The document summarizes a presentation given at the Soil and Water Conservation Society Annual Conference in Pittsburgh on July 31, 2019 about updates to the Agricultural Conservation Planning Framework (ACPF). The ACPF is a geospatial tool and unifying concept for water quality management in agricultural watersheds. It identifies potential locations for conservation practices using consistent data across regions. Presentations covered watershed applications of the ACPF for stakeholder engagement, research, and modeling; new version 3 capabilities; expanding access through a website and training; farmer engagement using precision conservation planning; evaluating economic opportunities; support within USDA NRCS; and planning future expansions. The ACPF helps justify proposals, facilitate stakeholder involvement, inform implementation,

1. Update on the Agricultural
Conservation Planning Framework
JULY 31, 2019
SOIL AND WATER CONSERVATION SOCIETY ANNUAL CONFERENCE,
PITTSBURGH

2. Update on the ACPF
JULY 31, 2019
SWCS ANNUAL CONFERENCE, PITTSBURGH
1. Watershed Applications of the ACPF for
Stakeholder Engagement, Research, and
Modeling
– Ann Lewandowski, University of Minnesota
Water Resources Center
2. ACPF Version 3: Riparian Watersheds with
Applications for Landscape Analyses
– Mark Tomer, USDA ARS
3. Expanding Access: ACPF Website and Training
Resources
– Anne Nardi, University of Madison-
Wisconsin Extension
4. Farmer Engagement Using Precision
Approach to Conservation Planning: What
Do We Know?
– Pranay Ranjan, Purdue University
5. A Tool to Evaluate Economic
Opportunities and Tradeoffs Using the
ACPF
– Emily Zimmerman and John Tyndall,
Iowa State University
6. Use and Support of ACPF within USDA
NRCS
– Lisa Duriancik, USDA NRCS
7. Planning Toward Future Expansion of the ACPF
– Rebecca Power, University of Wisconsin - Madison Extension

3. Watershed Applications of the ACPF
for Stakeholder Engagement,
Research, and Modeling
ANN LEWANDOWSKI, UNIVERSITY OF MINNESOTA WATER
RESOURCES CENTER

4. The ACPF is. . .
1. A unifying concept for water quality management in agricultural
watersheds (conservation pyramid).
2. Input data consistent across watersheds and regions.
3. ArcGIS toolbox identifies a full menu of possible locations for
conservation practice installations.
HUC-12 is intended unit of analysis.
Facilitates landowner involvement in planning by providing choices
for conservation practice implementation with spatial precision.

5. ACPF Concept:
Conservation Pyramid for Agricultural Watersheds
(Tomer et al., 2013)

6. ArcGIS Toolbox
Identifies a menu of possible locations for conservation
practices
One tool for each practice
User options are built in.
◦ Results will be optimized with experience and with local
knowledge of the watersheds

7. ACPF Toolbox
DEM Hydroconditioning
Flow network definition
Field characterization
◦ By-field slope statistics
◦ Tile drainage determination
◦ Distance to stream
◦ Runoff risk assessment
Terrain derivatives (SPI, TWI)
Opportunities for practices
◦ Depressions and their drainage area
◦ Drainage water management
◦ Grassed waterways (SPI)
◦ Contour buffer strips
◦ Bioreactors
◦ Nutrient removal wetlands
◦ WASCOBs
◦ Sat’d buffers
Riparian function assessment

8. Input databases
Databases developed specifically for agricultural
conservation. Also used for the Daily Erosion Project.
Consistent across the region
High enough resolution to analyze terrain at the field level

9. Input databases
Field boundaries
Land use
◦ Past 6 years, based on Cropland Data Layer
USDA/NRCS Soil Survey data (gSSURGO), 10m grid
High resolution elevation data
◦ Hydro-modified by user (tools included in the ACPF toolbox)
◦ Critical for all practices to identify water flow

