applied
conditions as contracts expire.

*Monitoring*: Baseline wildlife habitat assessments will be completed at
time of WHDP development. Follow-up assessments will be conducted the
year all essential practices are installed, and the year of contract
expiration. The following information will be collected.

1\. Maintenance of previously applied practices.

2\. Comparison of planned and actual conditions.

3\. Evaluate the improvement of the change in wildlife habitat as
compared to the baseline conditions.

4\. The State Conservationist will submit pertinent information to the
National Office at a frequency determined by the Program Manager at the
National Office.

5\. Digital photographs will be taken in conjunction with monitoring
activities.

**SPECIAL WHIP PROJECTS**

On going special WHIP projects in South Carolina include South Carolina
Partners Project, Partners for Trout (Foothills Resource Conservation
and Development), Clemson Pee Dee R&D Center, and the Piedmont Bobwhite
Quail Focus Area Project.

**South Carolina Partners** is a cooperative project on the coast
addressing wintering waterfowl habitat in coastal marshes by replacing
rice trunk water control devises. These rice trunks allow landowners to
properly management previous diked marshes and wetlands for wintering
waterfowl. It's a joint project with the U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service
and Ducks Unlimited. Cost rate is 50% for the trunks and installation.

**Partners for Trout** is a cooperative project with the FootHills RC&D
Council in the Upstate of South Carolina. The participating partners in
this project with the RC&D Council are S. C. Department of Natural
Resources, U. S. Fish and Wildlife Service, and Trout Unlimited. The
purpose of the project is trout stream restoration and enhancement. The
goal is to protect existing native trout stream habitat and restore
marginal stream habitat and their associated riparian areas. The number
one problem identified was thermal pollution. Phase one was to identify
existing reservoirs contributing to thermal pollution of the streams and
retrofit them with deep water release structures. Phase two is to
identify unstable streams, which contribute to silt loading, and areas
needing riparian buffer restoration.

**Clemson University Pee Dee R&D Center** is a cooperative project with
Clemson University, S.C. Department of Natural Resources, and Ducks
Unlimited. Its goal is to provide a demonstration of incorporating
wildlife habitat practices into on-going farming

operations. Habitat management response will be documented and economic
analysis will be completed for installation and management of the
practices.

**Piedmont Bobwhite Quail Focus Area Project**. This is a cooperative
project between the South Carolina Department of Natural Resources, the
U. S. Forest Service, Quail Unlimited, National Wild Turkey Federation
and private landowners in and around the Sumter National Forest located
in the Broad River area of Newberry County. The focus area comprises
about 10,000 acres in the Sumter National Forest and private in-holdings
and tract adjacent to national forest land. The goal is to develop and
demonstrate integrated management techniques with timber, cropland, and
livestock producers that meet forest and farm needs and quail habitat
requirements. Practices include prescribed burning, firebreaks,
selective thinning, early successional habitat management, native warm
season grasses and control of non-native sod forming grasses, such as
fescue and bermudagrass. Quail habitat and quail response will be
monitored to determine the effectiveness of the practices in a forested
piedmont landscape.

APPROVED PRACTICES

644 Wetland Wildlife Habitat Management (Applies to Special Partners
Projects Only!!!)

657 Wetland Development or Restoration (Applies to Special Partners
Projects Only!!!)

395 Stream Habitat Improvement and Management

(Applies to Special Partners Projects Only!!!)

**SEE ASSOCIATED PRACTICES IF NEEDED**

**WILDLIFE HABITAT EVALUATION**

**BACKGROUND:**

Natural Resources Conservation Service policy for assistance on private
lands has, since its inception, required that conservation practice
installation be accomplished with consideration for wildlife and
wildlife habitat.

Application of conservation practices is generally considered to be
beneficial for wildlife. Practices such as field borders, filter strips,
grassed waterways, proper grazing management, and conservation tillage
generally increase food, water, or cover and improve diversity for most
wildlife species.

Practices such as brush management, drainage, timber stand improvement
and pasture planting can reduce needed food and cover when applied
without wildlife consideration. The effect of conservation practice
installation on wildlife largely depends on practice selection, design,
and plant species used.

It is not the responsibility of the Natural Resources Conservation
Service to determine the extent to which landowners may or should
consider wildlife needs in their operation. Neither does the NRCS
determine which particular wildlife species should be managed. These
decisions are made by the landowner based on economics, legal
constraints, local conditions, and landowner objectives.

**NRCS personnel have a responsibility and obligation to determine and
explain to the decisionmaker what effect a planned system of
conservation practices will have on wildlife resources of the particular
land unit.** Decisionmakers must be provided with this information in
order to make intelligent and informed decisions about their property.
The NRCS must have this information to assess the impact of practice
installation and determine if service policy requiring consideration of
wildlife is being properly followed. In the past, conservation practices
were often designed and installed with little thought or study given to
their effects on wildlife, unless the landowner indicated a specific
wildlife interest.

Adoption of the total resource management policy (SWAPA) in conservation
planning provides that emphasis be directed to plants, air, and animals
in addition to soil and water. It requires that quality criteria be
established for each of the five resources. Resource management systems
consisting of various conservation practices are measured against these
quality criteria to determine if acceptable levels of conservation are
being met. **National quality criteria for wildlife habitat have been
set at 0.5 or 5O% of potential to meet the resource management system
requirement, existing or planned, regardless of the landuse. For a
wildlife land RMS, a score of .75 or 75% is required.**

In order to measure the degree to which the resource management systems
meet the quality criteria, a method of evaluation is required. A
subjective

evaluation based on the planner\'s knowledge is the simplest form.
However, this method is dependent on the interest, ability, and
knowledge of the planner. This method has been widely used in the past
and its success or failure has been dependent upon the wildlife training
provided to planners and the technical support provided by biologists.
Unfortunately, the quality and amount of wildlife management training
and technical assistance provided to field office personnel since 1985
has been minimal due to other workload requirements.

The attached habitat evaluation procedure is designed for use when
planning a resource management system where wildlife is not the primary
objective or intensive management for a species is not desired. This
evaluation procedure is based primarily on diversity to give a general
rating applicable to many different species.

**INTRODUCTION:**

The following evaluation is designed for use by employees who provide
assistance in farm planning and who have limited training and knowledge
in wildlife management. It is intended to assist decisionmakers in
understanding the effects of various agricultural practices on wildlife
and to provide documentation of the effects of Resource Management
System implementation on wildlife resources.

This habitat evaluation is simplified to limit data input and the time
required to complete it. It cannot be used to make detailed management
recommendations required for intensive management. If the primary
objective for a field or planning unit is wildlife, or it is to be
intensively managed, a species based wildlife habitat appraisal
procedure should be used, and the NRCS Biologist, Grassland/Forestry
Specialist or South Carolina Department of Natural Resources biologist
contacted.

**PROCEDURE:**

(1) Identify all crop, forest, old field, pasture, and wetland areas on
    the tract or farm. Fields should include borders around them such as
    woody fence rows that divide crop fields. Hayland should be included
    with pasture. If a particular type of landuse does not seem to fit
    any of the types listed, contact the state biologist or
    grassland/forestry specialist.

(2) If the tract has only one field in a habitat type, or all fields
    within a habitat type are similar, only one field needs to be
    evaluated. If the tract has fields that vary in habitat quality
    within a habitat type, all fields should be inventoried and a
    weighted average score computed. If there are significant
    differences in the same field, the field may be divided and more
    than one evaluation done. For example, if one forest field had a
    pine plantation on part and an old mixed pine hardwood stand on the
    remainder, the two areas should be evaluated separately If more than
    one of these variations occurs on the farm, use the weighted average
    score for the landuse.

(3) Complete the worksheet inventory form (see attachments) for the
    appropriate field(s) and compute the score for each habitat type.
    This evaluation will provide information on the quality of habitat
    for the EXISTING CONDITION. Observing what features receive a low
    score will help the planner determine what could be done to improve
    the habitat.

(4) Repeat the evaluation for each of the Resource Management Systems
    being considered and determine the effects of each of the PLANNED
    alternatives on the wildlife resource. If the score for any existing
    habitat type is low, practices should be chosen which will improve
    habitat quality.

(5) Complete the summary sheet to determine if the selected alternative
    meets the quality criteria for a Resource Management System and is
    acceptable to the decisionmaker.

**[Quality Criteria:]{.underline}** In order to meet the FOTG Quality
Criteria for wild animal habitat, the Habitat Type Index for each land
use must have an index greater than 0.5. In general, a habitat index
below 0.25 indicates poor habitat, between 0.25 and 0.5 is fair habitat,
0.5 to 0.75 is good and above 0.75 would be excellent habitat.

HABITAT TYPE INDEX (HTI)

**WORKSHEET**

**FOR**

**CROPLAND HABITAT**

Participant Tract No.

Date Field No.

