50.663 - Conservation cover
| - SEG Funding
- Definition: The
establishment and maintenance of permanent vegetative cover in an agricultural
setting to reduce erosion, improve water quality, and soil health.
- Best for soil stabilization, water quality improvement, and general wildlife habitat enhancement primarily utilizing introduced grasses, forbs, and legumes
- What SWRM is covering:
- 70% Cost Sharing available to prepare and install an agricultural area not to exceed 20% of the field or up to 12 acres whichever is smaller, into permanent vegetative cover with a county approved ten year maintenance plan in accordance with applicable NRCS Standards
- 50% Cost Sharing only if the soil and water resource concerns meet minimum planning criteria and the only purpose of the planting is to provide wildlife habitat
- Eligible costs: protective fencing, mulch, seed, site preparation
- Ineligible costs: critical area seedings, whole-field conversion, and pasture plantings
- Documentation Requirements:
- County will certify on reimbursement form that a 10-year maintenance plan is in place and all parties have agreed to the maintenance requirements for the practice.
- Nutrient Management Checklist required for reimbursement
- County land conservation departments should keep and maintain records like seed tags, and other invoices necessary to show that the practice was seeded down and established appropriately.
- A printout of the seed mix provided to the producer should be kept in the county record.
- Considerations for Implementation, Monitoring, and Maintenance:
- This practice is meant to primarily consist of introduced species of grasses, forbs, and legumes. These are typically considered “cool season” grasses.
- Ensure that the seed mix used meets site requirements and moisture needs of the plants.
- Utilize the NRCS Seed Mix Calculator(s) located in Section 3 of the Wisconsin eFOTG under Conservation Planning Tools
- There are two calculators – one for custom mixes and the other for standard mixes (CRP etc). Refer to the “Mix Criteria” table at the bottom of the spreadsheet for minimum species, seeding rates, etc.
- Fertilizer may be necessary for these plantings but should be done in accordance with Technical Note 6.
- Manure applications are prohibited on these sites.
- Harvesting is not allowed; however grazing and haying are allowable maintenace methods following appropriate standards.
- Recipient must maintain cover for 10 years.
- Counties will need to engage in long-term planning and monitoring activities to support long-term covers.
- Effective long-term maintenance is crucial for success.
- Key Maintenance Considerations:
- Monitoring: Regularly check the condition of the vegetative cover and habitat.
- Wisconsin Legislature: ATCP 50.663
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50.668 - Conservation crop rotation
| - SEG Funding
- Definition: A planned sequence of different crops grown on the same field to reduce erosion, improve soil health, protect water quality, manage pests, and increase crop yield
- What SWRM is covering:
- Flat rate available to design and prepare a plan in accordance with NRCS standards that introduces diversification into a crop rotation with a county approved maintenance plan for a minimum of three years or the duration of cost share whichever is longer (SWRM funding is limited to four years)
- Eligible costs: Diversified crop rotations (cover crops, small grains, perennial crops, livestock integration)
- Ineligible costs: Permanent cover or years following establishment of a perennial crop
- Rate of Reimbursement: $10 per acre, per year
- Documentation Requirements:
- County will certify on reimbursement form that a maintenance plan is in place for the duration of the cost share and all parties have agreed to the maintenance requirements for the practice
- Nutrient Management Checklist required for reimbursement as it is essential to plan, implement, and verify this practice
- Keep a copy of records necessary to ensure the changes to the existing rotation are sufficient to improve the resource concern. Records may include SNAP+ files or database, job sheets, implementation requirement sheets, etc.
- Changes to the rotation during the contract should be documented and verified that they still meet the standard
- Considerations for Implementation, Monitoring, and Maintenance:
- Utilize the 2025 NRCS Standard 328 when it becomes available (anticipated: October 1, 2025). The standard will be significantly updated to include greater consideration for soil loss and soil health
- Maintenance is required for the duration of contracted plan
- At least one planned rotation in no less than three years and no more than four years.
- Ensure that the rotation meets Tolerable Soil Loss (T), manages runoff, and implements proper nutrient management as part of a system
- For example, a typical corn and soybean rotation with reduced or no-till may be sufficient to meet tolerable soil loss, but not some of the other goals of the practice for which incorporating a third crop like a small grain, cover crop, or perennial cover may.
