Agricultural Conservation Planning Framework: Watershed applications, research opportunities, and training resources

Abstract

The Agricultural Conservation Planning Framework (ACPF) is an approach to precision conservation for agricultural watershed planning, which is supported by high-resolution watershed data providing spatial detail on land use, soil survey, and topography, which, in turn, are analyzed using an ArcGIS toolbox to identify conservation practice placement options for water quality improvement. A variety of conservation practice placements are identified by the software and can be presented as planning options to engage farmers and watershed stakeholders in local conservation efforts. This special section comprises three research articles, two features, a research editorial, and this overview article. These papers describe new features in ACPF version 3, released in late 2018, describe research from multiwatershed ACPF analyses, discuss watershed planning approaches that have utilized the ACPF, and evaluate farmer perceptions of ACPF results for their farms. This overview article describes the history and development of the ACPF, its role in a watershed approach to agricultural conservation, training and support for the ACPF, and future challenges anticipated as the ACPF is trialed outside the upper Midwest. Several watershed case studies are presented that were part of a symposium during the Soil and Water Conservation Society Annual Conference in 2017. The ACPF was developed by the USDA Agricultural Research Service with support from the Natural Resources Conservation Service, is in the public domain, and is available, along with support and training resources, through https://acpf4watersheds.org. Broader adaptation in using the ACPF as a platform for watershed planning, modeling, and research is encouraged.

The Agricultural Conservation Planning Framework Financial and Nutrient Reduction Tool: A planning tool for cost effective conservation

“…As per Gesch et al (2020), ACPF scenarios identify potential combinations of practicable conservation practices that can reasonably be expected to meet watershed goals as set by watershed partners, including farmers. The ACPF by itself does not provide output to prioritize specific scenarios because prioritization, deliberation, choice determination, and identifying modes of fostering buy-in involve social and economic factors (Lewandowski et al, 2020). In both case study watersheds, the ACPF FiNRT was used to demonstrate two different approaches (objectives) to achieving a certain level of nutrient loss reduction (goals) and generate numerous financial and BMP scale data that further guide watershed planners and partners to assess the viability of a given plan.…”

“…Efficiently and effectively guiding the implementation of proven BMPs at watershed scales is one of the primary challenges for state‐level nutrient reduction strategies (Christianson et al., 2018). In the U.S. Cornbelt region, a precision conservation planning tool, called the Agricultural Conservation Planning Framework (ACPF), has emerged as a key tool for conservation partners to guide biophysically efficient conservation opportunities at watershed scales (Lewandowski et al., 2020).…”

The Agricultural Conservation Planning Framework: Opportunities and challenges in the eastern United States

“…The ACPF has the potential to serve as a graphical focal point for collaborative conservation planning, bringing together a diverse set of organizations and individuals in watershed planning (Lewandowski et al., 2020; Ranjan et al., 2019). While the ACPF itself is not a comprehensive conservation toolkit, it provides consistency through rule sets and offers insights into an expanded set of conservation practices through easily executed routines, which consider hydromorphic processes that affect nearly all forms of watershed planning.…”

Conservation plans and targeted conservation: Investigating two approaches to improving farmer practice adoption

“…Although it has not adopted targeted conservation at the watershed level as of yet, the NRCS has devoted funding to the development of the ACPF DST and to training and support resources to encourage its use (Lewandowski et al 2020), which may foreshadow the use of this approach in the agency's future.…”