Conservation Considerations 

for Solar Farms 

NRCS Fact Sheet

Introduction

Ground-based, utility-scale solar panel 

installations used for electricity generation 

of 1 MW or greater are commonly referred 

to as ‘solar farms’ (US Energy Information 

Administration, 2020). The purpose of the 

solar farm is to generate and sell electricity, 

therefore it is key that the collection, 

generation, and distribution of energy is not 

hampered by factors that reduce capacity. 

Management of natural resources on a 

facility’s footprint is beneficial to enable 

it to maintain capacity. Natural resource 

concerns, such as soil erosion, dust, runoff, 

and damage from wildlife or livestock, 

frequently occur during construction and 

operation of solar farms.

The Natural Resources Conservation 

Service (NRCS) and its partners provide 

financial and technical assistance for 

producers and landowners to restore, 

enhance, and preserve the Nation’s 

productive landscapes and natural 

resources. Producers, landowners and 

developers should consider the following 

natural resource conservation concerns 

regarding solar farms.

Soil Conservation

Healthy soils are critical for proper function 

of the water cycle and for providing habitat 

for a diversity of organisms. Soil conservation 

concerns include soil erosion by water and 

wind, compaction, water ponding, pollutants, 

and loss of organic matter. Four principles 

that guide land management to support 

healthy soil are: (1) maximize soil cover, (2) 

minimize soil disturbance, (3) maximize living 

roots, and (4) maximize biodiversity. These 

principles can apply to solar farms during 

planning, construction, operation, and even 

decommissioning activities.

Soil erosion, by water or wind, is a key 

resource concern that is often a consequence 

of construction and infrastructure projects.

Erosion generally occurs where soils 

have been heavily disturbed or left 

uncovered as bare ground. With 

solar farms, wind erosion can cause 

problems when wind-blown soil ends 

up on the surface of panels, reducing 

their electricity output and possibly 

leading to permanent damage. Water 

erosion from runoff and concentrated 

flows can damage infrastructure, 

equipment, and facilities, leading to 

increased maintenance and repair costs. 

It can also lead to detrimental offsite 

environmental effects including gullies 

and the transport of sediment.

Steps to take during the construction 

and operation to conserve soil include:

• Limiting disturbance and 

compaction from heavy machinery 

to only the most necessary areas 

such as access roads and other 

areas with frequent or intense use. 

• Preserving on-site topsoil; 

covering and preventing soil 

movement by applying mulches 

and erosion control mats or socks.

• Designing sites for optimal runoff 

flow with diversions, terraces, 

basins, and other earthworks.

• Maintaining a healthy perennial 

vegetative cover on the soil 

under and between solar panel 

rows to encourage infiltration 

and prevent erosion. Ideally, the 

vegetated distance between the 

rows of panels should be no less 

than the maximum horizontal 

width of the panel rows. 

• Planting windbreaks perpendicular 

to the prevailing wind direction to 

reduce wind erosion.

• Utilizing dust control measures on 

unpaved roads and surfaces.

More Information

This fact sheet 

provides conservation 

considerations regarding 

solar farms for a general 

audience. For producers 

and landowners, there 

may be program-specific 

rules or requirements 

that could affect potential 

participation in USDA 

programs which are not 

included in this document.

NRCS encourages 

producers and landowners 

to utilize the complete 

NRCS conservation 

planning process to 

address natural resource 

concerns through the 

implementation of 

conservation practices.

MARCH 2024 Helping People Help the Land USDA-NRCS
CONSERVATION CONSIDERATIONS FOR SOLAR FARMS 2

The Farmland Protection Policy Act is intended to minimize the impact Federal programs have on the unnecessary and irreversible conversion of farmland to 

nonagricultural uses. If agricultural farmland (cropland, forest, pasture, or other land) will be converted to a non-agricultural use, producers, landowners, and 

developers should make every effort to minimize the impact and maintain the possibility for the land to be converted back to agricultural use. Limiting use of 

concrete and cement footing or pads; and if ground-mounted, considering use of driven-post structures to minimize use of concrete footings; will protect future 

agricultural suitability. Consider solar development using existing buildings, structures, idle or marginal lands, or water bodies such as irrigation ditches.

Vegetation Management

Establishment and maintenance of perennial vegetation is paramount for ensuring the health and function of both the land and 

the solar farm. Sites are typically cleared of all vegetation and subjected to substantial land manipulation during construction.

The bare, disturbed soil creates an environment favorable for undesirable species, including noxious and invasive species. 

Perennial herbaceous vegetation should be reestablished immediately following initial site preparation. Also, many tree and brush 

species will resprout from the base following top removal. Unmanaged vegetation can grow over and into electrical equipment 

and infrastructure, potentially causing damage, reducing performance and efficiency, and increasing maintenance costs. 