- Changing crops alone might not be sufficient to meet resource concerns. Tillage and other management practices may be necessary depending on the goals and planning of this practice.
- Wisconsin Legislature: ATCP 50.668
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50.733 - Habitat diversification
| - SEG Funding
- Definition: The establishment and maintenance of native vegetative cover in agricultural settings to provide habitat for wildlife and pollinator species. It may provide other benefits to water quality and soil health as well
- This practice is best for promoting biodiversity and supporting a variety of wildlife species primarily utilizing native grasses, forbs, and legumes.
- What SWRM is covering:
- 70% Cost Sharing available to prepare and install an agricultural area not to exceed 20% of the field, or up to 12 acres, whichever is smaller, into permanent stands of native vegetation that augment normal agricultural operations with native pollinator habitat with an accompanying county approved ten-year maintenance plan in accordance with applicable NRCS Standards
- 50% cost sharing only if the soil and water resource concerns meet minimum planning criteria and the only purpose of the planting is to provide wildlife / pollinator habitat
- Eligible costs: Fencing, establishment, and management of native vegetation, site preparation
- Ineligible costs: Introduced species plantings, whole-field conversion, fertilizing grass plantings, pasture plantings
- Documentation Requirements:
- County will certify on reimbursement form that a 10-year maintenance plan is in place and all parties have agreed to the maintenance requirements for the practice.
- Signed plans cover sheet are required for reimbursement.
- County land conservation departments should keep and maintain record of the seed mix, seed tags, and other invoices necessary to show that the practice was seeded down and established appropriately.
- A printout of the seed mix provided to the producer should be kept in the county record.
- Considerations for Implementation, Monitoring, and Maintenance
- Wildlife and pollinator habitat is the primary resource concern, but the intention is to also provide water quality, soil health, and air quality benefits.
- This practice is meant to only consist of native species of grasses, forbs, and legumes. Typical mixes include multiple species that bloom early, mid, and late into the year to provide pollen and nectar throughout the season.
- It may take several years for these plantings to show substantial diversity and growth. Patience will be necessary.
- Ensure that the seed mix meets the site requirements and moisture needs of the plants.
- Utilize the NRCS Seed Mix Calculator(s) located in Section 3 of the Wisconsin eFOTG under Conservation Planning Tools.
- There are two calculators – one for custom mixes and the other for standard mixes (CRP etc.) Refer to the “Mix Criteria” table at the bottom of the spreadsheet for minimum species, seeding rates, etc.
- This is a long term (10-year) vegetative practice.
- Maintenance expectations are important considerations when contracting for this practice, maintenance during the first few years is critical to reduce weed pressure.
- Counties will need to engage in long-term planning and monitoring activities to support long-term covers.
- Effective long-term maintenance is crucial for success.
- Key Maintenance Considerations:
- Monitoring: Regularly check the condition of the vegetative cover and habitat
- Fertilizer is not necessary for these plantings and manure applications are prohibited.
- Wisconsin Legislature: ATCP 50.733
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50.738 - Harvestable buffers
| - SEG Funding
- Definition: the establishment of grass based filter strips that can be harvested for livestock forage and are intended to reduce agricultural runoff from entering an adjacent water body
- What SWRM is covering:
- 70% cost sharing available to non-CREP areas for the design, construction, and county approved maintenance plan for land at least 30 feet wide and no more than 150 feet wide removed from agricultural production into permanent grass strips that reduce agricultural runoff into adjacent waterbodies in accordance with applicable NRCS Standards
- Eligible costs: fencing, establishment of buffers, site preparation
- Land must not be eligible for CREP
- Must address a water quality resource concern - adjacent to an eligible perennial and/or seasonal stream, creek, lake, pond, wetland, or sink hole
- Annual per acre rate shall not exceed soil rental rates set by the USDA during the most recent sign-up for the Conservation Reserve Program
- Documentation Requirements:
- County will certify on reimbursement form that a 10-year maintenance plan is in place and all parties have agreed to the maintenance requirements for the practice.
- Signed plans cover sheet required for reimbursement.
- County land conservation departments should keep and maintain record of the seed mix, seed tags, and other invoices necessary to show that the practice was seeded down and established appropriately.
