Documentation

This page contains documentation on the BMPs in DTAP, which reduce pounds of total nitrogen, total phosphorus, and total suspended sediment, as well as bacteria in the form of enterococcus concentrations. The list of BMPs available in DTAP have been aggregated to simplify the tool. DTAP partners use a variety of BMP tools and definitions, and this documentation is intended to give guidance as to where DTAP BMPs fall. For more detailed BMP information, please download the ‘Source Data’ file from the home page. 

Developed BMPs

E&S Level 2: Includes erosion & sediment control (ESC) practices at the level of performance that reflects the more stringent ESC requirements that have been adopted by local and state governments and generally conform to the standard requirements in EPA’s 2012 Construction General Permit. These include a greater sediment treatment capacity (typically 3,600 cubic feet/acre), surface outlets, more rapid vegetative cover for temporary and permanent stabilization, and improved design specifications for individual ESC practices to enhance sediment trapping or removal. Units are percent or acres.

Synonymous BMPs: Erosion and Sediment Control Level 1, Erosion and Sediment Control Level 2

BMP Efficiency Rates:

Forest Buffer: Forest buffers are linear wooded areas that help filter nutrients, sediments and other pollutants from runoff as well as remove nutrients from groundwater. The recommended buffer width is 100 feet, with a 35 feet minimum width required.

Synonymous BMPs: Tree/Shrub Establishment, Windbreak/Shelterbelt Establishment, Urban Forest Buffer, Urban Forest Planting, Riparian Forest Buffer, CREP Hardwood Tree Planting (CP3A), Riparian Forest Buffer (NRCS 391), Riparian Buffer (FSA CP22), CREP Riparian Forest Buffer, Woodland Buffer Filter Area

BMP Efficiency Rates:

Forest buffer efficiencies differ depending upon land use where it is implemented. The table below represents urban forest buffers on land uses such as commercial, construction, highway, multi-family residential, and single-family residential.

Grass Buffer: Grass buffers area linear strips of grass or other non-woody vegetation maintained to help filter nutrients, sediment, and other pollutants from runoff. The recommended buffer width is 100 feet, with a 35 feet minimum width required. Vegetated open channels are modeled identically to grass buffers.

Synonymous BMPs: Grassed Waterway, Filter Strip, Field Buffer, Riparian Herbaceous Cover (NRCS 390), Filter Strip (NRCS 393), Filter Strip (FSA CP21), Field Border (NRCS 386), Grass Waterway (NRCS 412), Noneasement (FSA CP8A), Vegetated Filter, Vegetative Buffer Strip, Vegetated Open Channel

BMP Efficiency Rates:

Impervious Surface Elimination to Pervious Surface: Impervious surface removal entails replacing hard surfaces that do allow water to penetrate with vegetation that allows rainwater to soak into the natural ground.

Nutrient Management: The nutrient management BMP includes 6 elements where applicable: 1) application rate modification including split applications and variable rate N application; 2) manure analysis used in plan; 3) spreader must be calibrated within one year; 4) yield estimates used in plan; 5) legume residual N credits and manure mineralization are credited as part of plan; and 6) nutrient placement to minimize loss to surface and groundwater.

Synonymous BMPs: Nutrient Management Core N, Conservation Landscaping Practices (urban)

BMP Efficiency Rates:

Pet Waste Education: Get dog owners to pick up their dog’s poop and dispose of it in a safe and environmentally sound way to reduce public health risks associated with bacteria-laden domestic dog poop.

BMP Efficiency Rates:

Runoff Reduction: Total post-development runoff volume that is reduced through canopy interception, soil amendments, evaporation, rainfall harvesting, engineered infiltration, extended filtration or evapo-transpiration. Includes bioretention, bioswale, infiltration, permeable pavement, dry well, rooftop disconnect, green roof, and rainwater harvesting. These are any stormwater practices that achieve at least a 25% reduction of the annual runoff volume are classified as providing runoff reduction, and therefore earn a higher net removal rate. Enter units of acres treated, impervious acres, and runoff treated. If no runoff treated is entered, one inch is assumed.

Synonymous BMPs: Bioretention, Bioswale, Cisterns & Rain Barrels, Infiltration Practices, Rain Garden, Vegetated Open Channels, New Runoff Reduction, Urban Infiltration Practices

BMP Efficiency Rates:

Stormwater Treatment: Total post-development runoff volume that is reduced through a permanent pool, constructed wetlands or sand filters have less runoff reduction capability, and their removal rate is lower than runoff reduction. Includes filtration practices. Enter units of acres treated, impervious acres, and runoff treated. If no runoff treated is entered, one inch is assumed.

Synonymous BMPs: New Stormwater Treatment, Constructed Wetland, Dry Detention Ponds, Dry Detention Ponds & Hydrodynamic Structures, Dry Extended Detention Ponds, Filtering Practices, Filter Strip, Wet Pond, Wet Ponds & Wetlands

BMP Efficiency Rates:

Tree Planting: Planting trees that do not form a buffer or create a forested condition. One acre of reported tree planting is equivalent to 300 trees planted.