Observer Acres

*Note: This form may be used for all fields that are planned and managed
alike.*

**CROPLAND HABITAT INDEX POINTS EXIST PLAN**

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

***Crop Residue Management***

(\>75% acreage)

# Continuous no-till (long term) 15

No-till farming, 3 out of 5 years 12

No fall tillage only 8

Conventional and fall tillage 1

**\*Add 2 bonus points,** if cover crops are no-till drilled

with 60% residue left on the surface**.**

***Crop Species***

(\>50% acreage & years)

Corn, soybeans, sorghum, millets,

and/or small grains 10

All else 1

#### Distance to forest (\>10 ac.) or

####  woody cover (\>25 ft. wide) connecting 

***to forest (\>10 acres).***

\>75% of field within 330 ft. 15

50 -- 75% of field within 330 ft. 10

25 -- 50% of field within 330 ft. 5

\<25% of field within 330 ft 1

***Distance to native herbaceous strips (\>25 ft. wide) within field,***

####  such as filter strips, waterways, diversions. 

\>75% of field within 330 ft. 10

50 -- 75 % of field within 330 ft. 7

25 -- 50 % of field within 330 ft. 4

\<25% of field within 330 ft 1

***Percent of Field Perimeter With a Field Border***

#######  For each 10% of field perimeter with a width of:

**\>25 ft. native herbaceous vegetation**. **Add 5 points/10%**.

**\> 10 ft. native herbaceous vegetation**. **Add 3 points/10%.**

**\>10 ft. mixture of introduced,**

**and native herbaceous vegetation, Add 1 point/10%.**

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

\(A\) Total Cropland Habitat Points (100 maximum)

\(B\) Cropland Habitat Index (Total points/100)

HABITAT TYPE INDEX (HTI)

**WORKSHEET**

###### FOR

**OLD FIELD HABITAT**

**(2 acres or more)**

Participant Tract No.

Date Field No.

Observer Acres

*Note: This form may be used for all fields that are planned and managed
alike.*

**OLD FIELD HABITAT INDEX POINTS EXIST. PLAN**

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

***Species Composition***

# Many species of grass, legumes, forbs (\>4) 10

Stand dominated by a few species (2-4) 5

Stand dominated by a single species (\>75%) 1

***Manipulation (Burning, disking)***

3 year rotation 25

2 year rotation 15

Mowing (2-3 year rotation) 10

Annual or \> 3 years rotation 1

#### 

#### Distance to woody cover (\>25 ft. wide) connecting 

***to forest at least 10 acres in size.***

\>75% of field within 330 ft. 15

50 -- 75 % of field within 330 ft. 10

25 -- 50 % of field within 330 ft. 5

\<25% of field within 330 ft 1

***Percent of Field in early successional herbaceous***

***vegetation (1 to 3 yrs. Old)***

For each 10% of field: add 5 points. (**Max. 50 points**)

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

\(A\) Total Old Field Habitat Points (100 maximum)

\(B\) Old Field Habitat Index (Total points/100)

**HABITAT TYPE INDEX (HTI)**

###### WORKSHEET

###### FOR

**PASTURELAND/HAYLAND HABITAT**

Participant Tract No.

Date Field No.

Observer Acres

*Note: This form may be used for all fields that are planned and managed
alike.*

###  PASTURELAND HABITAT INDEX POINTS EXIST PLAN

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

***Composition***

***(\>50% acreage)***

# Native warm season mixture (\>2) with forbs 25

#######  Single native grass-legume mixture 9

####### Introduced and native grass (\>50%) mix 8

Single legume 7

Single native warm season grass seeded

Or managed at forage rates. 6

Introduced grass with clover 5

Bermudagrass with small grain 4

Bahiagrass 3

Fescue or bermudagrass 1

***Prescribed Grazing Plan (528A) or Forage***

***Management (511) \_\_\_\_\_\_ \_\_\_\_\_\_***

[With]{.underline} native grass or legume in mix 10

[Without]{.underline} native grass or legume in mix 3

####### ***Corridor management***

####  Distance to ungrazed woody cover (\>25 ft. wide) 

####  connecting to forest at least 10 acres in size. 

\>75% of field within 330 ft. 25

50 -- 75 % of field within 330 ft. 15

25 -- 50 % of field within 330 ft. 10

\<25% of field within 330 ft 1

***Distance to ungrazed native herbaceous or NWSG areas (\>25 ft.
wide)***

***Such as field border or odd corners, etc***.

\>75% of field within 330 ft. 25

50 -- 75 % of field within 330 ft. 15

25 -- 50 % of field within 330 ft. 10

\<25% of field within 330 ft 1

######## *Fence rows, cross fencing (\>50%) \_\_\_\_\_\_ \_\_\_\_\_\_*

with ungrazed woody cover (\>10 ft. wide) 15

with grazed woody cover (\>10 ft. wide) 5

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

\(A\) Total Pastureland/hayland Habitat Points (100 maximum)

\(B\) Pastureland/hayland Habitat Index (Total points/100)

**HABITAT TYPE INDEX (HTI)**

**WORKSHEET**

###### FOR

**PINE FOREST HABITAT**

**(Predominantly Pine)**

Participant Tract No.

Date Field No.

Observer Acres

*Note: This form may be used for all pine forests that are planned and
managed alike.*

**PINE FOREST HABITAT INDEX POINTS EXIST PLAN**

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

***Mature Pine Stand Density, Basal Area***

\<60 square ft/ac 25

60-80 square ft/ac 10

\>80 square ft/ac 1

#### [OR]{.underline} if no overstory: Site (Clearcut area or pastureland

####  conversions) 

#### Pine, other than longleaf, regeneration 

\<300 trees per acre 25

300-500 trees per acre 10

\>500 trees per acre, \<50 trees per acre 1

**[OR]{.underline} if the site is within longleaf pine range:**

#### Longleaf Pine Restoration (300-500 trees per acre) 

***Ex: 435 trees per acre (10 x 10 spacing) maximum***

***302 trees per acre (12 x 12 spacing) minimum***

***Must contain a prescribed burning plan*** 25

#### Must be Historical Longleaf Pine site

**[OR]{.underline} Early Successional Habitat Management (Herbicides)
25**

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

***Prescribed Burning***

2-3 year frequency 30

####### Every year 10

\>3 year frequency 1

#### Distance to native herbaceous cover (\> 40 ' wide,\>1/2 acre in size) \_\_\_\_\_\_ \_\_\_\_\_\_

\>75% of stand within 330 ft. 25

50 -- 75 % of field within 330 ft. 15

25 -- 50 % of field within 330 ft. 10

\<25% of stand within 330 ft 1

#### Composition, \>5% of stand (Max. 20 points) \_\_\_\_\_\_ \_\_\_\_\_\_

Mast producing oaks (\>10" DBH) present 10

Or seedlings planted

Soft mast producers present or planted such as

persimmon, blackberry, sumac, elderberry,

black cherry 10

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

\(A\) Total Pine Forest Habitat Points (100 maximum)

\(B\) Pine Forest Habitat Index (Total points/100)

**HABITAT TYPE INDEX (HTI)**

**WORKSHEET**

###### FOR

**HARDWOOD FOREST HABITAT**

**(Predominantly Hardwood)**

Participant Tract No.

Date Field No.

Observer Acres

*Note: This form may be used for all hardwood forests that are planned
and managed alike.*

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

+-------------+---------------+------------+------------+------------+
| #######     |               |            |            |            |
| ## EXISTING |               |            |            |            |
|  CONDITION  |               |            |            |            |
|             |               |            |            |            |
| **(CIRCLE   |               |            |            |            |
| APPROPRIATE |               |            |            |            |
| SCORE       |               |            |            |            |
| VALUE)**    |               |            |            |            |
+-------------+---------------+------------+------------+------------+
| **TREE      |               | #          |            |            |
| SIZE**      |               | **NUMBER O |            |            |
|             |               | F HARDWOOD |            |            |
|             |               |  SPECIES** |            |            |
+-------------+---------------+------------+------------+------------+
| **TREE      | **SIZE**      | **1**      | **2 TO 5** | **\> 5**   |
| CLASS**     |               |            |            |            |
+-------------+---------------+------------+------------+------------+
| Seedlings   | \< 3 ' tall   | 1 point    | 10 points  | 15 points  |
+-------------+---------------+------------+------------+------------+
| Saplings    | \> 3 ' tall,  | 1 point    | 15 points  | 20 points  |
|             | \< 3" DBH     |            |            |            |
+-------------+---------------+------------+------------+------------+
| Poles       | 3 -- 10 " DBH | 2 points   | 20 points  | 25 points  |
+-------------+---------------+------------+------------+------------+
| Sawtimber   | \> 10 " DBH   | 10 points  | 25 points  | 30 points  |
+-------------+---------------+------------+------------+------------+
| No. of      |               | 2 points   | 5 points   | 10 points  |
| cavity      |               |            |            |            |
| trees or    |               |            |            |            |
| dead snags  |               |            |            |            |
| (\>10")     |               |            |            |            |
|             |               |            |            |            |
| *present*,  |               |            |            |            |
| regardless  |               |            |            |            |
| of number   |               |            |            |            |
| of species  |               |            |            |            |
+-------------+---------------+------------+------------+------------+

