The Agricultural Conservation Planning Framework (ACPF) National Hub is a multi-institutional collaboration to improve agricultural conservation planning processes and help communities and agencies address soil and water quality goals. We are focused on serving Natural Resources Conservation Service (NRCS) offices and conservation partners across the U.S. to support conservation planning efforts at multiple scales.
The products and services we offer help leverage high-resolution geospatial data and science-based analysis within the conservation planning process, thereby empowering decisions that have the potential to make the largest positive impact on a watershed.
Mission: To improve the efficiency and effectiveness of ACPF implementation in agricultural conservation planning through the continued expansion of data-driven approaches to meet water quality goals in local watersheds and larger regions.
Vision: To complement and assist the advancement of science and the practical application of geospatial conservation data to improve soil health and water quality.
Here's how The Hub can help:
- The ACPF National Hub is your go-to resource for all things ACPF.
- The Hub makes it easy for you to get started with the ACPF by providing user-friendly tools and guidance.
- The Hub keeps the ACPF core data, results, and GIS tools organized and up-to-date so you always have what you need in one place.
- The Hub offers training sessions, hands-on workshops, and outreach materials so users can build their skills and stay informed.
- The Hub works with partners on research to keep the framework effective and relevant as conservation challenges evolve.
- The Hub brings together a community of ACPF users to share ideas, troubleshoot, and celebrate successes.
- The Hub provides direct support for technical and quick questions.
- The Hub is there to assist you!
If you're new to ACPF, think of the ACPF National Hub as your go-to team. They will connect you with the right data, link you to experienced people, and share practical advice to help your projects succeed.
Working with the ACPF National Hub
Beyond the ACPF tools, datasets, training, and other resources available on the website, the ACPF National Hub seeks to cultivate a network of ACPF users. The National Hub recognizes that effective implementation of the ACPF is best achieved at the local level. In recognition of this, we provide support and guidance to state or regional user groups as they adopt the ACPF to meet their local needs. The ACPF National Hub can help connect you to other ACPF users and assist in creating state-based ACPF user groups, enabling you to better achieve your goals!
How the National Hub can help you use the ACPF in your conservation planning processes:
| Planning | Collecting Data and Running the ACPF | Analyzing the Results | Application and Evaluation |
|---|---|---|---|
| Identify other ACPF users and stakeholders | Download the ACPF toolbox and core data if available | Use local knowledge and field verification to validate and update results | Use ACPF results in conservation planning |
| Determine where ACPF has been used in your area, if toolbox results already exist, and their suitability | Determine if new core data are needed and locate data sources | Re-run the ACPF and update results | Coordinate participation in the Watershed Applications Training |
| Convene partners at the state and/or regional level | Participate in the technical training | Determine how the ACPF results integrate into your existing conservation planning efforts and watershed goals. | Provide feedback and share results with the National Hub and the ACPF community |
| Determine your training and data needs | Run the ACPF tools |
Support from the ACPF National Hub is available | |
| Troubleshoot technical issues | |||
Collaborate with Us
- The ACPF National Hub fosters research leading to toolbox enhancements, expansion of the professional application of the ACPF, and impacts of its use. If you are interested in using the ACPF as part of your research or building tools using the ACPF framework, please reach out to The Hub for support.
- Do you have a specific product need? We can collaborate to create custom documents for outreach or training efforts, as well as communications that promote the use of ACPF at multiple scales or within organizations.
- Have you created a geodatabase for a watershed not in our core dataset? Help us grow the national dataset and support the ACPF community by choosing to share your data.
- Do you have a success story or are you using the ACPF in a unique way and want to share your experience with the ACPF community? Connect with us today.
- We are here to support you! Let us know what we can do to help enhance your conservation planning efforts.
The ACPF National Hub partners include: The Iowa Water Center, Iowa State University, ISU GIS Facility, the North Central Region Water Network, and the University of Wisconsin-Madison Division of Extension.
The ACPF National Hub is supported in part through a cooperative agreement with the NRCS.