10. ACPF Requirements
Expertise
◦ Moderate proficiency in ArcGIS
◦ Knowledge of the local landscape and practices.
Time
◦ 2 days - technical training for an experienced GIS specialist
◦ 2 days - hydro-modify a HUC12, and define flow networks
◦ ½ day - run the practice siting tools on one HUC12
◦ ? - Verify output and develop display maps
Software
◦ ArcGIS Advanced version, with Spatial Analyst extension
◦ TauDEM (free)

11. Application examples
Justify proposals
Facilitate engagement
Inform implementation
Make farm visits more effective
Inform state nutrient reduction strategy

12. Application examples
Justify proposals
Facilitate engagement
Inform implementation
Make farm visits more
effective
Inform state nutrient
reduction strategy
◦ HeartLands Conservancy used
ACPF as part of planning in the
Upper Silver Creek watershed
(southwest IL) using an EPA 604b
watershed-based planning grant.
◦ Identified areas of highest priority
for nutrient removal wetlands.
◦ ACPF helped them quantify
realistic potential, and estimate
potential impact.

13. Application examples
Justify proposals
Facilitate engagement
Inform implementation
Make farm visits more
effective
Inform state nutrient
reduction strategy
◦ Wilson and Annis Creek
Watershed Partnership (WI) set
priorities and goals for agency
implementation.
◦ County conservation staff
provided ACPF maps of
conservation opportunities so the
watershed group could discuss
priorities and what they were
willing to do.

14. Application examples
Justify proposals
Facilitate engagement
Inform implementation
Make farm visits more
effective
Inform state nutrient
reduction strategy
Iowa Soybean Association used
ACPF to identify practice
locations after landowners had
identified priority issues and
practices, and modeling had
quantified the number of
practices needed.

15. Application examples
Justify proposals
Facilitate engagement
Inform implementation
Make farm visits more
effective
Inform state nutrient
reduction strategy
Root River (MN) Fields to
Streams Partnership used ACPF
analyses to prepare for farm
visits.

16. Application examples
Justify proposals
Facilitate engagement
Inform implementation
Make farm visits more
effective
Inform state nutrient
reduction strategy
State contracted ISU’s GIS lab
to map potential saturated
buffer sites statewide and
nutrient removal wetland sites

17. Application examples
Justify proposals
Facilitate engagement
Inform implementation
Make farm visits more effective
Inform state nutrient reduction strategy
Who sees the maps?
When in the planning and
implementation process?
With what other tools?

18. Example research questions
• Edge of field monitoring results:
What is the extent of field settings similar to a monitored location?
• Regional planning:
How does the extent of locations suited to a specific practice vary among watersheds
and landform regions? Can this information help better budget conservation
expenditures and prioritize research/demonstration efforts?
• Stacked practices:
What is the most prevalent opportunity to combine in-field and edge-of-field practices?
• Social engagement:
How can the availability of detailed information on conservation practice siting
opportunities in a watershed best be leveraged to engage landowners to participate in
watershed improvement?

19. Update on the ACPF
JULY 31, 2019
SWCS ANNUAL CONFERENCE, PITTSBURGH
1. Watershed Applications of the ACPF for
Stakeholder Engagement, Research, and
Modeling
– Ann Lewandowski, University of Minnesota
Water Resources Center
2. ACPF Version 3: Riparian Watersheds with
Applications for Landscape Analyses
– Mark Tomer, USDA ARS
3. Expanding Access: ACPF Website and Training
Resources
– Anne Nardi, University of Madison-
Wisconsin Extension
4. Farmer Engagement Using Precision
Approach to Conservation Planning: What
Do We Know?
– Pranay Ranjan, Purdue University
5. A Tool to Evaluate Economic
Opportunities and Tradeoffs Using the
ACPF
– Emily Zimmerman and John Tyndall,
Iowa State University
6. Use and Support of ACPF within USDA
NRCS
– Lisa Duriancik, USDA NRCS
7. Planning Toward Future Expansion of the ACPF
– Rebecca Power, University of Wisconsin - Madison Extension