**CCRP Practice**

**CP38E - State Acres for Wildlife Enhancement**

The purpose of the CP38E---Back Forty Pheasant Habitat conservation
practice is to restore grassland habitats to the landscape to maintain
and enhance ring-necked pheasant populations within Minnesota.
Additional goals are to build upon existing habitats to enhance
waterfowl, greater prairie chicken, and grassland bird populations.
Secondary objectives include providing winter cover and a food source
for resident wildlife.

**[Practice Requirement]{.underline}**

Offered acreage [mus]{.underline}t meet at least one of the following,
[per tract]{.underline}, size and location criteria:

-   Be comprised of a stand-alone 10 to 40-acre block of eligible
    cropland.

-   Be comprised of less than 10-acre blocks of eligible cropland,
    provided a minimum of a 10-acre block of vegetative cover is created
    by the offered acreage being located immediately adjacent to
    **existing undisturbed habitat** within the same tract or other
    tracts, including tracts of different ownership. There is no
    contract acreage minimum size, provided the 10-acre block criterion
    is met, **(see notes 1 -- 4)**.

Exceptions to the Practice Requirement for a minimum 10 acre undisturbed
block of habitat:

-   Center-pivot irrigation corners, any size not to exceed 40 acres.

-   Cropland-ravine interface areas, and size not to exceed 40 acres,
    only when the offered acres lie adjacent to a ravine, **(see notes 5
    and 6).**

**[Notes:]{.underline}**

> **1)** "Existing undisturbed habitat" is defined as any acreage that
> includes grassland, wetland, woodland, and federal, state or local
> conservation practice acreage such as CRP, WRP, or RIM acreage, that
> is undisturbed during the CRP defined primary nesting season.
> Permanent vegetation associated with road and drainage ditches may be
> included to the extent that the area is immediately adjacent to the
> CP38E enrolled acreage and is undisturbed during the nesting season.
> Pastureland also meets this definition and is the only qualifying land
> cover that [may]{.underline} be grazed during the primary nesting
> season.
>
> **2)** NRCS or TSP shall determine and document whether existing land
> cover meets the undisturbed habitat definition and aggregate size
> requirement when combined with the offered CP38E acreage.
>
> **3)** Existing undisturbed habitat area [must]{.underline} be
> delineated on a map and noted on the NRCS CP38E Documentation of
> Eligibility and Suitability Worksheet.
>
> **4)** Existing undisturbed habitat area is **not** included in the
> CRP plan or subject to CRP policy rules and requirements.
>
> **5)** A "ravine" is defined as any deep-sided valley that has
> seasonal runoff characteristics.
>
> **6)** A "cropland-ravine interface" includes areas outside the
> 100-year floodplain, but immediately adjacent to a ravine comprised of
> existing undisturbed habitat.

**[Practice Component Eligibility]{.underline}**

CP-38E offers [may]{.underline} include a variety of specific practice
components at the participant's option [only]{.underline} when specific
eligibility requirements are met.

**1)** **CP-38E -** **Rare and Declining Habitat** (CP-25) -- this
practice component allows restoration of both grassland and wetland
habitats and [shall]{.underline} comprise at least 75 percent of the
[offered grassland]{.underline} acreage; and

**2) CP-38E - Introduced Grasses and Legumes** (CP-1) -- this practice
component [may]{.underline} comprise up to 25 percent of the [offered
grassland]{.underline} acreage. Introduced Grasses and Legumes component
acreage [shall not]{.underline} be established immediately adjacent to
existing native remnant prairie.

**[Notes]{.underline}**:

-   The [offered grassland]{.underline} acreage refers to the grassland
    components of the CP-38E practice [not]{.underline} the total acres
    offered.

-   Existing grass vegetation eligible for enrollment [must]{.underline}
    be offered as either component above.

**3) CP-38E - Permanent Wildlife Habitat** (CP-4D) -- this practice
component [may]{.underline} be added to offers [only]{.underline} when
no existing winter wildlife habitat cover is present within 2 miles of
the practice area. When eligible the size of the component area
[shall]{.underline} be at least 3 acres, but not exceed 5 acres. This
component [shall not]{.underline} be eligible when the offered practice
area is within 3 miles of a known greater prairie chicken lek. When
eligible, offers with a Permanent Wildlife Habitat component
[must]{.underline} also have at least 50 percent of the total acreage
devoted to grass practice components. Winter wildlife habitat cover is
defined as either:

-   A contiguous wetland of at least 10 acres, as identified on the
    Public Waters Inventory (PWI) maps, and any known restored wetlands
    that meet the definition of PWI not contained on these map, or

-   3 acres of existing contiguous woody cover, regardless of type or
    age.

> **4) CP-38E - Wildlife Food Plot** (CP-12) -- this practice component
> [may]{.underline} be added to offers [only]{.underline} when the
> location of the food plot will be within ¼ mile of winter wildlife
> habitat. When eligible a [single]{.underline} component area may be
> offered and [shall]{.underline} be at least 0.25 acres but not exceed
> 2 acres. When eligible, offers greater with a Wildlife Food Plot
> component [must]{.underline} also have at least 50 percent of the
> total acreage devoted to grass practice components.