Wetland Creation/Restoration: Re-establish or create wetlands by manipulation of the physical, chemical, or biological characteristics to develop a wetland where one did not previously exist. Changes acres from existing land use to wetland land use.

BMP Efficiency Rates:

Septic BMPs

Septic Connection: Conversion of septic systems to public sewer reduces the number of systems because the waste is sent into the sewer and treated at a wastewater treatment plant.

Septic Denitrification and Pumping: Septic systems achieve nutrient reductions through several types of management practices, including frequent maintenance and pumping. The septic system may also employ a denitrification unit for pre-treatment of waste and/or enhanced in situ treatment system within the soil treatment unit.

Synonymous BMPs: Septic Effluent – Advanced, Septic Effluent Elevated Mound, Septic Effluent Shallow Pressure, Septic Tank Advanced Treatment, Septic Tank Pump Out

BMP Efficiency Rates:

Sliplines: Sewer pipe repair by jacking a new pipe into the existing sewer pipe.

Natural BMPs

Forest Buffer: Forest buffers are linear wooded areas that help filter nutrients, sediments and other pollutants from runoff as well as remove nutrients from groundwater. The recommended buffer width is 100 feet, with a 35 feet minimum width required.

Synonymous BMPs: Tree/Shrub Establishment, Windbreak/Shelterbelt Establishment, Urban Forest Buffer, Urban Forest Planting, Riparian Forest Buffer, CREP Hardwood Tree Planting (CP3A), Riparian Forest Buffer (NRCS 391), Riparian Buffer (FSA CP22), CREP Riparian Forest Buffer, Woodland Buffer Filter Area

BMP Efficiency Rates:

Forest buffer efficiencies differ depending upon land use where it is implemented. The table below represents natural forest buffers on land uses such as open space.

Shoreline Erosion Control: Practices along tidal shorelines that prevent and/or reduce tidal sediments to receiving waters. Shoreline practices can include living shorelines, revetments and/or breakwater systems and bulkheads and seawalls.

Stream Restoration: Stream restoration is a change to the stream corridor that improves the stream ecosystem by restoring the natural hydrology and landscape of a stream, and helps improve habitat and water quality conditions in degraded streams.

Synonymous BMPs: Natural Channel Design, Legacy Sediment Removal, Regenerative Stream Channel or Regenerative Stormwater Conveyance

Stream Restoration Protocol: Stream restoration is a change to the land stream corridor that improves the stream ecosystem by restoring the natural hydrology and landscape of a stream, and helps improve habitat and water quality conditions in degraded streams. This practice is intended to model stream restorations that already have detailed plans with established load reduction estimates. If this information is unknown, use the Stream Restoration BMP. This BMP includes multiple protocols to characterize different pollutant load reductions associated with individual projects. Feet must be specified. To receive credit for a specific protocol, also specify the pounds reduced for TN, TP, and/or TSS. If those details are not available, use the Stream Restoration BMP. 

Tree Planting: Planting trees that do not form a buffer or create a forested condition. One acre of reported tree planting is equivalent to 300 trees planted.

Wetland Creation/Restoration: Re-establish or create wetlands by manipulation of the physical, chemical, or biological characteristics to develop a wetland where one did not previously exist. Changes acres from existing land use to wetland land use.

BMP Efficiency Rates:

Agricultural BMPs

Agricultural Erosion & Sediment: Agricultural stormwater associated with confined agricultural livestock production land area through practices that reduce nutrient and sediment pollutant loads through engineered mechanisms such as settling or filtering.

Synonymous BMPs:  Ag E&S, Agricultural Stormwater Management, Vegetated Treatment Area

BMP Efficiency Rates:

Ammonia Emissions Reduction: Includes biofilters in poultry houses; lagoon covers; and surface application of alum, an acidifier, to poultry litter to acidify poultry litter and maintain ammonia in the non-volatile ionized form (ammonium).

Synonymous BMPs:  Amendments for the Treatment of Agricultural Waste, Alum Treatment of Poultry Litter, Amendments for Treatment of Agricultural Waste (NRCS 591), Ammonia Emissions Reduction, Poultry Litter Amendments, Poultry Litter Treatment

BMP Efficiency Rates:

Conservation Plans: Farm conservation plans are a combination of agronomic, management and engineered practices that protect and improve soil productivity and water quality and prevent deterioration of natural resources on all or part of a farm. Plans must meet technical standards.

