Soil and water planning addresses watershed condition, erosion and runoff, riparian areas, cold-water fisheries, aquatic habitat, and restoration opportunities. Assessment considers how soils, vegetation, water movement, roads, grazing, wildfire, and other land uses interact across a property and within the surrounding watershed. Soil and water planning and management includes:
- Watershed and soil condition assessments.
- Evaluation of erosion, runoff, drainage, soil disturbance, and vegetation influences.
- Assessment of riparian areas, cold-water fisheries, and aquatic habitat conditions.
- Identification of watershed protection and restoration needs and opportunities.
- Evaluation of livestock use and range conditions where they affect soil, vegetation, and water resources.
- Integration of soil and water considerations with forestry, wildlife habitat, wildfire, roads, access, and vegetation management.
- Planning and coordination of restoration projects involving multiple disciplines, agencies, personnel, equipment, and implementation schedules.
- Interdisciplinary and inter-agency coordination with hydrologists, soil scientists, fisheries biologists, range specialists, and other resource professionals.
Soil, watershed, and aquatic conditions are influenced by topography, vegetation, stream and riparian condition, disturbance history, roads, grazing, wildfire, and surrounding land uses. Management actions in one part of a property can affect erosion, water quality, stream condition, and aquatic habitat elsewhere in the watershed.
Planning identifies resource concerns, protection and restoration priorities, treatment opportunities, operational constraints, timing, and maintenance needs. Recommendations are intended to protect and improve soil and water resources while supporting other property objectives and long-term watershed function.
