Office Location: 650 Hawthorne Ave SE, Ste # 130 Salem, OR 97301-5894 We are located in the Salem USDA Service Center Phone: (503) 391-9927 Fax: (503) 399-5799 E-mail: marion.swcd@oacd.org Office Photo and Map

Marion SWCD along with the Natural Resources Conservation Service (NRCS) provides conservation planning and technical assistance to clients (individuals, groups, and units of government). These clients develop and implement conservation plans to protect, conserve, and enhance natural resources (soil, water, air, plants, and animals) within their related social and economic interests.

Conservation planning is a natural resource problem-solving and management process. The process integrates ecological (natural resource), economic, and social considerations to meet private and public needs. This approach, which emphasizes identifying desired future conditions, improves natural resource management, minimizes conflict, and addresses problems and opportunities.

The success of conservation planning and implementation depends upon the voluntary participation of clients. The planning process used by Marion SWCD and NRCS is based on the premise that clients will make and implement sound decisions if they understand their resources, natural resource problems and opportunities, and the effects of their decisions.

Conservation planning helps clients, conservationists, and others view the environment as a living system of which humans are an integral part. It enables clients and planners to analyze and work with complex natural processes in definable and measurable terms. The objective in conservation planning is the sound use and management of soil, water, air, plant, and animal resources to prevent their degradation and ensure their sustained use and productivity while also considering related human social and economic needs.

Please stop by or call our office (503-391-9927) if you are interested in learning more about conservation planning on your land.

What is a conservation plan?

A conservation plan is essentially two things. First, it is a written record of your management decisions and supporting information, and second, it contains the conservation practices that you choose to implement and maintain on your land. A conservation plan encompasses all of the natural resources on your land which can generally be categorized into soil, water, air, plant, animal, and human considerations. There are many benefits to a conservation plan but two main goals will be achieved through the implementation of a plan: the control of soil erosion and the maintenance of local surface and ground water quality. A watershed technical specialist will work with you on the conservation planning process. This is a nine step process that produces a valuable tool for you, the landowner, in the end.

Step 1: Identify Problems and Opportunities

Step 2: Determine Objectives

Step 3: Inventory Resources

Step 4: Analyze Resources

Step 5: Formulate Alternatives

Step 6: Evaluate Alternatives

Step 7: Make Decisions

Step 8: Implement the Plan

Step 9: Evaluate the Plan

Why do I need a conservation plan?

As a landowner, you are a manager of the resources that come with the land you own Those resources include soil, water, air, plants, animals, and yes, even yourself. Those resources can be either renewable or nonrenewable. The proper management of your land is very important to the health and sustainability of the natural resources found there. Anyone whose livelihood depends upon the soil, water, and air around them, knows the importance of conserving and protecting the very elements that sustain them. The conservation planning process produces a valuable tool that will help to guide you towards enhancing and increasing your management skills. Perhaps most important of all is the fact that this conservation plan is voluntary and flexible. You make the decisions and carry them out and finally, this is your plan for your land.

Benefits of a Voluntary Conservation Plan include:

• protection of soil and farm productivity
• protection of water quality
• improvement of soil fertility
• management of soil moisture
• Saves you money over the long term as your land becomes more productive
• Ensures better natural resource quality for you, your animals, and your neighbors
• Increases your property value
• Enhances open space and wildlife habitat
• Improves animal health
• Contributes to plant health and vigor for desired uses
• Makes your place more attractive and promotes good neighbor relations
• Promotes health and safety of your family
• Helps you comply with SB 1010

How do I begin the conservation planning process?

To start your own voluntary plan, you can print out this packet and fill in the information to the best of your knowledge:

• Voluntary Conservation on Your Land (MS Word Document - fillable)

Feel free to call our office to speak with one of our resource conservationists for assistance. We'd be happy to help you complete and implement your voluntary conservation plan. Hard copies of this packet are available at our office. Our phone number is (503) 391-9927.

In order for us to help you with your plan, there are responsibilities of both the planner and the landowner:

Your Responsibilities Provide access to property Walk the property with the planner Participate in each planning process step Voluntarily follow conservation plan Choose and apply conservation practices Monitor effects and re-plan if necessary

Planner Responsibilities Develop conservation plan withyou Provide technical assistance Provide information about possible financial assistance Assist with monitoring progress and providing documentation Evaluate monitoring and provide re-planning technical assistance if necessary

The information on this page was developed by OACD with assistance from SWCDs, NRCS, and OWEB.