U.S. DEPARTMENT OF AGRICULTURE

NATURAL RESOURCES CONSERVATION SERVICE

Management System Templates

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System Template Label: hvra0

System Template Name: Range Benchmark (Taos)

Planning Phase: BENCHMARKPlanning Level: N/ANRCS Land Use: Grazed range

System Narrative Template:

Average precipitation 11 - 15", nearly level to gently sloping land grazed year long with elk and deer in the area competing for forage and browse. Vegetation is bunch grasses with sagebrush. These are primarily cow-calf operations with a few steer operations. Range sites are primarily loamy and limy. These are generally small family owned operations. The majority of the rangeland is infested with sagebrush and is in poor condition.

------Practices------

38200NFENCE

------Text Effects------

AIR QUALITY, Other

Effect Value / Impact Value
Airborne particulates during high winds.

ANIMALS (DOMESTIC) HABITAT, Quantity &Quality of Drinking Water

Effect Value / Impact Value
Inadequate livestock water distribution.

ANIMALS (WILDLIFE) HABITAT, Food

Effect Value / Impact Value
Competition for food between domestic livestock and wildlife results in shortage.

ANIMALS (WILDLIFE) HABITAT, Quantity &Quality of Drinking Water

Effect Value / Impact Value
Inadequate water distribution.

HUMAN ECONOMICS, Farm/Ranch Financial Condition

Effect Value / Impact Value
Low profits.

HUMAN SOCIAL, Private & Public Values

Effect Value / Impact Value
Increased tension between landowners and the general public due to chemical sensitivity.

PLANTS MANAGEMENT, Plant Pests

Effect Value / Impact Value
Big sagebrush infestation with an average canopy cover of 35 to 45%.

Management System Templates

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System Template Label: hvra0

------Text Effects------

WATER QUALITY, Surface Water Contaminants, turbid surface water

Effect Value / Impact Value
Sediment in runoff.

------Numeric Effects------

SOIL EROSION, Sheet & Rill, USLE4.0 Tons/Ac/Yr

SOIL EROSION, Wind, WEQ Annual Method4.0 Tons/Ac/Yr

PLANTS CONDITION, Productivity, Kinds, Amt, & Distrib, range cond 23.0 Index

PLANTS MANAGEMENT, Estab, Growth& Harv, forage production100 Lb./Ac./Yr

ANIMALS (WILDLIFE) HABITAT, Wildlife Habitat Suitability Index 0.40 HSI

Management System Templates

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System Template Label: hvra1

System Template Name: Range Opt. 1 (Taos)

Planning Phase: NON-BENCHMARK Planning Level: RMSNRCS Land Use: Grazed range

System Narrative Template:

The planned system will improve ground cover and increase forage production. Fencing and watering facilities will help control livestock grazing. This conservation system will adequately address all identified resource concerns. Brush management concerns will be addressed without herbicides.

------Practices------

314s01BRUSH MANAGEMENT

382s01FENCE

516s01PIPELINE

528A00NPRESCRIBED GRAZING

550s01RANGE PLANTING

614s01TROUGH OR TANK

645s01UPLAND WILDLIFE HABITAT MANAGEMENT

------Text Effects------

AIR QUALITY, Other

Effect Value / Impact Value
Airborne particulates managed. / Moderate Improvement

ANIMALS (DOMESTIC) HABITAT, Quantity &Quality of Drinking Water

Effect Value / Impact Value
Improved water distribution. / Moderate Increase

ANIMALS (WILDLIFE) HABITAT, Food

Effect Value / Impact Value
High forage production. / Moderate Improvement

ANIMALS (WILDLIFE) HABITAT, Quantity &Quality of Drinking Water

Effect Value / Impact Value
Improved water distribution. / Moderate Increase

HUMAN ECONOMICS, Farm/Ranch Financial Condition

Effect Value / Impact Value
Increased livestock gains. / Moderate Improvement

HUMAN SOCIAL, Private & Public Values

Effect Value / Impact Value
Better acceptance of brush management methods by general public. / Moderate Improvement

Management System Templates

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System Template Label: hvra1

------Text Effects------

PLANTS MANAGEMENT, Plant Pests

Effect Value / Impact Value
Brush controlled. / Moderate Reduction

WATER QUALITY, Surface Water Contaminants, turbid surface water

Effect Value / Impact Value
Reduced sediment in runoff. Reduced runoff. / Moderate Reduction

------Numeric Effects------

SOIL EROSION, Sheet & Rill, USLE1.0 Tons/Ac/Yr

SOIL EROSION, Wind, WEQ Annual Method 2.0 Tons/Ac/Yr

PLANTS CONDITION, Productivity, Kinds, Amt, & Distrib, range cond 65.0 Index

PLANTS MANAGEMENT, Estab, Growth& Harv, forage production1100 Lb./Ac./Yr

ANIMALS (WILDLIFE) HABITAT, Wildlife Habitat Suitability Index 0.65 HSI

Management System Templates

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System Template Label: hvra2

System Template Name: Range Opt. 2 (Taos)

Planning Phase: NON-BENCHMARK Planning Level: RMSNRCS Land Use: Grazed range

System Narrative Template:

The planned system will improve ground cover and increase forage production. Fence and watering will help control livestock grazing. This system will adequately address all identified resource concerns.

------Practices------

314s01BRUSH MANAGEMENT

382s01FENCE

516s01PIPELINE

528A00NPRESCRIBED GRAZING

614s01TROUGH OR TANK

645s01UPLAND WILDLIFE HABITAT MANAGEMENT

------Text Effects------

AIR QUALITY, Other

Effect Value / Impact Value
Airborne particulates managed. / Moderate Improvement

ANIMALS (DOMESTIC) HABITAT, Quantity &Quality of Drinking Water

Effect Value / Impact Value
Improved water distribution. / Moderate Increase

ANIMALS (WILDLIFE) HABITAT, Food

Effect Value / Impact Value
High forage production. / Moderate Improvement

ANIMALS (WILDLIFE) HABITAT, Quantity &Quality of Drinking Water

Effect Value / Impact Value
Improved water distribution. / Moderate Increase

HUMAN ECONOMICS, Farm/Ranch Financial Condition

Effect Value / Impact Value
Increased livestock gains. / Moderate Improvement

HUMAN SOCIAL, Private & Public Values

Effect Value / Impact Value
No change. / Insignificant

PLANTS MANAGEMENT, Plant Pests

Effect Value / Impact Value
Brush controlled. / Moderate Reduction

Management System Templates

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System Template Label: hvra2

------Text Effects------

WATER QUALITY, Surface Water Contaminants, turbid surface water

Effect Value / Impact Value
Reduced sediment in runoff. Reduced runoff. / Moderate Reduction

------Numeric Effects------

SOIL EROSION, Sheet & Rill, USLE1.0 Tons/Ac/Yr

SOIL EROSION, Wind, WEQ Annual Method 2.0 Tons/Ac/Yr

PLANTS CONDITION, Productivity, Kinds, Amt, & Distrib, range cond 60.0 Index

PLANTS MANAGEMENT, Estab, Growth& Harv, forage production1100 Lb./Ac./Yr

ANIMALS (WILDLIFE) HABITAT, Wildlife Habitat Suitability Index 0.65 HSI