####### 

+-------------+---------------+------------+------------+------------+
| ######      |               |            |            |            |
| ### PLANNED |               |            |            |            |
|  CONDITION  |               |            |            |            |
|             |               |            |            |            |
| **(CIRCLE   |               |            |            |            |
| APPROPRIATE |               |            |            |            |
| SCORE       |               |            |            |            |
| VALUE)**    |               |            |            |            |
+-------------+---------------+------------+------------+------------+
| **TREE      |               | #          |            |            |
| SIZE**      |               | **NUMBER O |            |            |
|             |               | F HARDWOOD |            |            |
|             |               |  SPECIES** |            |            |
+-------------+---------------+------------+------------+------------+
| **TREE      | **SIZE**      | **1**      | **2 TO 5** | **\> 5**   |
| CLASS**     |               |            |            |            |
+-------------+---------------+------------+------------+------------+
| Seedlings   | \< 3 ' tall   | 1 point    | 10 points  | 15 points  |
+-------------+---------------+------------+------------+------------+
| Saplings    | \> 3 ' tall,  | 1 point    | 15 points  | 20 points  |
|             | \< 3" DBH     |            |            |            |
+-------------+---------------+------------+------------+------------+
| Poles       | 3 -- 10 " DBH | 2 points   | 20 points  | 25 points  |
+-------------+---------------+------------+------------+------------+
| Sawtimber   | \> 10 " DBH   | 10 points  | 25 points  | 30 points  |
+-------------+---------------+------------+------------+------------+
| No. of      |               | 2 points   | 5 points   | 10 points  |
| cavity      |               |            |            |            |
| trees or    |               |            |            |            |
| dead snags  |               |            |            |            |
| (\>10")     |               |            |            |            |
|             |               |            |            |            |
| *planned*   |               |            |            |            |
| regardless  |               |            |            |            |
| of number   |               |            |            |            |
| of species  |               |            |            |            |
+-------------+---------------+------------+------------+------------+

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

**HARDWOOD FOREST HABITAT INDEX POINTS EXIST PLAN**

(A) Total Hardwood Forest Habitat Points (100 maximum)

\(B\) Hardwood Forest Habitat Index (Total points/100)

HABITAT TYPE INDEX (HTI)

**WORKSHEET**

**FOR**

**RIPARIAN HABITAT**

Participant Tract No.

Date Field No.

Observer Acres

*Note: This form may be used for riparian areas adjacent to streams,
ponds, and/or wetlands..*

## RIPARIAN HABITAT INDEX POINTS EXIST. PLAN

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

***Species Composition*** (\>50 % of the area)

Mixed hardwood 25

Mixed Pine-Hardwood 20

Native shrubs and/or herbaceous

vegetation 15

Pine trees 1

### *Width of Riparian Area* (\>50 % of the area) \_\_\_\_\_\_\_ \_\_\_\_\_\_\_

\>100 feet 25

51-99 feet 20

35-50 feet 15

15-49 feet 10

\<15 feet 1

### *Grazed or ungrazed* (\>50 % of the area) \_\_\_\_\_\_\_ \_\_\_\_\_\_\_

Ungrazed 25

Grazed 5

***Tree canopy cover \_\_\_\_\_\_\_ \_\_\_\_\_\_\_***

*.* \>75 percent canopy cover 25

50-74 percent canopy cover 20

25-49 percent canopy cover 15

\<25 percent canopy cover 1

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

\(A\) Total Riparian Habitat Index Points (100 maximum)

\(B\) Riparian Habitat Index (Total points/100)

