Conservation Practices are a structural or vegetative project, or a management activity used to conserve or protect natural resources.  Natural resources include soil, water, air, plants, and animals.  Examples of conservation practices include grassed waterways, manure storage structures, and riparian buffers.

SWCD staff recommend conservation practices to landowners based on site specific parameters present on a landowner’s property.  In some cases, multiple practices are necessary to address the issue(s) causing a soil or water quality concern.

Each conservation practice has a set of guidelines called Conservation Practice Standards (CPS).  A CPS outlines the purpose of the conservation practice, where and when to use it, design specifications, and operation and maintenance required to maintain the practice.