Agricultural Conservation Planning Framework:Applied to Beargrass Creek Watershed 

near North Manchester, Indiana

Mark Tomer, Sarah Porter, and David JamesNational Laboratory for Agriculture 

and the EnvironmentUSDA‐ARSAmes, Iowa 

Concept for Agricultural Conservation Planning Framework (ACPF):A CONSERVATION PYRAMID FOR AGRICULTURAL WATERSHEDS

2(Tomer et al., 2013)

Soil Survey Information

AVOID and CONTROL : Improve soil health within cropped fields to avoid and control pollutant losses by‐Protecting soils from erosion with zero or minimum tillage; Limiting excess nutrients through rates and timing of fertilizer and manure applications;Building soil organic matter and rejuvenating compacted soils with intensified crop rotations

IN FIELDS:Place water control / 

filter practices 

BELOW FIELDS Place water 

detention / nutrient removal practices 

RIPARIAN ZONEPlace/design practices for 

ecosystem function and nutrient removal

Agricultural Conservation Planning Framework to improve water quality in agricultural watersheds

CONTROL, TRAP, and/or  TREAT TILE DRAINAGE SURFACE RUNOFF

6

Yes No

H A B C

M B C

L C

Close to stream?

Slop

e steepn

ess

Yes No

H CZ MSB SSG

M MSB MSB SSG

L DRV DRV SBS

Shallow water table?

Runo

ff de

livery

Runoff Risk Assessment:Prioritize fields where multiple erosion control practices are most needed

Riparian Assessment:Identify riparian function 

by stream reach

Assessments for prioritization and design of practices

6

Controlled Drainagewhere slopes are least

Surface Intake Filters(e.g., Blind inlets) in depressions

Water/Sediment Control Basinsto detain runoff/sediment

Grassed Waterways to slow concentrated flows

Denitrifying Bioreactors above field‐tile outlets where ditches are deep

Riparian Buffers:CZ Critical Zone ‐sensitive sitesMSB Multi‐Species Buffer

Two‐Stage DitchesShallow ditches easily widened

(entire reaches rather than specific locations are shown)

Shallow wetlands in near‐stream depressionsNovel, site‐specific designs

Soil management and soil building practices: Nutrient/manure management, Cover Crops, No‐tillage or strip tillage

Controlled Drainagewhere slopes are least

Yes No

H A B C

M B C

L C

Close to stream?

Slop

e steepn

ess

Yes No

H CZ MSB SSG

M MSB MSB SSG

L DRV DRV SBS

Shallow water table?

Runo

ff de

livery

Design Types for Riparian Buffers:CZ Critical Zone ‐sensitive sitesMSB Multi‐Species BufferSSG Stiff‐Stemmed GrassesDRV Deep‐Rooted VegetationSBS Stream Bank Stability 

Water/Sediment Control Basinsto detain runoff/sediment

Runoff Risk Assessment:Fields where runoff 

control is most needed

Riparian Assessment:Match buffer designs and landscape settings

IN FIELDS:Place water control / 

filter practices 

BELOW FIELDS Place water 

detention / nutrient removal practices 

RIPARIAN ZONEPlace/design practices for 

ecosystem function and nutrient removal

CONTROL, TRAP, and/or  TREAT TILE DRAINAGE SURFACE RUNOFF

Supplemental Landscape Assessments

14

Agricultural Conservation Planning FrameworkOUTLINE OF INITIAL PRACTICE PLACEMENT ASSESSMENTS FOR BEARGRASS WATERSHED

Denitrifying Bioreactors above field‐tile outlets where 

ditches are deep

Shallow wetlands in near‐stream depressionsNovel, site‐specific designs

Two‐Stage DitchesShallow ditches easily widened

APPLICATION: Scenario development and assessment guided by landowner participantsimplement/ monitor/ adapt

Surface Intake Filters(e.g., Blind inlets) in depressions

Grassed Waterways to slow concentrated flows

Across watershed: Nutrient/manure management, Cover Crops, No‐tillage or strip tillage

Across watershed: Nutrient/manure management, Cover Crops, No‐tillage or strip tillage

Controlled Drainagewhere slopes are least

Surface Intake Filters(e.g., Blind inlets) in depressions

Water/Sediment Control Basinsto detain runoff/sediment

Grassed Waterways to slow concentrated flows

Denitrifying Bioreactors above tile outlets where 

ditches are deep

Riparian Buffers: Shallow wetlands in near‐stream depressionsNovel, site‐specific designs

Two‐Stage DitchesShallow ditches easily widened

Riparian Buffers:

Riparian Buffers

Generalized Results