**WILDLIFE HABITAT EVALUATION SUMMARY**

**CALCULATION SHEET**

**EXISTING CONDITION**

HABITAT FIELD HABITAT WEIGHTED HABITAT TYPE

#####  TYPE NO. INDEX ACRES INDEX INDEX

\_\_\_\_\_\_\_\_\_ \_\_\_\_\_ \_\_\_\_\_\_ X \_\_\_\_\_\_ =
\_\_\_\_\_\_\_\_

\_\_\_\_\_ \_\_\_\_\_\_ X \_\_\_\_\_\_ = \_\_\_\_\_\_\_\_

\_\_\_\_\_ \_\_\_\_\_\_ X \_\_\_\_\_\_ = \_\_\_\_\_\_\_\_

\_\_\_\_\_ \_\_\_\_\_\_ X \_\_\_\_\_\_ = \_\_\_\_\_\_\_\_

\_\_\_\_\_ \_\_\_\_\_\_ X \_\_\_\_\_\_ = \_\_\_\_\_\_\_\_

TOTAL \_\_\_\_\_\_ \_\_\_\_\_\_\_\_

Total Wt. Index / Total acres = \_\_\_\_\_\_\_\_

HABITAT FIELD HABITAT WEIGHTED HABITAT TYPE

#####  TYPE NO. INDEX ACRES INDEX INDEX

\_\_\_\_\_\_\_\_\_ \_\_\_\_\_ \_\_\_\_\_\_ X \_\_\_\_\_\_ =
\_\_\_\_\_\_\_\_

\_\_\_\_\_ \_\_\_\_\_\_ X \_\_\_\_\_\_ = \_\_\_\_\_\_\_\_

\_\_\_\_\_ \_\_\_\_\_\_ X \_\_\_\_\_\_ = \_\_\_\_\_\_\_\_

\_\_\_\_\_ \_\_\_\_\_\_ X \_\_\_\_\_\_ = \_\_\_\_\_\_\_\_

TOTAL \_\_\_\_\_\_ \_\_\_\_\_\_\_\_

Total Wt. Index / Total acres = \_\_\_\_\_\_\_\_

HABITAT FIELD HABITAT WEIGHTED HABITAT TYPE

#####  TYPE NO. INDEX ACRES INDEX INDEX

\_\_\_\_\_\_\_\_\_ \_\_\_\_\_ \_\_\_\_\_\_ X \_\_\_\_\_\_ =
\_\_\_\_\_\_\_\_

\_\_\_\_\_ \_\_\_\_\_\_ X \_\_\_\_\_\_ = \_\_\_\_\_\_\_\_

\_\_\_\_\_ \_\_\_\_\_\_ X \_\_\_\_\_\_ = \_\_\_\_\_\_\_\_

\_\_\_\_\_ \_\_\_\_\_\_ X \_\_\_\_\_\_ = \_\_\_\_\_\_\_\_

TOTAL \_\_\_\_\_\_ \_\_\_\_\_\_\_\_

Total Wt. Index / Total acres = \_\_\_\_\_\_\_\_

HABITAT FIELD HABITAT WEIGHTED HABITAT TYPE

#####  TYPE NO. INDEX ACRES INDEX INDEX

\_\_\_\_\_\_\_\_\_ \_\_\_\_\_ \_\_\_\_\_\_ X \_\_\_\_\_\_ =
\_\_\_\_\_\_\_\_

\_\_\_\_\_ \_\_\_\_\_\_ X \_\_\_\_\_\_ = \_\_\_\_\_\_\_\_

\_\_\_\_\_ \_\_\_\_\_\_ X \_\_\_\_\_\_ = \_\_\_\_\_\_\_\_

\_\_\_\_\_ \_\_\_\_\_\_ X \_\_\_\_\_\_ = \_\_\_\_\_\_\_\_

TOTAL \_\_\_\_\_\_ \_\_\_\_\_\_\_\_

Total Wt. Index / Total acres = \_\_\_\_\_\_\_\_

**WILDLIFE HABITAT EVALUATION SUMMARY**

**CALCULATION SHEET**

**PLANNED CONDITION**

HABITAT FIELD HABITAT WEIGHTED HABITAT TYPE

#####  TYPE NO. INDEX ACRES INDEX INDEX

\_\_\_\_\_\_\_\_\_ \_\_\_\_\_ \_\_\_\_\_\_ X \_\_\_\_\_\_ =
\_\_\_\_\_\_\_\_

\_\_\_\_\_ \_\_\_\_\_\_ X \_\_\_\_\_\_ = \_\_\_\_\_\_\_\_

\_\_\_\_\_ \_\_\_\_\_\_ X \_\_\_\_\_\_ = \_\_\_\_\_\_\_\_

\_\_\_\_\_ \_\_\_\_\_\_ X \_\_\_\_\_\_ = \_\_\_\_\_\_\_\_

TOTAL \_\_\_\_\_\_ \_\_\_\_\_\_\_\_

Total Wt. Index / Total acres = \_\_\_\_\_\_\_\_

HABITAT FIELD HABITAT WEIGHTED HABITAT TYPE

#####  TYPE NO. INDEX ACRES INDEX INDEX

\_\_\_\_\_\_\_\_\_ \_\_\_\_\_ \_\_\_\_\_\_ X \_\_\_\_\_\_ =
\_\_\_\_\_\_\_\_

\_\_\_\_\_ \_\_\_\_\_\_ X \_\_\_\_\_\_ = \_\_\_\_\_\_\_\_

\_\_\_\_\_ \_\_\_\_\_\_ X \_\_\_\_\_\_ = \_\_\_\_\_\_\_\_

\_\_\_\_\_ \_\_\_\_\_\_ X \_\_\_\_\_\_ = \_\_\_\_\_\_\_\_

TOTAL \_\_\_\_\_\_ \_\_\_\_\_\_\_\_

Total Wt. Index / Total acres = \_\_\_\_\_\_\_\_

HABITAT FIELD HABITAT WEIGHTED HABITAT TYPE

#####  TYPE NO. INDEX ACRES INDEX INDEX

\_\_\_\_\_\_\_\_\_ \_\_\_\_\_ \_\_\_\_\_\_ X \_\_\_\_\_\_ =
\_\_\_\_\_\_\_\_

\_\_\_\_\_ \_\_\_\_\_\_ X \_\_\_\_\_\_ = \_\_\_\_\_\_\_\_

\_\_\_\_\_ \_\_\_\_\_\_ X \_\_\_\_\_\_ = \_\_\_\_\_\_\_\_

\_\_\_\_\_ \_\_\_\_\_\_ X \_\_\_\_\_\_ = \_\_\_\_\_\_\_\_

TOTAL \_\_\_\_\_\_ \_\_\_\_\_\_\_\_

Total Wt. Index / Total acres = \_\_\_\_\_\_\_\_

HABITAT FIELD HABITAT WEIGHTED HABITAT TYPE

#####  TYPE NO. INDEX ACRES INDEX INDEX

\_\_\_\_\_\_\_\_\_ \_\_\_\_\_ \_\_\_\_\_\_ X \_\_\_\_\_\_ =
\_\_\_\_\_\_\_\_

\_\_\_\_\_ \_\_\_\_\_\_ X \_\_\_\_\_\_ = \_\_\_\_\_\_\_\_

\_\_\_\_\_ \_\_\_\_\_\_ X \_\_\_\_\_\_ = \_\_\_\_\_\_\_\_

\_\_\_\_\_ \_\_\_\_\_\_ X \_\_\_\_\_\_ = \_\_\_\_\_\_\_\_

TOTAL \_\_\_\_\_\_ \_\_\_\_\_\_\_\_

Total Wt. Index / Total acres = \_\_\_\_\_\_\_\_

**HABITAT TYPE INDEX (HTI)**

**SUMMARY**

*The tract or farm habitat index is calculated by taking the sum of the
weighted habitat indexes divided by the total acres in the planning
area..*

**EXISTING CONDITION**

HABITAT HABITAT WEIGHTED FARM/TRACT

[TYPE INDEX ACRES INDEX INDEX]{.underline}

Cropland \_\_\_\_\_\_ X \_\_\_\_\_\_ = \_\_\_\_\_\_\_\_

Old Field Habitat \_\_\_\_\_\_ X \_\_\_\_\_\_ = \_\_\_\_\_\_\_\_

Pastureland/Hayland \_\_\_\_\_\_ X \_\_\_\_\_\_ = \_\_\_\_\_\_\_\_

Pine Forest \_\_\_\_\_\_ X \_\_\_\_\_\_ = \_\_\_\_\_\_\_\_

Hardwood Forest \_\_\_\_\_\_ X \_\_\_\_\_\_ = \_\_\_\_\_\_\_\_

Riparian Habitat \_\_\_\_\_\_ X \_\_\_\_\_\_ = \_\_\_\_\_\_\_\_

TOTAL \_\_\_\_\_\_ \_\_\_\_\_\_\_\_

Total Wt. Index / Total acres = \_\_\_\_\_\_\_\_

**PLANNED CONDITION**

HABITAT HABITAT WEIGHTED FARM/TRACT

[TYPE INDEX ACRES INDEX INDEX]{.underline}

Cropland \_\_\_\_\_\_ X \_\_\_\_\_\_ = \_\_\_\_\_\_\_\_

Old Field Habitat \_\_\_\_\_\_ X \_\_\_\_\_\_ = \_\_\_\_\_\_\_\_

Pastureland/Hayland \_\_\_\_\_\_ X \_\_\_\_\_\_ = \_\_\_\_\_\_\_\_

Pine Forest \_\_\_\_\_\_ X \_\_\_\_\_\_ = \_\_\_\_\_\_\_\_

Hardwood Forest \_\_\_\_\_\_ X \_\_\_\_\_\_ = \_\_\_\_\_\_\_\_

Riparian Habitat \_\_\_\_\_\_ X \_\_\_\_\_\_ = \_\_\_\_\_\_\_\_

TOTAL \_\_\_\_\_\_ \_\_\_\_\_\_\_\_

Total Wt. Index / Total acres = \_\_\_\_\_\_\_\_

[\*Total Weighted Index of Planned Condition must be 0.5 or greater to
meet RMS Quality Criteria.]{.underline}

\-\-\-\-\-\-\-\-\-\-\-\-\-\-\-\-\-\-\-\-\-\-\-\-\-\-\-\-\-\-\-\-\-\-\-\-\-\-\-\-\-\-\-\-\-\-\-\-\-\-\-\-\-\-\-\-\-\-\-\-\-\-\-\-\-\-\-\-\-\-\-\-\-\-\-\-\-\-\-\-\-\-\-\-\-\-\-\-\-\-\-\-\-\-\-\-\-\-\-\-\-\-\-\-\-\-\-\-\-\-\-\-\-\-\-\-\-\-\-\-\-\-\-\-\-\-\-\-\--

***\*For use with cost-share programs that require a NET Increase in
HTI\****

**HABITAT TYPE INDEX (HTI)**

**NET EFFECT OF PLAN**

**(Planned Farm/Tract Index - Existing Farm/Tract Index) = Net Effect of
Plan**

**\_\_\_\_\_\_ - \_\_\_\_\_\_ = \_\_\_\_\_\_**

**STREAM ASSESSMENT PROCEDURE**

(Modified from Stream Visual Assessment Protocol, December, 1998)

Landowner's Name:
\_\_\_\_\_\_\_\_\_\_\_\_\_\_\_\_\_\_\_\_\_\_\_\_\_\_\_\_\_\_\_\_ Date:
\_\_\_\_\_\_\_\_\_\_\_\_\_\_\_\_

County: \_\_\_\_\_\_\_\_\_\_\_\_\_\_\_\_\_\_\_\_\_ Prepared by:
\_\_\_\_\_\_\_\_\_\_\_\_\_\_\_\_\_\_\_\_\_\_\_\_\_\_\_\_\_\_\_

**INSTRUCTIONS:** Evaluate a reach of stream equal to about 10 times the
average width of the stream. Circle the appropriate score or interpolate
between the scores. See the considerations below in completing
assessment.

-   Ditches may also be assessed if that have perennial or intermittent
    flow, or if they would qualify for CRP Riparian Forest Buffer.

-   Channel widths, depths, and active flood plains are based on
    bankfull elevations. Bankfull flow corresponds to a 1.5 to 2 years
    storm event.

-   Flood prone areas are based on width at two times the maximum depth
    of the stream at bankfull flow. If the flow is contained within the
    channel at two times the maximum depth, then the channel is incised.

-   Flooding occurs when the water level reaches the active flood plain.
    An adequate flood plain is generally 1.5 to 2 times the width of the
    average stream width at bankfull elevation.

**1. Channel Condition (adequate floodplain is generally at least 2
times the channel width)**

  -------------- --------------------- ----------------- ------------------
  Natural        Evidence of past      Altered channel;  Channel is
  channel; no    channel alteration,   \<50% of the      actively down
  structures,    but with significant  reach with riprap cutting or
  dikes. No      recovery of channel   and/or            widening, \>50% of
  evidence of    and banks. Any dikes  channelization.   the reach with
  down cutting   or levees are set     Excess            riprap or
  or excessive   back to provide       aggradation;      channelization.
  lateral        access to an adequate braided channel.  Dikes or levees
  cutting        floodplain.           Dikes or levees   prevent access to
                                       restrict          the floodplain.
                                       floodplain.       

  10             7                     3                 1
  -------------- --------------------- ----------------- ------------------

**SCORE: \_\_\_\_\_\_**

**2. Hydrology Alteration (flooding is out of bank flooding)**

  ---------------- --------------- ----------------- ---------------------
  Flooding out of  Flooding occurs Flooding occurs   No flooding; channel
  bank occurs      only once every only once every   deeply incised or
  every 1.5 or 2.0 3-5 years;      6-10 years;       structures prevent
  years. No dams,  limited channel channel deeply    access to floodplain
  no water         incision. Or    incised. Or       or dam operations
  withdrawals, no  withdrawals,    withdrawals       prevent flood flows.
  dikes or other   although        significantly     Or withdrawals have
  structures       present, do not affect available  caused severe loss of
  limiting the     affect          low flow habitat  low flow habitat. Or
  stream's access  available       for biota.        flooding occurs on a
  to the           habitat for                       1 year rain event or
  floodplain.      biota.                            less.
  Channel is not                                     
  incised.                                           

  10               7               3                 1
  ---------------- --------------- ----------------- ---------------------

**SCORE: \_\_\_\_\_\_**

**3. Riparian Zone (evaluate general conditions along entire reach,
natural vegetation includes hardwood trees, mixed shrubs, and native
herbaceous species)**

  ---------------- --------------- ----------------- ---------------------
  Natural          Natural         Natural           Natural vegetation
  vegetation       vegetation      vegetation        extends \< 15 feet on
  extends more     extends at      extends at least  each side.
  than 50 feet on  least 35 feet   15 feet on each   
  each side.       on each side.   side.             

  10               8               5                 1
  ---------------- --------------- ----------------- ---------------------

**SCORE: \_\_\_\_\_\_**

**4.** Bank Stability

  ------------------- --------------- ----------------- ------------------
  Banks are stable;   Moderately      Moderately        Unstable; banks
  banks are low and   stable; banks   unstable; banks   are high and
  at elevation of     are low; \<33%  are high and      eroding in some
  active floodplain;  of eroding      flooding occurs 1 straight reaches
  33% or more of      banks are on    year out of 5 or  and inside banks;
  eroding banks are   outside bends   less frequently.  numerous slope
  on outside bends    and are         Outside banks are failures.
  and are protected   protected by    actively eroding  
  by roots extending  roots extending with some slope   
  into the base flow  into the base   failures.         
  elevation.          flow.                             

