Iowa NRCS Technical Resources

The following documents require Microsoft Word.

IA-CPA-15    Conservation Assistance Notes (DOC, 135 KB)
IA-CPA-52    Environmental Evaluation Worksheet (DOC, 304 KB)

• Cultural Resources
• Geospatial Technologies Support Site - Provides technical support to NRCS staff who are using Geographic Information Systems (GIS), Global Positioning Systems (GPS), and mobile computers/PDAs. Includes information, download links, and frequently asked questions about the technologies.
• GIS Data Sources -  Provides links to some of the most helpful GIS natural resource information on the Internet.
• Indiana Bat Habitat Requirements - Iowa NRCS Biology Technical Note 22  (PDF) Updated 3/28/08
  • Indiana Bat Areas in Iowa  (PDF)
  • Protecting the Indiana Bat: An Endangered Species  (PDF)
• Iowa Cooperative Soil Survey - Provides free digital soil map data for Geographic Information System applications via internet download. The data is available in several file formats covering a single section or a full township. Also available are Web links to soils information and related digital products.
• Iowa Engineering - A collection of references and tools related to the planning, design, and construction of engineering conservation practices in Iowa. 
• Iowa Field Office Technical Guide - The Technical Guide is designed to primarily be used by technically trained people who are assisting landowners and users, land managers and responsible officials of units of government, and other decision makers to plan, apply and maintain appropriate conservation practices.
  • Wetland Mapping Conventions for Agricultural Lands for 1985 Food Security Act as Amended and Section 404 Clean Water Act (PDF)
• Iowa Geographic Map Server - Provides free on-line access to geographically referenced digital data, including digital orthophotos (aerial photos), topographic maps, and landcover. Users can browse and download data in various image file  formats, for use in desktop  applications, including Geographic Information Systems.
• Iowa National Resources Inventory (NRI) - An inventory of land cover and use, soil erosion, prime farmland, wetlands, and other natural resource characteristics on non-Federal rural land in the United States. The NRI provides a record of the Nation's conservation accomplishments and future program needs.
• Iowa Phosphorus Index - The purpose of Iowa phosphorus (P) index is to assess the risk of P delivery to surface waters.
• National Plant Materials Program – Access plant fact sheets, technical publications and information, information on conservation plant releases, sources of conservation plants, and related plant web sites.
• NRCS Web Soil Survey – Web Soil Survey provides soil data and information produced by the National Cooperative Soil Survey. It is operated by the USDA Natural Resources Conservation Service and provides access to the largest natural resource information system in the world.
• Nutrient Management
• Pasture Management Tools
• Pest Management
• Plant Community Restoration Tools
  • Plant Community Species List for Iowa (PDF)2.1 MB)
  • Plant Community Query - Version 1 (MDB, 6.5 MB)    New!
  • Directions How to Use Plant Community Query (PDF, 1.5 MB)    New!
• Quality Assurance - Iowa NRCS Process Step Tables and Flowcharts
• Rapid Watershed Assessments
• RUSLE2 - Revised Universal Soil Loss Equation 2
• Soil Data Warehouse & Data Marts
• State Technical Committee (STC)
• Technical Service Providers (TSP)
• Watershed Project Planning Protocol - A step-by-step technical guide to assist local soil and water conservation districts (SWCDs) and other local watershed work groups in developing projects that will improve water quality in Iowa's lakes and streams. (PDF, 1.8 MB)
• WRP Woodland Management References - Provides information and links to the Wetlands Reserve Program (WRP) Woodland Management Planning Template.

The following document requires Microsoft Excel.

Native Prairie Seeding Calculator Revised 05/07 - The Native Grass Seeding Calculator is designed to assist in developing seeding mixtures that are adapted to specific sites based on moisture regimes and flowing periods. The calculator will also provide and estimate of seed costs and provide a seeding plan for the client. (XLS) (To save this file, right click on the link, save target as..., name and save file where desired, open the file where saved.)

The following documents require Acrobat Reader.

Iowa Technical Notes
Iowa Technical Note 26: Windows Pesticide Screening Tool (PDF, 60 KB)
Iowa Technical Note 29: Choosing the Planning Area of a Field by "Dominant Critical Area" (PDF, 723 KB)
Iowa Technical Note 30: Iowa Forage and Livestock Balance Worksheet (PDF, 79 KB)

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