- A printout of the seed mix provided to the producer should be kept in the county record. Signed plans cover sheet required for reimbursement.
- Considerations for Implementation, Monitoring & Maintenance:
- Species selection should maximize vegetative cover as well as be of sufficient forage quality. Greater than 50% of the seed mixture must consist of grass species.
- 10-year maintenance period is required.
- Site visits to ensure establishment and maintained cover will require county staff time
- Harvesting allowed - if a harvest or forage does not occur, ensure that other maintenance is done to prevent invasive woody or herbaceous species from moving in.
- Manure shall not be applied to this practice.
- Wisconsin Legislature: ATCP 50.738
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50.74 - Hydrologic restoration
| - Structural Funding (GPR, formerly Bond)
- Definition: Improving hydrologic conditions, connections, and functions by applying a combination of practices to return wetland/stream and/or floodplain hydrology to a natural and self-regulating condition
- Projects should be assessed at a watershed scale to determine if the issue or resource concern is part of a larger watershed issue
- Use desktop analysis and field reconnaissance procedures to assess watershed conditions to help inform potential solutions.
- Project Scale:
- Does NOT need to be large, i.e: multiple landowners
- May be a single landowner project as long as the larger watershed scale was considered while planning the project
- Interdisciplinary practice: A successful project requires input from other experts, i.e: soil health specialists, DNR biologists, conservation engineers, resource conservationists, etc.
- What SWRM is covering:
- 70% cost sharing available to for the design, construction, and county approved 10-year maintenance plan for a combination of practices addressing watershed scale hydrologic conditions, connections, or functions in accordance with applicable NRCS Standards
- Non-agricultural settings are limited to 50% cost share
- Eligible costs: System components, permanent vegetative cover, fencing, site preparation
- Ineligible costs: Mitigation or correction of violations
- Goals:
- Address the causal mechanism/source of the resource concern and not only the effect - not a "band-aid" for issues resulting from a greater problem.
- Intended to slow the flow of runoff; reduce flood peaks; restore surface and groundwater interactions; improve water quality; increase soil retention, groudwater infiltration, base flow, upper watershed storage, and/or flood resilience.
- This is practices stacked with the intention to return wetland, stream, and floodplain hydrology to a natural and self-regulating condition by improving hydrologic conditions, connections, and functions.
- Some cost-share practices that are typically 50% cost share on their own can be cost-shared at 70% if they are installed as a combination of practices that meet the definition of hydrologic restoration.
- Documentation for Reimbursement:
- Construction plan cover sheet with proper construction approval signature for the combination of NRCS engineering practices.
- Form ARM-LWR-385 signed by DATCP Area Engineering staff
- Considerations for Implementation, Monitoring & Maintenance:
- Must utilize a combination of practices as identified in ATCP 50.74
- Work with your DATCP Area Engineering contact prior to contracting to make sure your project will meet the definition of hydrologic restoration.
- Example Scenario:
- Existing Condition/Issue: An incised stream channel through a wetland has significantly down-cut, thus disconnecting the channel from the floodplain. During high-flows, the channelized flow increases the potential for erosion, and during low-flows, the incised channel functions as a drainage ditch and drains the wetland.
- Proposed Project/Solution: By applying a combination of practices, such as channel bed stabilization, streambank protection, wetland restoration, upland soil health practices, and others, we can increase infiltration, slow the flow of surface runoff, raise the channel bed to reconnect the channel with the floodplain and disperse the flow. To the extent possible, by stacking practices, we can return the stream/wetland complex back to a natural and self-regulating condition.
- Wisconsin Legislature: ATCP 50.74
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50.785 - Nutrient treatment systems
| - Structural Funding (GPR, formerly Bond)
- Definition: System installed to intercept subsurface (tile) flow, groundwater, or surface runoff flow to reduce the movement of phosphorus or nitrate nitrogen to surface water and/or groundwater
- What SWRM is covering:
- 70% cost sharing for the design, construction, and approved 10-year maintenance plan for a system that reduces the concentration of phosphorus or nitrate nitrogen moving into groundwater and/or surface water
- Eligible costs: Design and installation, necessary structures, permanent vegetative cover, fencing
- Ineligible costs: Non-installed system designs, excessive costs, non-agricultural runoff treatment
- Documentation for Reimbursement:
- Construction plan cover sheet with proper construction approval signature for the appropriate NRCS conservation practice standard
- NOTE: Approval for CPS 782 – Phosphorus Removal System and CPS 605 – Denitrifying Bioreactor must come from DATCP Area Engineering staff
- Form ARM-LWR-385 signed by DATCP Area Engineering staff
- Considerations for Implementation, Monitoring & Maintenance:
- Primary practices are NRCS CPS 782 Phosphorous Removal System and NRCS CPS 605 Denitrifying Bioreactor
- Phosphorus Removal Systems should be designed utilizing the P-Trap software located here. P-Trap training can be found here.