  10                  7               3                 1
  ------------------- --------------- ----------------- ------------------

**SCORE: \_\_\_\_\_\_**

**5.** Water Appearance

  ------------------- --------------- ----------------- ------------------
  Very clear; or      Occasionally    Considerable      Very turbid or
  clear but tea       cloudy,         cloudiness most   muddy appearance
  colored; objects    especially      of the time;      most of the time;
  visible at depths   after storm     objects visible   objects visible to
  of 3-6 feet. No     event; but      to depth of       depth \<.5 feet;
  noticeable film on  clears rapidly; .5-1.5 feet;      heavy coat of film
  surface or          objects visible submerged objects on surface or
  submerged objects.  at depth of     with heavy green  submerged objects;
                      1.5-3 feet; may film, or moderate strong odor of
                      have slight     odor of ammonia.  ammonia.
                      green color.                      

  10                  7               3                 1
  ------------------- --------------- ----------------- ------------------

**SCORE: \_\_\_\_\_\_**

**6.** Nutrient Enrichment

  ------------------- --------------- ----------------- ------------------
  Clear water along   Fairly clear or Greenish water    Pea green, gray,
  entire reach;       slightly        along entire      or brown water
  little or no algal  greenish water  reach; abundance  along entire
  growth present.     along entire    of green          reach; thick algal
                      reach; moderate macrophytes,      mats in stream.
                      algal growth on especially during 
                      submerged       warm months.      
                      objects.                          

  10                  7               3                 1
  ------------------- --------------- ----------------- ------------------

**SCORE: \_\_\_\_\_\_**

**7.** Barriers to Fish Movement

  -------------- -------------- -------------- -------------- --------------
  No barriers;   Seasonal water Drop           Drop           Drop
  natural drops  withdrawals    structures,    structures,    structures,
  \<1 foot.      inhibit        culverts (\<1  culverts, or   culverts, or
                 movement of    foot drop)     dams present   dams (\>1 foot
                 fish.          present within within 3 miles drop) present
                                reach.         of reach.      within reach.

  10             8              5              3              1
  -------------- -------------- -------------- -------------- --------------

**SCORE: \_\_\_\_\_\_**

**8. In-stream Fish Cover (cover types: large woody debris, deep pools,
overhanging vegetation, boulders/cobble, riffles, undercut banks, thick
root mats)**

  -------------- -------------- -------------- -------------- --------------
  \>7 cover      6-7 cover      4-5 cover      2-3 cover      1 or less
  types          types          types          types          cover types
                                                              present.

  10             8              5              3              1
  -------------- -------------- -------------- -------------- --------------

**SCORE: \_\_\_\_\_\_**

**9.** Pools

  ---------------- -------------------- ----------------- -----------------
  Deep and shallow Pools present, but   Pools present,    Pools absent;
  pools abundant   not abundant (\<3);  but shallow, \<3  entire bottom
  (\>3); pools at  pools at least 3 ft. ft. deep.         visible.
  least 5 ft.      deep.                                  
  deep.                                                   

  10               7                    3                 1
  ---------------- -------------------- ----------------- -----------------

**SCORE: \_\_\_\_\_\_**

**10. Canopy Cover (Use coldwater or warm water below, not both)**

**Coldwater Fishery (Pickens, Oconee, Greenville Counties above US Hwy
11)**

  ---------------- -------------------- ----------------- -----------------
  \>75% of water   \>50% shaded in      20-50% shaded.    \<20% shaded in
  surface shaded   reach; or \>75%                        reach.
  and upstream 2-3 shaded in reach and                    
  miles generally  2-3 miles upstream                     
  shaded.          poorly shaded.                         

  10               7                    3                 1
  ---------------- -------------------- ----------------- -----------------

**Warm water fishery (all area of S.C. except as noted above)**

  -------------------- ---------------------- ---------------------------
  25-90% of reach      \>90% shaded; full     \<25% of surface shaded in
  shaded.              canopy.                reach.

  10                   7                      1
  -------------------- ---------------------- ---------------------------

**SCORE: \_\_\_\_\_\_**

**11. Manure Presence**

  ---------------- -------------------- ----------------- -----------------
  No livestock     Evidence of          Occasional manure Extensive amount
  accessible to    livestock access to  in stream; waste  of manure on
  stream, riparian riparian area.       storage structure banks or in
  area, or                              located in        stream.
  floodplain.                           floodplain.       

  10               5                    3                 1
  ---------------- -------------------- ----------------- -----------------

**SCORE: \_\_\_\_\_\_**

**AVERAGE SCORE (TOTAL SCORE / 11): \_\_\_\_\_\_**

**Enter score on SC-CPA-52, Water Quality.**

**If more detailed analysis is needed use:**

**12. Beck's Index (Stream macro-invertebrates observed; attach data
sheet).**

**[Habitat Quality Rating]{.underline}**

**\< 6.0 Poor**

**6.1 -- 7.4 Fair**

**7.5 -- 8.9 Good**

**\> 9.0 Excellent**

**Beck's Index**

**for**

**Stream Macro-invertebrates**

(Tally number of individuals in each Taxa)

# Group 1 Taxa

> Stonefly \_\_\_\_\_\_\_\_\_\_\_\_\_\_\_\_\_\_\_\_\_\_
>
> Caddisfly \_\_\_\_\_\_\_\_\_\_\_\_\_\_\_\_\_\_\_\_\_
>
> Water penny \_\_\_\_\_\_\_\_\_\_\_\_\_\_\_\_\_\_\_
>
> Riffle beetle \_\_\_\_\_\_\_\_\_\_\_\_\_\_\_\_\_\_\_
>
> Gilled snail \_\_\_\_\_\_\_\_\_\_\_\_\_\_\_\_\_\_\_\_
>
> Mayfly \_\_\_\_\_\_\_\_\_\_\_\_\_\_\_\_\_\_\_\_\_\_\_
>
> Dobsonfly (hellgrammite) \_\_\_\_\_\_\_\_

# Group 2 Taxa

> Crayfish \_\_\_\_\_\_\_\_\_\_\_\_\_\_\_\_\_\_\_\_\_\_
>
> Sowbug \_\_\_\_\_\_\_\_\_\_\_\_\_\_\_\_\_\_\_\_\_\_
>
> Scud \_\_\_\_\_\_\_\_\_\_\_\_\_\_\_\_\_\_\_\_\_\_\_\_\_
>
> Alderfly larvae \_\_\_\_\_\_\_\_\_\_\_\_\_\_\_\_\_
>
> Fishfly larvae \_\_\_\_\_\_\_\_\_\_\_\_\_\_\_\_\_\_
>
> Damselfly \_\_\_\_\_\_\_\_\_\_\_\_\_\_\_\_\_\_\_\_\_
>
> Watersnipe fly larvae \_\_\_\_\_\_\_\_\_\_\_\_
>
> Crane fly \_\_\_\_\_\_\_\_\_\_\_\_\_\_\_\_\_\_\_\_\_\_
>
> Beetle larvae \_\_\_\_\_\_\_\_\_\_\_\_\_\_\_\_\_\_\_
>
> Dragonfly \_\_\_\_\_\_\_\_\_\_\_\_\_\_\_\_\_\_\_\_\_
>
> Clam \_\_\_\_\_\_\_\_\_\_\_\_\_\_\_\_\_\_\_\_\_\_\_\_\_

# Group 3 Taxa

Aquatic worm \_\_\_\_\_\_\_\_\_\_\_\_\_\_\_\_\_\_

Midge fly larvae \_\_\_\_\_\_\_\_\_\_\_\_\_\_\_\_

Black fly larvae \_\_\_\_\_\_\_\_\_\_\_\_\_\_\_\_\_

Leech \_\_\_\_\_\_\_\_\_\_\_\_\_\_\_\_\_\_\_\_\_\_\_\_\_

Pouch snail \_\_\_\_\_\_\_\_\_\_\_\_\_\_\_\_\_\_\_\_\_

Other snail's \_\_\_\_\_\_\_\_\_\_\_\_\_\_\_\_\_\_\_\_

**Beck's Index:**

(Use total number of different Taxa in each Group)

BI = 2 x (Group 1) + (Group 2)

