Continual management and maintenance of BMPs are essential for proper functioning. Structural practices are designed for a specific storm frequency (2 year, 5 year, etc.) and may suffer damage when larger storms occur. Structural practices that require earth disturbance and stabilization should be frequently checked to assure that vegetation and other types of stabilization are adequate to protect the structure and to assure that it will continue to properly function.

Other BMPs, such as strip cropping, contour farming, and grass buffers, require attention annually to assure that boundaries, adequate vegetation, and other types of stabilization are maintained. Practices that are performed annually, such as cover crops, conservation tillage, crop residue management, and crop rotations, must be carried out according to the conservation plan. These practices require detailed attention to assure they are carried out when and to the extent specified.

Click here to link to A Conservation Catalog - Practices for the Conservation of Pennsylvania's Natural Resources. The Catalog features Agricultural BMPs and information about