**[PRACTICE COMPONENT COVER OPTIONS]{.underline}**

Existing grass vegetation [must]{.underline} be documented as being
eligible for enrollment or [must]{.underline} be upgraded to CP-38E
criteria. Establishment of **Rare and Declining Habitat** acres will
follow guidance listed in NRCS Practice Standard 643, Rare and Declining
Habitats. Wetland acreage to be restored through CP-38E will follow
Practice Standard 657, Wetland Restoration. Components **Permanent
Wildlife Habitat** and **Wildlife Food Plot** will be established
following guidance listed NRCS Practice Standard 645, Upland Wildlife
Habitat Management. In addition to following NRCS practice standards all
vegetation establishment [must]{.underline} follow the criteria listed
in 2-CRP Manual Exhibit 9 for CP-38E.

***Note: All practice components are part of the CP-38E practice. The
reference to CP-1, CP-4D, CP-12, and CP-25 is for similar cover types in
other CRP practices -- they are [NOT]{.underline} part of CP-38E.***

**Natural Resources Conservation Service (NRCS)**

![](media/image1.jpeg){width="0.6770833333333334in"
height="0.6041666666666666in"}

APPLICANT: [     ]{.mark} COUNTY: [     ]{.mark} **Resource Concerns for
Eligibility**

**Restoration of Ground**

FSA TRACT NO.: [     ]{.mark} FSA FIELD NO.: [     ]{.mark} **Nesting
Bird Habitat**

**Practice Requirements: Check which criteria the offered area meets**

 1. Be comprised of a stand-alone 10 to 40-acre block of eligible
cropland (See Note).

2A. Be comprised of less than 10-acre blocks of eligible cropland,
provided a minimum of a 10-acre block of vegetative cover is created by
the offered acreage being located immediately adjacent to **existing
undisturbed habitat** within the same tract or other tracts, including
tracts of different ownership. There is no contract acreage minimum
size, provided the 10-acre block criterion is met. (See Note)

\_\_\_\_\_\_\_ **Acres of existing undisturbed habitat are present**

**\_\_\_\_\_\_\_ Acres of Eligible CROPLAND ARE BEING OFFERED**

**\_\_\_\_\_\_\_ Total Acres of habitat in this offer**

**2B**. Attach a map depicting the block of existing habitat present and
the area being offered. On the map describe each existing habitat type
and show the acres of each type

3. Center-pivot irrigation corners, 0.1 to 40 acres in size.

4A.Cropland-ravine interface areas, 0.1 to 40 acres in size, only when
the

offered acres lie adjacent to a ravine.

> **4B.** Attach a map depicting the "ravine" and the immediately
> adjacent "cropland-ravine interface" area.

**Ineligible Offer:**

The area offered does not comprise a 10 acre block of undisturbed
habitat or meet exceptions to the 10 acre minimum.

**Note: all acres shown on this form are determined by NRCS or TSP and
do not require use of GPS. Final contract and component acreage will be
determined by FSA.**

**Practice Component Eligibility**

**1)** [     ]{.mark} **Acres of Rare and Declining Grassland and
Wetland Habitats**

Do acres comprise at least 75 percent of the offered grassland acres?

Yes (eligible) No (Ineligible)

**2)** [     ]{.mark} **Acres of Introduced Grasses and Legumes**

Offered acres are immediately adjacent to existing native remnant
prairie;

Yes (Ineligible) No (Eligible)

When YES attach map showing location of existing native remnant prairie.

Offered acres are more than 25 percent of the offered grassland acres;

Yes (Ineligible) No (Eligible)

**3)** [     ]{.mark} **Acres of Existing Grass Vegetation** (when
determined to be eligible [must]{.underline} be offered under 1 or 2
above and **must** be included in those component acres)

Describe Existing Vegetation:
\_\_\_\_\_\_\_\_\_\_\_\_\_\_\_\_\_\_\_\_\_\_\_\_\_\_\_\_\_\_\_\_\_\_\_\_\_\_\_\_\_\_\_\_\_\_\_\_\_\_\_\_\_
\_\_\_\_\_\_\_\_\_\_\_\_\_\_\_\_\_\_\_\_\_\_\_\_\_\_\_\_\_\_\_\_\_\_\_\_\_\_\_\_\_\_\_\_\_\_\_\_\_\_\_\_\_\_\_\_\_\_\_\_\_\_\_\_\_\_\_\_\_\_\_\_\_\_\_\_\_\_

**4)** [     ]{.mark} **Acres of Permanent Wildlife Habitat** - when
eligible must be between 3 and 5 acres in size. Existing trees and
shrubs are [not]{.underline} eligible.

Offered acres are within 2 miles of "existing winter wildlife habitat
cover"

Yes (Ineligible) No (Eligible)

Attach map showing the distance and location of "existing winter
wildlife habitat cover" or lack of habitat cover

Offered acres are within 3 miles of a known greater prairie chicken lek.

Yes (Ineligible) No (Eligible)

Total offered CP-38E acres are at least 50 percent grass components;

Yes (Eligible) No (Ineligible)

\_\_\_\_\_\_\_\_\_\_ Total Acres of Grass Components in CP-38E offered
acreage

**5)** [     ]{.mark} **Acres of Wildlife Food Plot** -- when eligible
this component must be between 0.25 and 2 acres in size.

Offered acres are within ¼ mile of winter wildlife habitat.

Yes (Eligible) No (Ineligible)

Attach map showing the distance and location of "existing winter
wildlife habitat cover" or lack of habitat cover

Total offered CP-38E acres are at least 50 percent grass components.

Yes (Eligible) No (ineligible or reduce size of Food Plot component)

\_\_\_\_\_\_\_\_\_\_ Total Acres of Grass Components in CP-38E offered
acreage

**6)** [     ]{.mark} **Total CP-38E Acres in Offer**