Learn about the information provided in conservation practice standards and supporting documents, such as overviews, worksheets, and network effects diagrams.
Notice of Proposed Changes to the National Handbook of Conservation Practices
NRCS is seeking public comment on proposed revisions to 48 national conservation practice standards as part of the Federal Register Notice posting with docket number NRCS-2026-0100. Comments should be submitted via regulations.gov or via mail by October 1, 2026.
The following links are to the proposed full text documents (PDF) for the conservation practice standards open for comment:
Proposed CPS
309 NHCP CPS Agrichemical Handling Facility 2026 FR
314 NHCP CPS Brush Management 2026 FR
325 NHCP CPS High Tunnel System 2026 FR
330 NHCP CPS Contour Farming 2026 FR
336 NHCP CPS Soil Carbon Amendment 2026 FR
342 NHCP CPS Critical Area Planting 2026 FR
348 NHCP CPS Dam, Diversion 2026 FR
350 NHCP CPS Sediment Basin 2026 FR
360 NHCP CPS Waste Facility Closure 2026 FR
371 NHCP CPS Air Filtration and Scrubbing 2026 FR
380 NHCP CPS Windbreak-Shelterbelt Establishment and Renovation 2026 FR
382 NHCP CPS Fence 2026 FR
391 NHCP CPS Riparian Forest Buffer 2026 FR
397 NHCP CPS Aquaculture Pond 2026 FR
400 NHCP CPS Bivalve Aquaculture Gear and Biofouling Control 2026 FR
402 NHCP CPS Dam 2026 FR
410 NHCP CPS Grade Stabilization Structure 2026 FR
412 NHCP CPS Grassed Waterway 2026 FR
420 NHCP CPS Wildlife Habitat Planting 2026 FR
432 NHCP CPS Dry Hydrant 2026 FR
436 NHCP CPS Irrigation Reservoir 2026 FR
441 NHCP CPS Irrigation System, Microirrigation 2026 FR
442 NHCP CPS Sprinkler System 2026 FR
462 NHCP CPS Precision Land Forming and Smoothing 2026 FR
511 NHCP CPS Forage Harvest Management 2026 FR
512 NHCP CPS Pasture and Hay Planting 2026 FR
520 NHCP CPS Pond Sealing or Lining, Compacted Soil Treatment 2026 FR
522 NHCP CPS Pond Sealing or Lining, Concrete 2026 FR
527 NHCP CPS Sinkhole Treatment 2026 FR
558 NHCP CPS Roof Runoff Structure 2026 FR
560 NHCP CPS Access Road 2026 FR
561 NHCP CPS Heavy Use Area Protection 2026 FR
570 NHCP CPS Stormwater Runoff Control 2026 FR
580 NHCP CPS Streambank and Shoreline Protection 2026 FR
584 NHCP CPS Channel Bed Stabilization 2026 FR
588 NHCP CPS Cross Wind Ridges 2026 FR
590 NHCP CPS Nutrient Management 2026 FR
595 NHCP CPS Pest Management Conservation System 2026 FR
605 NHCP CPS Denitrifying Bioreactor 2026 FR
607 NHCP CPS Surface Drain, Field Ditch 2026 FR
610 NHCP CPS Saline and Sodic Soil Management 2026 FR
634 NHCP CPS Waste Transfer 2026 FR
636 NHCP CPS Water Harvesting Catchment 2026 FR
641 NHCP CPS On Farm Recharge 2026 FR
643 NHCP CPS Restoration of Rare or Declining Natural Communities 2026 FR
647 NHCP CPS Early Successional Habitat Development-Mgt 2026 FR
649 NHCP CPS Structures for Wildlife 2026 FR
659 NHCP CPS Wetland Enhancement 2026 FR
Redlines
309 NHCP CPS Agrichemical Handling Facility 2026 Redline FR
314 NHCP OTH Brush Management 2026 Redline FR
325 NHCP CPS High Tunnel System 2026 Redline FR
330 NHCP CPS Contour Farming 2026 Redline FR
336 NHCP CPS Soil Carbon Amendment 2026 Redline FR
342 NHCP CPS Critical Area Planting 2026 Redline FR
348 NHCP CPS DAM Diversion 2026 Redline FR
350 NHCP CPS Sediment Basin 2026 Redline FR
360 NHCP CPS Waste Facility Closure 2026 Redline FR
371 NHCP CPS Air Filtration and Scrubbing 2026 Redline FR
380 NHCP CPS Windbreak-Shelterbelt Establishment and Renovation 2026 Redline FR
382 NHCP OTH Fence-REDLINE Post-Stakeholder 2026 Redline FR
391 NHCP CPS Riparian Forest Buffer 2026 Redline FR
397 NHCP CPS Aquaculture Pond 2026 Redline FR
400 NHCP CPS Bivalve Aquaculture Gear and Biofouling Control 2026 Redline FR
402 NHCP CPS Dam 2026 Redline FR
410 NHCP CPS Grade Stabilization Structure 2026 Redline FR
412 NHCP CPS Grassed Waterway 2026 Redline FR
420 NHCP CPS Wildlife Habitat Planting 2026 Redline FR
432 NHCP Dry Hydrant 2026 Redline FR
436 NHCP CPS Irrigation Reservior 2026 Redline FR
441 NHCP CPS Irrigation System Microirrigation 2026 Redline FR
442 NHCP CPS Sprinkler System 2026 Redline FR
462 NHCP CPS Precision Land Forming and Smoothing 2026 Redline FR
511 NHCP OTH Forage Harvest Management 2026 Redline FR
512 NHCP OTH Pasture and Hay Planting 2026 Redline FR
