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Land Planning & Stewardship

Understand the property, set priorities, and maintain a practical record of stewardship over time.

Topics
8
Published articles
8

Topics

Understanding Your Property
Property InventoryExisting Land UsesProperty HistoryAerial ImageryTopographic MapsParcel BoundariesEasements & Rights-of-WayExisting InfrastructureNatural Resource Inventory
Property Assessment
Land Management Planning
Management PlansShort-Term GoalsLong-Term GoalsProject PrioritizationAnnual Work PlansMulti-Year PlanningBudget Planning
Stewardship Goals
Management Zones
New Landowner Essentials
Monitoring & Documentation
Photo PointsManagement LogsMapsProject RecordsProgress Tracking
Working With Professionals

Published material

Articles in this category

Land Planning & Stewardship · 8 minute read

How to Assess a Property Before Beginning Land Improvements

Most rural properties make their problems obvious long before they make their causes obvious. Before building roads, clearing brush, improving habitat, or developing water, establish a baseline of the property's terrain, soils, drainage, vegetation, infrastructure, and active problems.

Land Planning & Stewardship · 5 minute read · Subscriber article

Using Maps, Records, and History to Understand Your Property

Property history: Use aerial imagery, maps, surveys and land records to understand current boundaries, vegetation, drainage and previous land uses.

Land Planning & Stewardship · 6 minute read

Building a Practical Land Management Plan

Build a practical land management plan with priorities, budgets, project sequencing and measurable stewardship objectives. NRCS planning provides a useful starting point.

Land Planning & Stewardship · 4 minute read · Subscriber article

Setting Stewardship Goals That Actually Guide Decisions

Set stewardship goals that guide tradeoffs among grazing, wildlife, restoration, family use and long-term protection of valuable property features.

Land Planning & Stewardship · 5 minute read · Subscriber article

Dividing a Property Into Useful Management Units

Divide rural land into management units based on soils, drainage, vegetation and use, and organize property records around consistent places.

Land Planning & Stewardship · 6 minute read

A First-Year Plan for a New Rural Property

A first-year plan for the new landowner: Address safety, observe seasons, verify infrastructure and local requirements, and learn before making major changes.

Land Planning & Stewardship · 5 minute read · Subscriber article

Monitoring Land Without Turning It Into a Full-Time Job

Property monitoring and land records: Track photographs, treatment results, recurring maintenance and management units without excessive paperwork.

Land Planning & Stewardship · 6 minute read · Subscriber article

When to Bring in a Professional—and Which One

Choose a land consultant or professional: When to involve a wildlife biologist, surveyor, engineer, forester, NRCS planner or extension specialist.