Select plants that are adapted to the area and require minimal maintenance. An ideal species will be low-growing (short stature) 

or which can easily be maintained by mowing or grazing. Sod-forming or rhizomatous grasses (such as those found in a typical 

yard) are preferred, as is a mix of warm and cool-season plants, if the site and climate allow. When practical, include native forbs 

that attract pollinators, promote soil health, and offer aesthetic value.

Vegetation management plans should:

• Identify commercially available, locally adapted species. Consider using plants with drought, moisture, and shade tolerance. Solar 

panels can significantly affect ecohydrology by redistributing moisture from precipitation and casting a significant amount of shade. 

• Account for potential threats from noxious and invasive species, prioritize the prevention of their establishment, and ensure 

effective treatment if discovered. 

• Anticipate encroachment from woody species common to the area and include treatment thresholds and plans for treating both 

resprouting and emerging plants.

• Where vegetation isn’t growing, and the ground is covered instead by a community of bacteria, lichens, or mosses (collectively 

referred to as a microbiotic soil crust), minimize disturbance to the crust as much as possible since these beneficial communities 

take much longer to establish than vegetation. 

• Identify target minimum and maximum vegetation heights and prescribe regular mowing, grazing, or other similar maintenance 

treatments to manage vegetation height and prevent vegetation from growing into the equipment, casting shade or dropping 

pollen, leaves, limbs, mast, or other debris onto the solar panels or causing other damage to equipment and facilities.

Wildlife Considerations

Wildlife can interfere with solar farm operations by causing damage to equipment or injuring themselves. Identify 

management strategies to reduce the attractiveness of the site for nuisance species. Establishing food, water, and favorable 

habitat in alternative locations can draw troublesome species away from the solar farm and maintain the current level of 

wildlife habitat. Physical deterrents can also be used to discourage nesting by birds and to otherwise dissuade unwanted 

wildlife from using the site. Some wildlife, like aquatic habitat birds, may perceive the reflected light from solar panels as 

bodies of water and be drawn to the facility. Consider selecting panels that have a white outline or white grid lines to reduce 

this effect. Ensure perimeter fencing is constructed to exclude problem wildlife species. When practical, design fences to 

facilitate the movement of migrating animals around facilities. Nuisance wildlife species will vary by site. Two common 

examples of invasive species include feral swine and the European Starling (Sturnus vulgaris). Both can greatly reduce the 

efficiency and/or destroy equipment.

Other types of wildlife, including many pollinator species, are relatively low-impact and can coexist on solar farms without conflict. 

Incorporating locally adapted, pollinator-friendly forbs into seed mixes is an effective strategy for creating habitat for pollinators 

and promoting the environmental benefits provided by these species.

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CONSERVATION CONSIDERATIONS FOR SOLAR FARMS 3

NRCS Conservation Practice Standards to consider when planning on solar farms: Critical Area Planting (Code 342), Conservation Cover 

(Code 327), Herbaceous Weed Management (Code 315), Range Planting (Code 550 ), Brush Management (Code 314), WindbreakShelterbelt Establishment and Renovation (Code 380), Diversion (Code 362), Terrace (Code 600), Heavy Use Area Protection (Code 561), 

Access Road (Code 560), Water and Sediment Control Basin (Code 638), Fence (Code 382), Prescribed Grazing (Code 528).

Contingency Planning

Anticipating and planning for unexpected disturbances, such as severe weather, vandalism, and wildfire, is crucial for 

maintaining equipment and ensuring the continuity of operations. Access to the site should be controlled with secure 

perimeter fencing to provide critical security and protection of assets and prevent unauthorized human access. Plan roads 

to provide dedicated travel ways for heavy equipment and vehicles and to allow easy access to facilities and infrastructure 

for maintenance and repairs. Regularly mowing or grazing can reduce the risk of fire. Firebreaks constructed both 

along the perimeter and inside the facility can help contain potential internal fires and protect the facility from external 

wildfires. Plan heavy use area protection for sites frequently used by vehicles, equipment, and machinery and for 

stockpiling supplies and spare parts, or discarded components.

To learn more about NRCS recommendations for conservation on solar farms and vegetation for a specific area, contact the local USDA 

Service Center at farmers.gov/working-with-us/USDA-service-centers.

Additional Resources:

1. Information on vegetation planting and establishment: https://efotg.sc.egov.usda.gov/#/

2. Controlling Soil Erosion: Small Scale Solutions for your Farm

3. Introduction to Microbiotic Crusts

4. Web Soil Survey soil interpretations are available for fencing and solar panels: https://websoilsurvey.nrcs.usda.gov/app/

USDA is an equal opportunity provider, employer, and lender. www.nrcs.usda.gov

Note the toxic African Rue (Peganum harmala) plants in the foreground.

Photo left. Side-view of an array of Photo-voltaic panels at a solar energy electricity generating station.

Photo right. Front-view of an array of Photo-voltaic panels at a solar energy electricity generating station.

These photos show sparse herbaceous vegetation under and around the photo-voltaic panels. This is not an ideal situation. 

A healthy cover of short-stature herbaceous grasses and forbs is preferred from both ecological and operational perspectives.