# Beck's Index Values

1.  Stream grossly polluted

    5.  Stream moderately polluted

    ```{=html}
    <!-- -->
    ```
    9.  Stream clean, but monotypic habitat

10+ Stream clean

![](media/image1.png){width="7.143055555555556in"
height="9.126388888888888in"}

![](media/image2.png){width="7.145833333333333in" height="9.0in"}

+-----------------------+---+-------------+----+---+---+---+----------------+
| U.S. DEPARTMENT OF    | A |             |    | N |   |   |                |
| AGRICULTURE           | p |             |    | R |   |   |                |
|                       | p |             |    | C |   |   |                |
| NATURAL RESOURCES     | l |             |    | S |   |   |                |
| CONSERVATION SERVICE  | i |             |    | - |   |   |                |
|                       | c |             |    | L |   |   |                |
|                       | a |             |    | T |   |   |                |
|                       | t |             |    | P |   |   |                |
|                       | i |             |    | - |   |   |                |
|                       | o |             |    | 1 |   |   |                |
|                       | n |             |    | 5 |   |   |                |
|                       | E |             |    |   |   |   |                |
|                       | v |             |    | O |   |   |                |
|                       | a |             |    | M |   |   |                |
|                       | l |             |    | B |   |   |                |
|                       | u |             |    | N |   |   |                |
|                       | a |             |    | O |   |   |                |
|                       | t |             |    | . |   |   |                |
|                       | i |             |    | 0 |   |   |                |
|                       | o |             |    | 5 |   |   |                |
|                       | n |             |    | 7 |   |   |                |
|                       | W |             |    | 8 |   |   |                |
|                       | o |             |    | - |   |   |                |
|                       | r |             |    | 0 |   |   |                |
|                       | k |             |    | 0 |   |   |                |
|                       | s |             |    | 1 |   |   |                |
|                       | h |             |    | 3 |   |   |                |
|                       | e |             |    |   |   |   |                |
|                       | e |             |    | S |   |   |                |
|                       | t |             |    | C |   |   |                |
|                       |   |             |    | R |   |   |                |
|                       | W |             |    | e |   |   |                |
|                       | H |             |    | v |   |   |                |
|                       | I |             |    | i |   |   |                |
|                       | P |             |    | s |   |   |                |
|                       |   |             |    | e |   |   |                |
|                       | 2 |             |    | d |   |   |                |
|                       | 0 |             |    | 1 |   |   |                |
|                       | 0 |             |    | 1 |   |   |                |
|                       | 5 |             |    | / |   |   |                |
|                       |   |             |    | 0 |   |   |                |
|                       |   |             |    | 4 |   |   |                |
+-----------------------+---+-------------+----+---+---+---+----------------+
| Applicant Name:       |   |             |    |   |   |   |                |
+-----------------------+---+-------------+----+---+---+---+----------------+
| Address:              |   |             |    |   |   |   |                |
+-----------------------+---+-------------+----+---+---+---+----------------+
| Application No:       |   |             |    |   |   |   |                |
+-----------------------+---+-------------+----+---+---+---+----------------+
| **I. Land Use**       |   |             |    | * |   |   |                |
|                       |   |             |    | * |   |   |                |
|                       |   |             |    | C |   |   |                |
|                       |   |             |    | o |   |   |                |
|                       |   |             |    | n |   |   |                |
|                       |   |             |    | t |   |   |                |
|                       |   |             |    | r |   |   |                |
|                       |   |             |    | a |   |   |                |
|                       |   |             |    | c |   |   |                |
|                       |   |             |    | t |   |   |                |
|                       |   |             |    | A |   |   |                |
|                       |   |             |    | c |   |   |                |
|                       |   |             |    | r |   |   |                |
|                       |   |             |    | e |   |   |                |
|                       |   |             |    | s |   |   |                |
|                       |   |             |    | * |   |   |                |
|                       |   |             |    | * |   |   |                |
+-----------------------+---+-------------+----+---+---+---+----------------+
| Cropland              |   |             |    |   |   |   |                |
+-----------------------+---+-------------+----+---+---+---+----------------+
| Pasture / Hayland     |   |             |    |   |   |   |                |
+-----------------------+---+-------------+----+---+---+---+----------------+
| Pine Forestland       |   |             |    |   |   |   |                |
+-----------------------+---+-------------+----+---+---+---+----------------+
| Hardwood Forest       |   |             |    |   |   |   |                |
+-----------------------+---+-------------+----+---+---+---+----------------+
| **TOTAL CONTRACT      |   |             |    |   |   |   |                |
| ACRES**               |   |             |    |   |   |   |                |
+-----------------------+---+-------------+----+---+---+---+----------------+
| **II. State WHIP      |   |             |    | * |   |   |                |
| Ranking Criteria**    |   |             |    | * |   |   |                |
|                       |   |             |    | P |   |   |                |
|                       |   |             |    | o |   |   |                |
|                       |   |             |    | i |   |   |                |
|                       |   |             |    | n |   |   |                |
|                       |   |             |    | t |   |   |                |
|                       |   |             |    | V |   |   |                |
|                       |   |             |    | a |   |   |                |
|                       |   |             |    | l |   |   |                |
|                       |   |             |    | u |   |   |                |
|                       |   |             |    | e |   |   |                |
|                       |   |             |    | * |   |   |                |
|                       |   |             |    | * |   |   |                |
+-----------------------+---+-------------+----+---+---+---+----------------+
| Wildlife Habitat      |   |             |    |   |   |   |                |
| Evaluation, Net       |   |             |    |   |   |   |                |
| Effect (Subtract the  |   |             |    |   |   |   |                |
| *Existing* score from |   |             |    |   |   |   |                |
| the *Planned* score   |   |             |    |   |   |   |                |
| and multiply by 100). |   |             |    |   |   |   |                |
| **Note**: Planned     |   |             |    |   |   |   |                |
| score must be at      |   |             |    |   |   |   |                |
| least .5 or 50% of    |   |             |    |   |   |   |                |
| maximum.              |   |             |    |   |   |   |                |
|                       |   |             |    |   |   |   |                |
| AND/OR                |   |             |    |   |   |   |                |
|                       |   |             |    |   |   |   |                |
| S.C. Stream           |   |             |    |   |   |   |                |
| Assessment (Subtract  |   |             |    |   |   |   |                |
| *Existing* condition  |   |             |    |   |   |   |                |
| from the *Planned*    |   |             |    |   |   |   |                |
| anticipated condition |   |             |    |   |   |   |                |
| and multiply by 10).  |   |             |    |   |   |   |                |
| **Note**: Panned      |   |             |    |   |   |   |                |
| score must be 7.5 or  |   |             |    |   |   |   |                |
| greater.              |   |             |    |   |   |   |                |
+-----------------------+---+-------------+----+---+---+---+----------------+
| **III. Other Benefit  |   |             |    | * |   |   |                |
| Points**              |   |             |    | * |   |   |                |
|                       |   |             |    | P |   |   |                |
|                       |   |             |    | o |   |   |                |
|                       |   |             |    | i |   |   |                |
|                       |   |             |    | n |   |   |                |
|                       |   |             |    | t |   |   |                |
|                       |   |             |    | V |   |   |                |
|                       |   |             |    | a |   |   |                |
|                       |   |             |    | l |   |   |                |
|                       |   |             |    | u |   |   |                |
|                       |   |             |    | e |   |   |                |
|                       |   |             |    | * |   |   |                |
|                       |   |             |    | * |   |   |                |
+-----------------------+---+-------------+----+---+---+---+----------------+
| Early Successional    |   |             |    |   |   |   |                |
| Vegetation (\>5       |   |             |    |   |   |   |                |
| acres) -- 10 points   |   |             |    |   |   |   |                |
+-----------------------+---+-------------+----+---+---+---+----------------+
| Planting of Native    |   |             |    |   |   |   |                |
| Warm Season           |   |             |    |   |   |   |                |
| Grasses/Native        |   |             |    |   |   |   |                |
| Legumes (\>5 acres)   |   |             |    |   |   |   |                |
| -- 10 pts.            |   |             |    |   |   |   |                |
+-----------------------+---+-------------+----+---+---+---+----------------+
| Stream Habitat        |   |             |    |   |   |   |                |
| Restoration and       |   |             |    |   |   |   |                |
| Management (entire    |   |             |    |   |   |   |                |
| stream segment) -- 10 |   |             |    |   |   |   |                |
| points                |   |             |    |   |   |   |                |
+-----------------------+---+-------------+----+---+---+---+----------------+
| Riparian Forest       |   |             |    |   |   |   |                |
| Buffer (\>50 feet     |   |             |    |   |   |   |                |
| wide, entire length)  |   |             |    |   |   |   |                |
| -- 10 points          |   |             |    |   |   |   |                |
+-----------------------+---+-------------+----+---+---+---+----------------+
| Longleaf Pine         |   |             |    |   |   |   |                |
| Restoration (\>10     |   |             |    |   |   |   |                |
| acres) -- 10 points   |   |             |    |   |   |   |                |
+-----------------------+---+-------------+----+---+---+---+----------------+
| No-till cropland      |   |             |    |   |   |   |                |
| (\>10 acres) -- 10    |   |             |    |   |   |   |                |
