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342 -1 <br />NATURAL RESOURCES CONSERVATION SERVICE <br />CONSERVATfON PRACTICE STANDARD <br />CRITICAL AREA PLANTING <br />(Acre) <br />CODE 342 <br />DEFINITION <br />Establishing permanent vegetation bn sites that <br />have or are expelled to have high erosion rates, <br />and on sites that have physical, chemical or <br />biological conditions that prevent the <br />establishment of vegetation with normal <br />practices <br />PURPOSE <br />• Stabilize areas with existing or expelled <br />high rates of soil erosion by water <br />Stabilize areas with existing or expelled <br />high rates of soil erosion 6y wind <br />• Restore degraded sites that cannot be <br />stabilized through normal methods <br />CONDITIONS WHERE PRACTICE APPLIES <br />This practice applies to areas with existing or <br />expected high rates of erosion, or degraded <br />sites that need stabilization. If left untreated, <br />critical areas can be severely damaged by <br />erosion and sedimentation or cause significant <br />off-site damage. <br />Apply Critical Area Planting only on sites that <br />have the capability of supporting vegetation. <br />Some critical areas are so hostile to plant <br />growth, because of climate, soils or slope, that <br />structural measures are required for <br />stabilization, <br />CRITERIA <br />General Criteria Aoolicable to All Purposes <br />Species selected for seeding or planting shall be <br />suited to current site conditions and intended <br />uses, Selected species will have the capacity to <br />achieve adequate density and vigor within an <br />appropriate Time frame to stabilize the site <br />sufficiently to permit suited uses with ordinary <br />management activities. <br />Specify species selections, rates of seeding or <br />planting, minimum quality of planting stock such <br />as PLS or stem caliper and method of <br />establishment before application. Use only <br />viable, high quality seed or planting stock. <br />Site preparation and seeding or planting shall 6e <br />done at a time and manner that best ensures <br />survival and growth of the selected species. <br />Specify successful establishment criteria such <br />as minimum percent groundlcanopy cover, <br />percent survival and stand density, etc., before <br />practice application. <br />Apply facilitating practices that enhance plant <br />growth such as fertilization and mulching to <br />accelerate establishment of selected species. <br />Fertilizer and soil amendment application <br />methods, rates and timing shall be consistent <br />with the Colorado Nutrient Management, 590 <br />Conservation Practice Standard. <br />Do not establish state fisted noxious weeds in <br />critical areas. If noxious weeds are present, <br />plan and implement the Colorado Pest <br />Management, 595 Conservation Practice <br />Standard to confrol noxious weeds prior to <br />seeding. <br />Installation of this practice shall comply with all <br />applicable Federal, State and local laws, rules <br />and regulations. <br />If application of this practice will affect cultural <br />resources (archaeological, historic, historic <br />landscape or traditional cultural properties), <br />follow NRCS national policy and Colorado <br />operating procedures for considering cultural <br />resources. <br />Conservation practice standards are reviewed periodiglly, and updated R needed. To obtain NRCS, CO <br />the current version of this standard, contact the Natural Resounxrs Conservation Service. <br />October 2004 <br />