- Develop a monitoring and sampling plan in order to measure performance/effectiveness of the system and filter media.
- 10-year maintenance period
- Wisconsin Legislature: ATCP 50.785
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50.882 - Stream restoration
| - Structural Funding (GPR, formerly Bond)
- Definition: A combination of practices to restore or repair healthy channel conditions, connections, and functions adjacent to or upstream from erosion-prone agricultural lands or to address other resource concerns
- What SWRM is covering:
- 70% cost sharing for the design, construction, and approved 10-year maintenance plan for a combination of practices addressing channel conditions, connections, or functions adjacent to or upstream from erosion prone agricultural lands or to address resource concerns in accordance with applicable NRCS Standards
- Eligible costs: System components, permanent vegetative cover, fencing, site preparation
- Ineligible costs: Mitigation or correction of violations
- Must utilize a combination of practices as identified in ATCP 50.882
- Work with your DATCP Area Engineering contact prior to contracting to make sure your project will meet the definition of stream restoration.
- Some cost-share practices that are typically 50% cost share on their own can be cost-shared at 70% if they are installed as a combination of practices that meet the definition of stream restoration.
- This is an interdisciplinary practice - a successful project requires input from other experts, i.e. DNR biologists, conservation engineers, resource conservationists, etc.
- Documentation for Reimbursement:
- Construction plan cover sheet with proper construction approval signature for the combination of NRCS engineering practices
- Form ARM-LWR-385 signed by DATCP Area Engineering staff
- Goals:
- Intended to slow the flow of runoff; reduce flood peaks; restore surface and groundwater interactions; improve water quality; increase soil retention, groudwater infiltration, base flow, upper watershed storage, and/or flood resilience
- Can also: reduce or repair erosion; maintain water supply; maintain sediment transport continuity; restore natural drainage; stabilize banks
- Wisconsin Legislature: ATCP 50.882
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50.925 - Verification of depth to bedrock
| - Currently not available for cost sharing
- Cost sharing will be available to landowners in the Silurian area to investigate actual field conditions that may vary from official maps (DNR, NRCS, WGNHS, etc.) See map at left for eligible areas in Brown, Calumet, Dodge, Door, Fond du Lac, Kenosha, Kewaunee, Manitowoc, Milwaukee, Outagamie, Ozaukee, Racine, Sheboygan, Walworth, Washington, and Waukesha.
- The data collected through the use of this practice is meant to better inform nutrient management planning within the Silurian Bedrock Performance standard area of the state.
- Understanding the Silurian Bedrock Performance Standard (NR 151.075) and the Verification of Depth to Bedrock Technical Standard (DATCP 01)
- DATCP 01 - Technical standard was developed in 2020
- Technical standard language and accompanying guidance document
- Standard provides criteria, methodology, and the qualifications for verification of depth to bedrock to support implementation of the Wisconsin Department of Natural Resources (DNR) Wis. Admin. Code s. NR 151.075 in areas where the bedrock consists of Silurian dolomite with a depth to bedrock of 20 feet or less.
- Affects portions of the following counties: Brown, Calumet, Dodge, Door, Fond du Lac, Kenosha, Kewaunee, Manitowoc, Milwaukee, Outagamie, Ozaukee, Racine, Sheboygan, Walworth, Washington, and Waukesha .
- Documentation for Reimbursement:
- Field data reporting form (includes name and qualifications of the individual analyzing the data)
- Geophysical map if applicable
- Borehole/well abandonment form (DNR form)
- Tabulated data with lat/long info for sampling locations
- Field maps
- Wisconsin Legislature: ATCP 50.925
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