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Prerequisites: Familiarity with how to run WIN-PST, Agronomy Tech Notes 5 and 9

CPS 595 Implementation Requirements Worksheet (xlsx)

General WASCOB Training

1. Basic WASCOB – This course is intended for staff that are very new to the WASCOB practice and need to learn terminology design concepts and start to visualize how WASCOBS are laid out in the field.
   • Section I
   • Section II
   • Section III
   • Section IV
2. WASCOB Design Spreadsheet – These training videos introduce employees to NRCS’S WASCOB Design Spreadsheet.  The design spreadsheet can be found on efotg.gov – Minnesota – Section IV – Engineering Tools
   • WASCOB Design Intro
   • WASCOB Tile Design
3. Field Training Webinar- This webinar was originally a prerequisite video presented before a field session (August 2022) in Mower County.  This video covers how to prepare for and complete the I&E step and some basics of construction inspection.  There’s also a quick demonstration of a preliminary design using LiDAR and EFT-TDT.
   • WASCOB Field Training Webinar
4. Tables of Riser dimensions for use in a WASCOB Design
   • Hickenbottom Measured Dimensions (pdf)
5. LiDAR based tools for design of WASCOBs in ArcGIS (2013 training) – This training provides an overview and demonstration of the LiDAR tools for the planning and design of WASCOBS in ArcGIS.
   • LiDAR tools for design of Water & Sediment Control Basins
6. Tech Talk on Tile Design using PS 606/620
   • Tech Talk: Tile Flow Design

EFT – Terrace Design Tool (TDT)

Engineering Field Tools – TDT is an approved tool to design WASCOBs in MN.  Following MN PS 638 and PS 606, it will check capacity based on user inputs of survey data, desired dimensions, and proposed alignments for a basin design as well as a tile design.

TDT Resources

1. GIS Steps (pdf) - Instructions for the GIS steps prior to EFT work
2. TDT Workflow (pdf) - Step by step instructions with screen clips for a WASCOB design.
3. TDT Example Report (pdf)

TDT Training Videos (reference TDT Workflow above)

1. Basic EFT preferences (19:24)- This video explains how to import preferences, the “why” behind most of the preferences used in EFT in MN and also explains using the MN Configuration.
   • EFT Preferences
2. TDT Preferences and starting a New Project / Design (10:41) – includes setting preferences for various types of basins and starting a new WASCOB project
   • TDT Preferences and New Design
3. Create a clipped DEM, contours, and background photo files in GIS Pro, and import them into EFT (12:18)
   • EFT GIS Pro
4. Document listing common TDT errors and ways to resolve them
   • TDT Errors and Remedies (pdf)
5. Import Survey into TDT (4:24) -
   • Import Survey for EFT
6. Draw Alignments for Basins and Tile (9:49)
   • Drawing Alignments in TDT
7. Design Narrow-base Basins (54:35)
   • Designing a WASCOB
8. Print Reports for a WASCOB Design (16:23)
   • TDT Reports

General Waterway training

1. Basic Grassed Waterway Videos 1-3 – overview of the 412 practice standard
   • Video 1 Basic Waterway
   • Video 2 Basic Waterway
   • Video 3 Basic Waterway
2. Tech Talk on Waterway Out of Bank flow design
   • Tech Talk: Out of Bank
3. Tech Talk on Tile Design using PS 606/620
   • Tech Talk: Tile Flow Design
4. Tech talk on using the MN NRCS Waterway Design spreadsheet found on eFOTG
   • Tech Talk: Grassed Waterway Spreadsheet
5. Using the EFT Waterway Sizing Wizard
   • Waterway Wizard in EFT
6. Basic EFT Preferences – This video explains how to import preferences, the “why” behind most of the preferences used in EFT in MN and also explains using the MN Configuration.
   • EFT Preferences
7. Grassed Waterway Project Checklist

EFT – Waterway Design Tool (WDT)

Engineering Field Tools – WDT is an approved tool to design waterways in MN.  It uses Manning’s equation to size both the channel and if desired, support tile.  Following MN PS 412, it checks tractive stress and provides flow data to check capacity based on user inputs of survey data, desired dimensions, and proposed alignments.  For inexperienced staff, a prerequisite to beginning design training would be to first watch the Basic Grassed Waterway videos above.  Then, watch the WDT training videos below in chronological order will provide everything needed to set up EFT and begin a design.

WDT Resources

1. GIS Steps - Instructions for the GIS steps prior to EFT work
2. WDT Workflow – Step by step instructions
3. WDT Example Reports – Reports and example documentation from EFT-WDT

Example Project – click to download

The survey and imagery files are the same ones demonstrated in the training videos below.  Feel free to download and practice a waterway design while following the videos.

1. Survey csv
2. 2019 Image
3. Soils Background Image
4. Example Project Folder Documentation

WDT Training Videos (reference WDT Workflow above) 

Contact us with questions.

