460 - 1
NATURAL RESOURCES CONSERVATION SERVICE
CONSERVATION PRACTICE STANDARD
LAND CLEARING
(Ac.)
CODE 460
DEFINITION cleared and all wetlands, water bodies and
watercourses.
Removing trees, stumps, and other vegetation
from wooded areas to achieve a conservation Soil Quality. Clearing shall be performed
objective. when the soil moisture content is such that soil
structure damage or compaction is minimized.
PURPOSE.
Temporary cover will be established as
Facilitate needed land use adjustments and necessary to control sheet, rill and wind
improvements to an existing site in the interest erosion on the cleared area until the planned
of natural resource conservation. land use is in place.
CONDITIONS WHERE PRACTICE APPLIES CONSIDERATONS
This practice applies to wooded areas for the General. When a salvage harvest is performed
removal of trees, stumps, brush, and other prior to land clearing, leaving taller stumps will
vegetation in order to implement a facilitate final clearing and grubbing activities.
conservation objective.
Land clearing should be conducted when
CRITERIA disturbance to, and movement of, topsoil is
minimized. Consideration should be given to
General. Clearing and disposal methods shall
land clearing during periods when the soil is
be in accordance with federal, state, and local
frozen (in areas with minimal soil cover),
laws. Methods must address the impacts to during periods of dry summer conditions (in
erosion control, air and water quality, and the areas prone to water induced erosion), and
safety of the public and property.
during periods of low probability of high winds
Limit disposal of cleared debris into standing or (in areas prone to wind-induced erosion).
green timber. This will minimize the need for
Land clearing is generally more efficient for
increased maintenance and reclearing while
tree diameters less than 4 inches. For larger
reducing fire hazards. Ensure that debris piles diameter trees, the root wad (or crown) should
are at least 100 feet from adjacent woodland, be removed during periods of low soil
buildings, or roads.
moisture. Moving debris during periods of high
Disposal of cleared debris shall be in soil moisture can lead to deep rutting and
accordance with NRCS Conservation Practice burying of debris, complicating final cleanup.
Standard Woody Residue Treatment (384); or Cultural Resources. Ground disturbing
if cleared debris disposed by burning, NRCS activities associated with this practice have the
Conservation Practice Standard Prescribed potential to affect cultural resources.
Burning (338).
Consideration should be given to using
Cleared area shall be left in a condition that methods that minimize disturbance to the
facilitates the planned use and treatment of the ground surface.
land. Fish and Wildlife Resources. Special
Water Quality. An area 50-foot wide will be attention should be given to maintaining
left undisturbed between the area being habitat for fish and wildlife. Strip clearing,
NRCS, NHCP
Conservation practice standards are reviewed periodically and updated if needed. To obtain
the current version of this standard, contact your Natural Resources Conservation Service August 2011
State Office or visit the Field Office Technical Guide.
460 - 2
windrowing debris, and maintaining den and The kinds of timber to be salvaged, lengths
food trees can minimize impacts on wildlife. of logs, and location of stacking
Other Considerations. The orientation and Disposal requirements for all materials not
layout of debris piles should be considered to salvaged
promote proper curing of the debris and
facilitate surface water drainage. Chained or Orientation and layout of debris piles
pushed trees should be oriented so that they Requirements to control erosion, water
lay parallel to one another. Debris piles should pollution and air pollution
follow ground contours and be high, narrow,
compact and free of soil and snow. Debris Vegetative requirements
piles, in general, should be between 15 to 25
Site specific specifications that describe
feet wide, 10 to 15 feet high, and spaced 150
the condition of the cleared area needed to
to 200 feet apart. As a minimum, debris piles
facilitate the planned use and treatment of
should include an opening (within the debris
the land, including surface grading
pile) of approximately 30 feet at 200 foot
requirements if applicable
intervals, and at other locations where routing
of equipment, natural drainage, surface water
OPERATION AND MAINTENANCE
runoff, and firebreaks may be needed.
An Operation and Maintenance plan shall be
Select appropriate equipment type, size, and
prepared for use by the client. The plan shall
capacity for land clearing tasks to facilitate the
include specific instructions to insure that this
timely execution of the work in an economically
practice functions as intended throughout its
feasible manner.
expected life.
Activities which minimize the spread or
Minimum requirements to be addressed in the
introduction of weeds on a newly cleared site
plan are:
should be considered. Additionally, the
disposal of vegetation by burying, composting, A maintenance program to maintain
or mulching debris will facilitate decomposition. vegetative cover while controlling undesired
and exotic vegetation
PLANS AND SPECIFICATIONS
Plans and specifications for land clearing shall Protection of watercourses and water
be in keeping with this standard and shall quality after land clearing
describe the requirements for applying the Guidance on crossing cleared areas with
practice to achieve its intended purpose. heavy equipment when the ground is
As a minimum plans and specifications shall saturated
include: Restrictions on the use of mechanical
A plan view or a description of the limits of treatments, prescribed burning, pesticides
land to be cleared and other chemicals that compromise the
intended purpose
NRCS, NHCP
August 2011