| points (No cost share |   |             |    |   |   |   |                |
| on no-till)           |   |             |    |   |   |   |                |
+-----------------------+---+-------------+----+---+---+---+----------------+
| **Grand Total of II.  |   |             |    |   |   |   |                |
| And III.**            |   |             |    |   |   |   |                |
+-----------------------+---+-------------+----+---+---+---+----------------+
| **IV. Conservation    |   |             |    |   |   |   |                |
| Practices (See        |   |             |    |   |   |   |                |
| attached list of      |   |             |    |   |   |   |                |
| approved practices    |   |             |    |   |   |   |                |
| for cost share)**     |   |             |    |   |   |   |                |
+-----------------------+---+-------------+----+---+---+---+----------------+
| Conservation          |   | Practice    | E  |   |   |   | Cost-Share     |
| Practices             |   | Extent      | st |   |   |   | Amount or      |
|                       |   |             | im |   |   |   |                |
|                       |   | (Amount)    | at |   |   |   | Rate required  |
|                       |   |             | ed |   |   |   | by Applicant   |
|                       |   |             | Co |   |   |   |                |
|                       |   |             | st |   |   |   |                |
|                       |   |             |    |   |   |   |                |
|                       |   |             | (S |   |   |   |                |
|                       |   |             | ta |   |   |   |                |
|                       |   |             | te |   |   |   |                |
|                       |   |             | A  |   |   |   |                |
|                       |   |             | ve |   |   |   |                |
|                       |   |             | ra |   |   |   |                |
|                       |   |             | ge |   |   |   |                |
|                       |   |             | C  |   |   |   |                |
|                       |   |             | os |   |   |   |                |
|                       |   |             | t) |   |   |   |                |
+-----------------------+---+-------------+----+---+---+---+----------------+
|                       |   |             |    |   |   |   |                |
+-----------------------+---+-------------+----+---+---+---+----------------+
|                       |   |             |    |   |   |   |                |
+-----------------------+---+-------------+----+---+---+---+----------------+
|                       |   |             |    |   |   |   |                |
+-----------------------+---+-------------+----+---+---+---+----------------+
| U.S. DEPARTMENT OF    |   | Application |    |   | N |   |                |
| AGRICULTURE           |   | Evaluation  |    |   | R |   |                |
|                       |   |             |    |   | C |   |                |
| NATURAL RESOURCES     |   | Worksheet   |    |   | S |   |                |
| CONSERVATION SERVICE  |   |             |    |   | - |   |                |
|                       |   |             |    |   | L |   |                |
|                       |   |             |    |   | T |   |                |
|                       |   |             |    |   | P |   |                |
|                       |   |             |    |   | - |   |                |
|                       |   |             |    |   | 1 |   |                |
|                       |   |             |    |   | 5 |   |                |
|                       |   |             |    |   |   |   |                |
|                       |   |             |    |   | O |   |                |
|                       |   |             |    |   | M |   |                |
|                       |   |             |    |   | B |   |                |
|                       |   |             |    |   | N |   |                |
|                       |   |             |    |   | O |   |                |
|                       |   |             |    |   | . |   |                |
|                       |   |             |    |   | 0 |   |                |
|                       |   |             |    |   | 5 |   |                |
|                       |   |             |    |   | 7 |   |                |
|                       |   |             |    |   | 8 |   |                |
|                       |   |             |    |   | - |   |                |
|                       |   |             |    |   | 0 |   |                |
|                       |   |             |    |   | 0 |   |                |
|                       |   |             |    |   | 1 |   |                |
|                       |   |             |    |   | 3 |   |                |
|                       |   |             |    |   |   |   |                |
|                       |   |             |    |   | * |   |                |
|                       |   |             |    |   | * |   |                |
|                       |   |             |    |   | S |   |                |
|                       |   |             |    |   | C |   |                |
|                       |   |             |    |   | R |   |                |
|                       |   |             |    |   | e |   |                |
|                       |   |             |    |   | v |   |                |
|                       |   |             |    |   | i |   |                |
|                       |   |             |    |   | s |   |                |
|                       |   |             |    |   | e |   |                |
|                       |   |             |    |   | d |   |                |
|                       |   |             |    |   | 1 |   |                |
|                       |   |             |    |   | / |   |                |
|                       |   |             |    |   | 0 |   |                |
|                       |   |             |    |   | 4 |   |                |
|                       |   |             |    |   | * |   |                |
|                       |   |             |    |   | * |   |                |
+-----------------------+---+-------------+----+---+---+---+----------------+
| **IV. Certification** |   |             |    |   |   |   |                |
|                       |   |             |    |   |   |   |                |
| I acknowledge that I  |   |             |    |   |   |   |                |
| have reviewed the     |   |             |    |   |   |   |                |
| information above and |   |             |    |   |   |   |                |
| the cost-share        |   |             |    |   |   |   |                |
| percentages reflect   |   |             |    |   |   |   |                |
| my contract offer.    |   |             |    |   |   |   |                |
|                       |   |             |    |   |   |   |                |
| \_\_\_\_\_\_          |   |             |    |   |   |   |                |
| \_\_\_\_\_\_\_\_\_\_\ |   |             |    |   |   |   |                |
| _\_\_\_\_\_\_\_\_\_\_ |   |             |    |   |   |   |                |
| \_\_\_\_\_\_\_\_\_\_\ |   |             |    |   |   |   |                |
| _\_\_\_\_\_\_\_\_\_\_ |   |             |    |   |   |   |                |
| \_\_\_\_\_\_\_\_\_\_\ |   |             |    |   |   |   |                |
| _\_\_\_\_\_\_\_\_\_\_ |   |             |    |   |   |   |                |
| \_\_\_\_\_\_\_\_      |   |             |    |   |   |   |                |
| \_\_\_\_\_\_\_\_\_\_\ |   |             |    |   |   |   |                |
| _\_\_\_\_\_\_\_\_\_\_ |   |             |    |   |   |   |                |
|                       |   |             |    |   |   |   |                |
| **(Applicant's        |   |             |    |   |   |   |                |
| Signature) (Date)**   |   |             |    |   |   |   |                |
+-----------------------+---+-------------+----+---+---+---+----------------+
| **V. Designated NRCS  |   |             |    |   |   |   |                |
| Conservationist**     |   |             |    |   |   |   |                |
+-----------------------+---+-------------+----+---+---+---+----------------+
| \_\_\_\_\_\_\_        |   |             |    |   |   | \ |                |
| \_\_\_\_\_\_\_\_\_\_\ |   |             |    |   |   | _ |                |
| _\_\_\_\_\_\_\_\_\_\_ |   |             |    |   |   | \ |                |
| \_\_\_\_\_\_\_\_\_\_\ |   |             |    |   |   | _ |                |
| _\_\_\_\_\_\_\_\_\_\_ |   |             |    |   |   | \ |                |
| \_\_\_\_\_\_\_\_\_\_\ |   |             |    |   |   | _ |                |
| _\_\_\_\_\_\_\_\_\_\_ |   |             |    |   |   | \ |                |
|                       |   |             |    |   |   | _ |                |
|                       |   |             |    |   |   | \ |                |
|                       |   |             |    |   |   | _ |                |
|                       |   |             |    |   |   | \ |                |
|                       |   |             |    |   |   | _ |                |
|                       |   |             |    |   |   | \ |                |
|                       |   |             |    |   |   | _ |                |
|                       |   |             |    |   |   | \ |                |
|                       |   |             |    |   |   | _ |                |
|                       |   |             |    |   |   | \ |                |
|                       |   |             |    |   |   | _ |                |
|                       |   |             |    |   |   | \ |                |
|                       |   |             |    |   |   | _ |                |
|                       |   |             |    |   |   | \ |                |
|                       |   |             |    |   |   | _ |                |
|                       |   |             |    |   |   | \ |                |
|                       |   |             |    |   |   | _ |                |
|                       |   |             |    |   |   | \ |                |
|                       |   |             |    |   |   | _ |                |
|                       |   |             |    |   |   | \ |                |
|                       |   |             |    |   |   | _ |                |
|                       |   |             |    |   |   | \ |                |
|                       |   |             |    |   |   | _ |                |
|                       |   |             |    |   |   | \ |                |
|                       |   |             |    |   |   | _ |                |
|                       |   |             |    |   |   | \ |                |
|                       |   |             |    |   |   | _ |                |
|                       |   |             |    |   |   | \ |                |
|                       |   |             |    |   |   | _ |                |
|                       |   |             |    |   |   | \ |                |
|                       |   |             |    |   |   | _ |                |
|                       |   |             |    |   |   | \ |                |
|                       |   |             |    |   |   | _ |                |
|                       |   |             |    |   |   | \ |                |
|                       |   |             |    |   |   | _ |                |
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|                       |   |             |    |   |   | \ |                |
|                       |   |             |    |   |   | _ |                |
+-----------------------+---+-------------+----+---+---+---+----------------+
| **(Conservationist's  |   |             |    |   |   | * |                |
| Signature)**          |   |             |    |   |   | * |                |
|                       |   |             |    |   |   | ( |                |
|                       |   |             |    |   |   | D |                |
|                       |   |             |    |   |   | a |                |
|                       |   |             |    |   |   | t |                |
|                       |   |             |    |   |   | e |                |
|                       |   |             |    |   |   | ) |                |