1. Create customers, projects, and new designs (6:53) – Explains State/Area configuration and steps to create a new customer and start a project.  (More complete explanations of EFT preferences are available in the video linked under General Waterway Training).
   • Setup, Customer, and New Design
2. Import Survey into WDT (4:24)
   • Import Survey for EFT
3. Breaklines defined and adding them to WDT (13:43)
   • Adding Breaklines
4. Create a clipped DEM, contours, and background photo files in GIS Pro and import them into EFT (12:18)
   • EFT GIS Pro
5. Adding your alignments (2:35)
   • EFT Adding Alignment
6. Adding a profile, running a design, reviewing cross-sections (17:25)
   • WDT Profile Design
7. Adding a lateral waterway (8:20) -
   • WDT Lateral
8. Creating a tile design for WDT (28:23)
   • Tile Design for WDT
9. Create a plan view and print waterway reports (15:17) - document your waterway design including a cover page with plan view
   • Print Waterway Reports

This is a collection of trainings, video replays, and information pertaining to the planning, design, and installation/certification of livestock watering practices; namely Livestock Pipeline (CPS516) and Watering Facility (CPS614).

General Livestock Watering Training

1. Tech Talk: Livestock Watering System Planning

• Jeff Duchene, NRCS Grazing Lands Specialist, covers the planning considerations for livestock watering systems. Topics covered include identifying water sources and considerations for ensuring water sources have the potential to supply adequate water for the planned herd size, overview of pipe installation methods, overview of water tank materials, sizing water tanks, and considerations for placement of water tanks within the grazing system. Examples of watering system layouts are provided.

2. Tech Talk: Well System Investigation

• Patrick Schultz, TTCP Engineer, walks through the steps for investigating a residential well system for the purposes of gathering data for livestock watering design. How to conduct a flow meter test as well as other tests for determining flow rate and pressure information are discussed as well as common well system components

3. Tech Talk: Livestock Watering System Design

• Lea Holter, NRCS Assistant State Conservation Engineer, provides an introduction to the pipeline design worksheet. How to use information collected earlier in the planning process to design a livestock watering system is demonstrated. It is recommended to watch the replay of "Tech Talk: Livestock Watering System Planning" first as this video builds off of that one.

4. Solar-Powered Water Systems for Grazing Operations

• Participants in this webinar will learn important considerations in planning for a solar-powered water delivery system for grazing operations, especially in contrast to permanent electrically-powered systems.

Other Related Trainings

1. Tech Talk Replay: Grazing Facilitating Practices Part 1

• Tech Talk Replay from July 13, 2020. Dean Thomas, Lance Smith, Aaron Peter, Amanda Deans, and Pat Schultz reviewed the use, planning, and design of commonly used practices to facilitate prescribed grazing systems. This webinar was a pre-requisite for in-field trainings. Practices covered in this webinar include: Fence (PS382), Heavy Use Area Protection (PS561), Trails and Walkways (PS575), and Stream Crossing (PS578).

2. Tech Talk Replay: Grazing Facilitating Practices Part 2

• Tech Talk Replay from July 20, 2020. Jeff Duchene, Nichole Sternquist, Craig Peterson, and Amanda Deans reviewed the use, planning, and design of commonly used practices to facilitate prescribed grazing systems. This webinar was a pre-requisite for in-field trainings. Practices covered in this webinar include: Water Well (PS642), Pumping Plant (PS533), Pipeline (PS516), and Watering Facility (PS614).

Resources

1. MN NRCS spreadsheet for designing livestock pipeline and watering facilities

• FOTG Design Tool: Section 4 (Practice Standards and Supporting Documents) – Engineering Tools – Livestock Pipeline

2. MN NRCS inventory sheets for documenting water and animal information gathered during a site visit

• FOTG On-Site Inventory Sheets for Prescribed Grazing: Section 4 (Practice Standards and Supporting Documents) – Conservation Practice Standards & Support Documents – Prescribed Grazing (528) – 528 MN GD PG On Site Inventory 2019
• Pipeline Design Inventory Form

3. General Flow Meter Directions

4. Toro Flowmeter Instructions and Parts List

A copy of Karin's presentation can be found here.

1. Cover Crop Benefits and Selection (75 minutes)
   • Eric Yu, UMN Extension presents this webinar on the benefits and selection of cover crops.
2. Strategies for Planting and Terminating Cover Crops (52 minutes)
   • Dean Thomas, Southeast MN Grazing and Soil Health Specialist discusses the best practices for establishing and removing a cover crop.
3. Cover Crop ID (26 minutes)
   • Gabi Bolwerk, Soil Health Educator with UMN Extension presents method, knowledge needed, and resources for Cover Crop ID.
4. Cover Crop Technical Resources (92 minutes)
   • Stephanie McLain, Minnesota NRCS Soil Health Specialist presents FOTG materials related to cover crops including the 340 Practice Standard and Implementation Requirements
5. Herbicide Interactions and Cover Crop Establishment (62 minutes)
   • Liz Stahl, Extension Educator discusses and shares data on herbicide interactions with cover crops.
6. Cover Crop Seeding Tools and Calculators (72 minutes)
   • Stephanie McLain, Minnesota NRCS Soil Health Specialist and Ryan Buetow, Minnesota NRCS State Agronomist demonstrate cover crop seeding calculators and tools.
7. How Cover Crops Fit Into Soil Health Systems (51 minutes)
   • Stephanie McLain, Minnesota NRCS Soil Health Specialist explains the context of cover crops in soil health systems.
8. Cover Crops and Nutrient Management Adaptations (40 minutes)
   • Ryan Buetow, Minnesota NRCS State Agronomist shares perspectives of nutrient management with cover crops in mind. Topics include liming and C:N Ratios.