Synonymous BMPs: Brush Management, Grade Stabilization Structure, Shallow Water Development and Management, Comprehensive Nutrient Management Plan, Hedgerow Planting, Conservation Plans, Water and Sediment Control Basin, Diversion (acre or feet), Conservation Crop Rotation, Underground Outlet

BMP Efficiency Rates:

Cover Crop: A short-term crop grown after the main cropping season that reduces nutrient losses to ground and surface water by sequestering nutrients. It is planted no more than 2 weeks prior to the average frost date. Fall nutrients are not applied and the crop may not be harvested in the spring.

Synonymous BMPs: Cover Crops – Wheat, Cover Crops – Legume, Cover Crops – Early Planting

BMP Efficiency Rates:

Ditch Controls: Installing and managing drainage ditch systems in agricultural land such as through the application of gypsum or other phosphorus sorbing materials, in-channel engineered carbon-source filters to enhance conversion of nitrate to nitrogen gas that volatizes or diverting to a vegetated area to increase soil saturation.

Synonymous BMP: Water Control Structures

BMP Efficiency Rates:

Forest Buffer: Forest buffers are linear wooded areas that help filter nutrients, sediments and other pollutants from runoff as well as remove nutrients from groundwater. The recommended buffer width is 100 feet, with a 35 feet minimum width required.

Synonymous BMPs: Tree/Shrub Establishment, Windbreak/Shelterbelt Establishment, Urban Forest Buffer, Urban Forest Planting, Riparian Forest Buffer, CREP Hardwood Tree Planting (CP3A), Riparian Forest Buffer (NRCS 391), Riparian Buffer (FSA CP22), CREP Riparian Forest Buffer, Woodland Buffer Filter Area

BMP Efficiency Rates:

Forest buffer efficiencies differ depending upon land use where it is implemented. The table below represents agricultural forest buffers on land uses such as ag open land, cultivated crops, pasture/hay, and production area.

Grass Buffer: Grass buffers area linear strips of grass or other non-woody vegetation maintained to help filter nutrients, sediment, and other pollutants from runoff. The recommended buffer width is 100 feet, with a 35 feet minimum width required. Vegetated open channels are modeled identically to grass buffers.

Synonymous BMPs: Grassed Waterway, Filter Strip, Field Buffer, Riparian Herbaceous Cover (NRCS 390), Filter Strip (NRCS 393), Filter Strip (FSA CP21), Field Border (NRCS 386), Grass Waterway (NRCS 412), Noneasement (FSA CP8A), Vegetated Filter, Vegetative Buffer Strip, Vegetated Open Channel

BMP Efficiency Rates:

Land Retirement: Converts land area to pasture or hay without nutrients. Agricultural land retirement takes marginal and highly erosive cropland out of production by planting permanent vegetative cover such as shrubs, grasses, and/or trees.

Synonymous BMPs: Permanent Wildlife Habitat, Non-easement, Pasture and Hay Planting, Conservation Cover, Critical Area Planting (NRCS 342), Conservation Cover (NRCS 327), Permanent Vegetative Cover, Retirement of Highly Erodible Land

Nutrient Management: The nutrient management BMP includes 6 elements where applicable: 1) application rate modification including split applications and variable rate N application; 2) manure analysis used in plan; 3) spreader must be calibrated within one year; 4) yield estimates used in plan; 5) legume residual N credits and manure mineralization are credited as part of plan; and 6) nutrient placement to minimize loss to surface and groundwater.

Synonymous BMPs: Nutrient Management Core N, Conservation Landscaping Practices (urban)

BMP Efficiency Rates:

Pasture Management: Includes livestock water troughs placed away from the stream corridor, prescribed grazing, horse pasture management, loafing lot management, and dairy precision feeding. This does not include poultry pad installation.

Synonymous BMPs: Prescribed Grazing, Watering Facility, Water Well

BMP Efficiency Rates:

Streambank Fencing: Prevents livestock from entering the stream. Enter units of feet of fence or acres excluded by the fence. There are 17.6 animal units excluded for ever 1,000 feet of fencing.

BMP Efficiency Rates:

Tillage Management: Conservation tillage requires: (a) a minimum 30% residue coverage at the time of planting, and (b) a non-inversion tillage method. Units in percent or acres.

BMP Efficiency Rates:

Tree Planting: Planting trees that do not form a buffer or create a forested condition. One acre of reported tree planting is equivalent to 300 number of trees planted.

Waste Management System: Any structure designed for collection, transfer and storage of manures and associated wastes generated from the confined portion of animal operations and complies with NRCS 313 (Waste Storage Facility) or NRCS 359 (Waste Treatment Lagoon) practice standards.

Wetland Creation/Restoration: Re-establish or create wetlands by manipulation of the physical, chemical, or biological characteristics to develop a wetland where one did not previously exist. Changes acres from existing land use to wetland land use.

BMP Efficiency Rate:

Manure Treatment BMPs

Manure Transport: Transport of manure in or out of an area. Manure may be of any type: poultry, dairy, or any of the animal categories. This includes movement of dead animals, such as those from broiler freezers and the removal of nutrients from composting, combustion, pyrolysis, or gasification.