Biology

It is the policy of the Natural Resources Conservation Service to use the biological sciences (a) to develop and improve soil and water conservation measures that help  maintain fish and wildlife as integral components of all ecosystems such as forest, range, cropland, and aquatic ecosystems; (b) to protect the habitat of threatened and endangered species of plants and animals; (c) to safeguard unique ecosystems; (d) to develop and maintain an esthetically pleasing, high quality environment.  These goals form the basis for the development of the Biology Technical Standards, Biology Job Sheets and Biology Technical Notes found below.

Biology Job Sheet and Fact Sheet Links

Documents require Microsoft Word

646 - Shallow Water Management for Wildlife Job sheet (DOC, 466 KB)

647 - Feathering Wooded Edges (DOC, 456 KB)

643 - Restoration of Rare and Declining Habitats (DOC, 208 KB)

645 - Wildlife Habitat Development Plan Job Sheet (DOC, 396 KB)

645 - Wildlife Habitat Development Plan Job Sheet Supplement (DOC, 253 KB)

645 - Upland Wildlife Habitat Management - Wildlife Food Plot Job Sheet (DOC, 226 KB)

645 - Upland Wildlife Habitat Management - Wildlife Brush Pile Job Sheet (DOC, 770 KB)

Biology Fact Sheet: Indiana Bat (DOC, 168 KB)

Conservation Reserve Program (CRP), Wildlife Habitat Incentive Program (WHIP) and other Program Job Sheet Links

NOTE: The most current Program Job Sheets can be found on the Indiana NRCS Program page.

Biology Technical Notes

This directive is used by the National and State Offices to issue procedures and information on specific scientific and technical subjects, tested for NRCS use.  The most current NRCS Biology Technical Notes can be found here.

Biology Links
Papers - Pamphlets

Documents require Acrobat Reader

IDNR - Establishing Warm Season Grasses (PDF, 34 KB)

Water For Wildlife (PDF, 1.5 MB)

Document requires Microsoft Word

Indiana Bat Guidelines (DOC, 38 KB)

Habitat Management Guidelines for Amphibians and Reptiles of the Midwest 

Biology Technical Standards Links

The Indiana NRCS Biology Standards can be found at the NRCS Indiana FOTG web site. 

Native Pollinator Information

• Enhancing Nest Sites for Native Pollinators (PDF; 305 KB and requires Acrobat Reader)

• Illinois Pollinator Technical Note (DOC; 934 KB and requires Microsoft Word)

• Improving Forage for Native Bee Crop Pollinators (PDF; 239 KB and requires Acrobat Reader) 

• NRCS documents for pollinator conservation and enhancement

• Native Pollinators in Agriculture

• North American Pollinator Protection Campaign

• The Xerces Society - From Xerces Society homepage click the Publications tab for the following links
      Fact Sheets - 2008 Farm Bill Benefits to Crop Pollinators
      Brochures - Farming for Pollinators
      Plant Lists - Plants for Native Bees in the Upper Midwest

NRCS Links

• NRCS Wetland Science

• Agricultural Wildlife Conservation Center

• NRCS National Biology Manual

• NRCS National Biology Home Page (includes manuals, handbooks, and general references)

Federal Agency Links

• EPA Wetlands Information Helpline

• USFWS Bloomington Ecological Services Field Office

• USFWS National Website

• USFWS Indiana Home Page (Indiana Offices, NWR Offices, and other programs)

• USDA APHIS Wildlife Services

• (Requires Microsoft Word)
  Indiana Partners for Fish and Wildlife Program (DOC, 300 KB)

State Agency Links

• IDNR Homepage

• IDNR List of Endangered, Threatened & Rare Species

• IDNR District Wildlife Biologists

• IDNR Indiana Wetland's Conservation Plan

• IDNR Wildlife Habitat Fact Sheets

• IDNR Fisheries Biologists

• Nuisance Wildlife

• Wildlife Conflicts Information Hotline

Partnership Links

• Bat Conservation International

• Ducks Unlimited Inc.

• Fish and Wildlife Management Offices

• National Wild Turkey Federation

• The Nature Conservancy - Indiana Chapter

• Pheasants Forever

• Quail Unlimited

• The Wildlife Society

• The Wildlife Society - Indiana Chapter

Purdue University Links

• Assessing Your Land's Potential for Wildlife (PDF; 392 KB and requires Acrobat Reader)

• County Extension Offices

• Extension Service Wildlife Publications

• Purdue University Wildlife Extension: Everything Wildlife

Contact the NRCS State Biologist

If you encounter problems with documents on this page, contact Dave Stratman at 317/290-3200, ext. 354.