What does HELC mean in CONSERVATION

HELC is a conservation effort designed to protect areas of land prone to erosion due to soil characteristics or extreme weather events. It works to reduce sediment loss from these areas, improve water quality, and promote healthy habitats for wildlife by managing vegetation and other practices like contour farming or rotational grazing.

Soil erosion has significant consequences for people and the environment alike, such as reduced crop yields, siltation of waterways, flooding, and sedimentation in reservoirs. By working towards protecting and restoring these areas, we can protect valuable resources like soil structure and fertility, as well as maintain the balance of ecosystems that provide food and habitat for biodiversity.

HELC involves implementing best management practices (BMPs) that focus on controlling runoff and promoting vegetation growth. These may include things like tillage systems, crop rotation programs, cover cropping, terracing or contour farming (creating furrows on a slope), drainage systems, grassed waterways (ditches filled with grasses instead of gravel), planting native perennial plants in riparian buffers along streams/rivers; etc. The goal is to reduce disturbances that lead to soil erosion while providing beneficial functions such as improved water quality through nutrient uptake by the vegetation.

Most states have maps indicating parcels of highly erodible land based on soil type characteristics. You can contact your local Natural Resources Conservation Service office for more information and help determining if your property qualifies for HLEC protection measures.

Best management practices employed in HELC may vary depending upon specific conditions within a given area; however some common BMPs include tillage systems such as no-till or reduced tillage farming methods; crop rotation programs; cover cropping; terracing or contour farming; drainage systems; grassed waterways; planting native perennial plants in riparian buffers along streams/rivers; trapping sediment in retention ponds; using buffer strips around fields to slow water runoff and trap sediments before they reach streams/rivers; improving soil organic matter content with compost applications; etc.

Generally speaking you will need permission from your local governmental agency before implementing any conservation practice related to HLEC. Each state will have different permitting requirements, so it's recommended that you contact your local NRCS office for specifics related to your area.

Yes! There are several federal programs available that provide financial assistance for HLEC implementation projects including the Environmental Quality Incentives Program (EQIP) administered by USDA-NRCS which provides cost-share funding for approved conservation activities such as installation of vegetative cover crops or other BMPs mentioned above. Additionally some state governments also offer grants specifically dedicated towards HLEC efforts so be sure to check with your local government offices about what types of funding opportunities may be available near you!

In addition to improving water quality through controlling runoff and trapping sediments before they reach streams/rivers, HELC provides benefits such as protecting against flooding events due to erosion control structures built into the terrain design elements like terraces or constructed wetlands where stormwater can collect until it has time enough time evaporate back into the atmosphere instead of flowing downstream too quickly which would cause flooding issues downstream. Additionally this type of work promotes healthy habitats for many species through better soils fertility management practices which help encourage robust growth within natural vegetation communities helping preserve endangered species populations while simultaneously giving humans access ample sources nutritious food crops provided by these biodiverse ecosystems!

It’s recommended that you contact your local Natural Resources Conservation Service office first since they will be able to direct you toward potential funding sources that might be available near you as well as helping determine what specific BMPs would be most appropriate according to site conditions on your property . Additionally you could also check with agricultural extension offices located at universities near you who often have staff knowledgeable about best practices related not only entire farm operations but also individual field management plans.