520 NHCP CPS Pond Sealing or Lining, Compacted Soil Treatment 2026 Redline FR
522 NHCP CPS Pond Sealing or Lining, Concrete 2026 Redline FR
527 NHCP CPS Sinkhole Treatment 2026 Redline FR
558 NHCP CPS Roof Runoff Structure 2026 Redline FR
560 NHCP CPS Access Road 2026 Redline FR
561 NHCP CPS Heavy Use Area Protection 2026 Redline FR
570 NHCP CPS Stormwater Runoff Control 2026 Redline FR
580 NHCP CPS Streambank and Shoreline Protection 2026 Redline FR
584 NHCP CPS Channel Bed Stabilization 2026 Redline FR
588 NHCP CPS Cross Wind Ridges 2026 Redline FR
590 NHCP CPS Nutrient Management 2026 Redline FR
595 NHCP CPS Pest Management Conservation System 2026 Redline FR
605 NHCP CPS Denitrifying Bioreactor 2026 Redline FR
607 NHCP CPS Surface Drain, Field Ditch 2026 Redline FR
610 NHCP CPS Saline and Sodic Soil Management 2026 Redline FR
634 NHCP CPS Waste Transfer 2026 Redline FR
636 NHCP CPS Water Harvesting Catchment 2026 Redline FR
643 Restoration of Natural Communities 2026 Redline FR
647 Early Successional Habitat Development 2026 Redline FR
649 NHCP CPS Structures for Wildlife 2026 Redline FR
659 NHCP CPS Wetland Enhancement 2026 Redline FR
About Conservation Practice Standards and Supporting Documents
- Conservation Practice Standard
- Conservation Practice Overview
- Conservation Practice Physical Effects
- Conservation Practice Implementation Requirements
- Network Effects Diagrams
Conservation Practice Standard
The conservation practice standard contains information on why and where the practice is applied, and it sets forth the minimum planning criteria that must be met during the implementation of that practice in order for it to achieve its intended purpose(s).
The national conservation practice standards should not be used to plan, design, or install a conservation practice. You must have the conservation practice standard adapted and modified by the state in which you are working to insure that you meet all state and local criteria, which may be more restrictive than national criteria.
State conservation practice standards are available through the Field Office Technical Guide (FOTG). If no state conservation practice standard is available in the FOTG, you should contact the appropriate State Office or your local USDA Service Center.
Updated or new national conservation practice standards are released with National Handbook of Conservation Practices (NHCP) notices. Access the NHCP notices in eDirectives.
Conservation Practice Overview
The conservation practice overview contains a photograph of the installed practice, plus a definition or description of the practice, where it is commonly used and a brief description of the conservation effects of this practice when it is properly applied.
Conservation Practice Physical Effects
The conservation practice physical effects (CPPE) document provides guidance on how the application of that practice will affect the resources (soil, water, air, plants, animals, energy, and human) and the resource concerns associated with each of those resources. The worksheet that is on the server reflects the best estimate of the effects, either positive or negative, of that practice on the resource concerns. Access the National CPPE tool for selecting conservation practices.
Conservation Practice Implementation Requirements
The conservation practice implementation requirements provide detailed guidance on the implementation of the practice and contain worksheets that can be used to document the practice plan and design for a specific site. National conservation practice implementation requirements are available for a limited number of practices.
Network Effects Diagrams
NRCS prepares network diagrams for practices, or related sets of practices which act together to achieve desired purposes. Network diagrams are flow charts of direct, indirect and cumulative effects resulting from implementation of the practices. Completed network diagrams are an overview of expert consensus on the direct, indirect and cumulative effects of installing proposed practice installation. They show the potential positive and negative outcomes of practice implementation, and are useful as a reference point for next steps, and as a communication tool with partners and the public.