|                       |   |             |    |   |   | * |                |
|                       |   |             |    |   |   | * |                |
+-----------------------+---+-------------+----+---+---+---+----------------+
| **VI. Wildlife        |   |             |    |   |   |   |                |
| Biologist or          |   |             |    |   |   |   |                |
| Grassland/Forestry    |   |             |    |   |   |   |                |
| Specialist ( NRCS,    |   |             |    |   |   |   |                |
| FWS, SC DNR)**        |   |             |    |   |   |   |                |
+-----------------------+---+-------------+----+---+---+---+----------------+
| \_\_\_\_\_\_          |   |             |    |   |   | \ |                |
| \_\_\_\_\_\_\_\_\_\_\ |   |             |    |   |   | _ |                |
| _\_\_\_\_\_\_\_\_\_\_ |   |             |    |   |   | \ |                |
| \_\_\_\_\_\_\_\_\_\_\ |   |             |    |   |   | _ |                |
| _\_\_\_\_\_\_\_\_\_\_ |   |             |    |   |   | \ |                |
| \_\_\_\_\_\_\_\_\_\_\ |   |             |    |   |   | _ |                |
| _\_\_\_\_\_\_\_\_\_\_ |   |             |    |   |   | \ |                |
|                       |   |             |    |   |   | _ |                |
|                       |   |             |    |   |   | \ |                |
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|                       |   |             |    |   |   | _ |                |
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|                       |   |             |    |   |   | _ |                |
|                       |   |             |    |   |   | \ |                |
|                       |   |             |    |   |   | _ |                |
|                       |   |             |    |   |   | \ |                |
|                       |   |             |    |   |   | _ |                |
|                       |   |             |    |   |   | \ |                |
|                       |   |             |    |   |   | _ |                |
|                       |   |             |    |   |   | \ |                |
|                       |   |             |    |   |   | _ |                |
+-----------------------+---+-------------+----+---+---+---+----------------+
| **(Specialist         |   |             |    |   |   | * |                |
| Signature)**          |   |             |    |   |   | * |                |
|                       |   |             |    |   |   | ( |                |
|                       |   |             |    |   |   | D |                |
|                       |   |             |    |   |   | a |                |
|                       |   |             |    |   |   | t |                |
|                       |   |             |    |   |   | e |                |
|                       |   |             |    |   |   | ) |                |
|                       |   |             |    |   |   | * |                |
|                       |   |             |    |   |   | * |                |
+-----------------------+---+-------------+----+---+---+---+----------------+
| **Privacy Act         |   |             |    |   |   |   |                |
| Statement**: The      |   |             |    |   |   |   |                |
| following statements  |   |             |    |   |   |   |                |
| are made in           |   |             |    |   |   |   |                |
| accordance with the   |   |             |    |   |   |   |                |
| Privacy Act of 1974   |   |             |    |   |   |   |                |
| (5U.S.C. 522a). The   |   |             |    |   |   |   |                |
| authorities for       |   |             |    |   |   |   |                |
| requesting the        |   |             |    |   |   |   |                |
| information to be     |   |             |    |   |   |   |                |
| supplied on this form |   |             |    |   |   |   |                |
| are: 16 U.S.C. 590a-f |   |             |    |   |   |   |                |
| (Soil and Water       |   |             |    |   |   |   |                |
| Conservation); 16     |   |             |    |   |   |   |                |
| U.S.C. 3801 et seq.   |   |             |    |   |   |   |                |
| (Food Security Act of |   |             |    |   |   |   |                |
| 1985, as amended),    |   |             |    |   |   |   |                |
| and the regulations   |   |             |    |   |   |   |                |
| promulgated           |   |             |    |   |   |   |                |
| thereunder. The       |   |             |    |   |   |   |                |
| information requested |   |             |    |   |   |   |                |
| is necessary for the  |   |             |    |   |   |   |                |
| evaluation of an      |   |             |    |   |   |   |                |
| application,          |   |             |    |   |   |   |                |
| development and       |   |             |    |   |   |   |                |
| implementation of a   |   |             |    |   |   |   |                |
| conservation plan as  |   |             |    |   |   |   |                |
| the basis for         |   |             |    |   |   |   |                |
| satisfying program    |   |             |    |   |   |   |                |
| eligibility and       |   |             |    |   |   |   |                |
| compliance            |   |             |    |   |   |   |                |
| requirements, and for |   |             |    |   |   |   |                |
| providing technical,  |   |             |    |   |   |   |                |
| educational, or       |   |             |    |   |   |   |                |
| financial assistance  |   |             |    |   |   |   |                |
| under the previously  |   |             |    |   |   |   |                |
| mentioned             |   |             |    |   |   |   |                |
| authorities.          |   |             |    |   |   |   |                |
| Furnishing this       |   |             |    |   |   |   |                |
| information is        |   |             |    |   |   |   |                |
| voluntary, however,   |   |             |    |   |   |   |                |
| failure to furnish    |   |             |    |   |   |   |                |
| correct, complete     |   |             |    |   |   |   |                |
| information will      |   |             |    |   |   |   |                |
| result in the         |   |             |    |   |   |   |                |
| withholding or        |   |             |    |   |   |   |                |
| withdrawal of such    |   |             |    |   |   |   |                |
| technical,            |   |             |    |   |   |   |                |
| educational, or       |   |             |    |   |   |   |                |
| financial assistance. |   |             |    |   |   |   |                |
| This information      |   |             |    |   |   |   |                |
| maybe furnished to    |   |             |    |   |   |   |                |
| other USDA agencies,  |   |             |    |   |   |   |                |
| the Internal Revenue  |   |             |    |   |   |   |                |
| Service, the          |   |             |    |   |   |   |                |
| Department of         |   |             |    |   |   |   |                |
| Justice, or other     |   |             |    |   |   |   |                |
| State, or Federal law |   |             |    |   |   |   |                |
| enforcement agencies, |   |             |    |   |   |   |                |
| or in response to     |   |             |    |   |   |   |                |
| orders of a court,    |   |             |    |   |   |   |                |
| magistrate, or        |   |             |    |   |   |   |                |
| administrative        |   |             |    |   |   |   |                |
| tribunal.             |   |             |    |   |   |   |                |
+-----------------------+---+-------------+----+---+---+---+----------------+
| **OMB DISCLOSURE      |   |             |    |   |   |   |                |
| STATEMENT**           |   |             |    |   |   |   |                |
|                       |   |             |    |   |   |   |                |
| Public Reporting      |   |             |    |   |   |   |                |
| burden for this       |   |             |    |   |   |   |                |
| collection of         |   |             |    |   |   |   |                |
| information is        |   |             |    |   |   |   |                |
| approximately 20      |   |             |    |   |   |   |                |
| minutes per response, |   |             |    |   |   |   |                |
| including the time    |   |             |    |   |   |   |                |
| for reviewing         |   |             |    |   |   |   |                |
| instructions,         |   |             |    |   |   |   |                |
| searching existing    |   |             |    |   |   |   |                |
| data sources,         |   |             |    |   |   |   |                |
| gathering and         |   |             |    |   |   |   |                |
| maintaining the data  |   |             |    |   |   |   |                |
| needed, and           |   |             |    |   |   |   |                |
| completing and        |   |             |    |   |   |   |                |
| reviewing the         |   |             |    |   |   |   |                |
| collection of         |   |             |    |   |   |   |                |
| information. Send     |   |             |    |   |   |   |                |
| comments regarding    |   |             |    |   |   |   |                |
| this burden estimate  |   |             |    |   |   |   |                |
| or any other aspect   |   |             |    |   |   |   |                |
| of this collection of |   |             |    |   |   |   |                |
| information,          |   |             |    |   |   |   |                |
| including suggestions |   |             |    |   |   |   |                |
| for reducing this     |   |             |    |   |   |   |                |
| burden, to Department |   |             |    |   |   |   |                |
| of Agriculture        |   |             |    |   |   |   |                |
| Clearance Officer     |   |             |    |   |   |   |                |
| OIRM, AG Box 7630,    |   |             |    |   |   |   |                |
| Washington, D.C.      |   |             |    |   |   |   |                |
| 20250-7630; and to    |   |             |    |   |   |   |                |
| the Office of         |   |             |    |   |   |   |                |
| Management and        |   |             |    |   |   |   |                |
| Budget, Paperwork     |   |             |    |   |   |   |                |
| Reduction Project     |   |             |    |   |   |   |                |
| (OMB NO. 0578-0013),  |   |             |    |   |   |   |                |
| Washington, D.C.      |   |             |    |   |   |   |                |
| 20503.                |   |             |    |   |   |   |                |
+-----------------------+---+-------------+----+---+---+---+----------------+

**APPROVED WHIP PRACTICES FOR COST SHARE**

*Required Practices (At least one of the following must be planned):*

645 Upland Wildlife Habitat Management

644 Wetland Wildlife Habitat Management (Applies to Special Partners
Projects Only!!!)

657 Wetland Development or Restoration ( Applies to Special Partners
Projects Only!!!)

395 Stream Habitat Improvement and Management

( Applies to Special Partners Projects Only!!!)

647 Early Successional Habitat Management

*Associated Practices:*

560 Access Road

342 Critical Area Planting (native grasses/legumes only)

356 Dike

386 Field Borders (early successional vegetation or planted native
grasses/legumes

Only)

394 Firebreaks

490 Forest Site Preparation

666 Forest Stand Improvement

422 Hedgerow Planting (Shrubs and Mast producing hardwoods)

460 Land Clearing (permanent firebreaks or forest openings 2 acs. or
less only)

338 Prescribed Burning (includes temporary firebreaks)

391 Riparian Forest Buffer

612 Tree/Shrub Establishment (Longleaf Pines, and (Hardwoods up to 2acs.
in plots)

512 Pasture/Hayland Planting (Native Warm Season Grasses and legumes
only)

382 Fence (livestock exclusion)