Description
Manage, improve, and protect natural resources to maximize their use without damaging the environment. May conduct soil surveys and develop plans to eliminate soil erosion or to protect rangelands. May instruct farmers, agricultural production managers, or ranchers in best ways to use crop rotation, contour plowing, or terracing to conserve soil and water; in the number and kind of livestock and forage plants best suited to particular ranges; and in range and farm improvements, such as fencing and reservoirs for stock watering.
- • Develop soil maps.
- • Implement soil or water management techniques, such as nutrient management, erosion control, buffers, or filter strips, in accordance with conservation plans.
- • Advise land users, such as farmers or ranchers, on plans, problems, or alternative conservation solutions.
- • Monitor projects during or after construction to ensure projects conform to design specifications.
- • Visit areas affected by erosion problems to identify causes or determine solutions.
- • Develop or maintain working relationships with local government staff or board members.
- • Apply principles of specialized fields of science, such as agronomy, soil science, forestry, or agriculture, to achieve conservation objectives.
- • Gather information from geographic information systems (GIS) databases or applications to formulate land use recommendations.
- • Compute design specifications for implementation of conservation practices, using survey or field information, technical guides or engineering manuals.
- • Participate on work teams to plan, develop, or implement programs or policies for improving environmental habitats, wetlands, or groundwater or soil resources.
- • Conduct fact-finding or mediation sessions among government units, landowners, or other agencies to resolve disputes.
- • Revisit land users to view implemented land use practices or plans.
- • Respond to complaints or questions on wetland jurisdiction, providing information or clarification.
- • Compute cost estimates of different conservation practices, based on needs of land users, maintenance requirements, or life expectancy of practices.
- • Provide information, knowledge, expertise, or training to government agencies at all levels to solve water or soil management problems or to assure coordination of resource protection activities.
- • Analyze results of investigations to determine measures needed to maintain or restore proper soil management.
- • Coordinate or implement technical, financial, or administrative assistance programs for local government units to ensure efficient program implementation or timely responses to requests for assistance.
- • Identify or recommend integrated weed and pest management (IPM) strategies, such as resistant plants, cultural or behavioral controls, soil amendments, insects, natural enemies, barriers, or pesticides.
- • Review proposed wetland restoration easements or provide technical recommendations.
- • Develop, conduct, or participate in surveys, studies, or investigations of various land uses to inform corrective action plans.
- • Manage field offices or involve staff in cooperative ventures.
- • Plan soil management or conservation practices, such as crop rotation, reforestation, permanent vegetation, contour plowing, or terracing, to maintain soil or conserve water.
- • Initiate, schedule, or conduct annual audits or compliance checks of program implementation by local government.
- • Develop water conservation or harvest plans, using weather information systems, irrigation information management systems, or other sources of daily evapotranspiration (ET) data.
- • Review or approve amendments to comprehensive local water plans or conservation district plans.
- • Develop or conduct environmental studies, such as plant material field trials or wildlife habitat impact studies.
- • Enter local soil, water, or other environmental data into adaptive or Web-based decision tools to identify appropriate analyses or techniques.
- • Compile or interpret biodata to determine extent or type of wetlands or to aid in program formulation.
- • Review annual reports of counties, conservation districts, or watershed management organizations, certifying compliance with mandated reporting requirements.
- • Review grant applications or make funding recommendations.
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Last reviewed: Jan 2026
