USDA’s Conservation Effects Assessment Project (CEAP) is a multi-agency effort led by the Natural Resources Conservation Service (NRCS) to quantify the effects of conservation practices across the nation’s working lands.
About the Conservation Effects Assessment Project
Through CEAP, USDA quantifies and reports on trends in conservation practices, and associated outcomes, over time. CEAP findings are used to guide conservation program development and support conservationists, agricultural producers, and partners in choosing the most effective conservation actions and making informed management decisions backed by data and science.
CEAP assessments are carried out at national, regional, and watershed scales for conservation efforts related to croplands, grazing lands, wetlands, and wildlife.
Conservation Effects Assessment Project Assessments
CEAP provides assessments and associated conservation outcomes insights for multiple land uses and conservation goals. These assessments empower a diversity of customers to evaluate conservation successes, identify potential improvements, and set targeted, measurable goals for the future.
You may access CEAP assessments for the following areas of focus. Click on each for additional information.
Conservation Effects Assessment Project Highlights
The below blogs, fact sheets, reports, and webinars represent recent resources and key findings released by CEAP. Visit this webpage frequently to see what's new, or browse by the above focus areas to find specific content for a given conservation scope.
Conservation Practices on Cultivated Cropland: A Comparison of CEAP I and CEAP II Survey Data and Modeling
NRCS published results from the latest national CEAP croplands assessment in March 2022. This report provides data on national and regional trends in cropland conservation, and associated effects, over time.
Sustaining Southeastern Forests: The Economic and Water Use Impacts of Privately-Owned Pine Woodlands and Restored Longleaf Pine Forests
This Conservation Outcomes Webinar highlights the economic barriers and water use impacts of multiple management regimes in southeastern forests, including native longleaf pine compared to loblolly pine. The presenter is Chambers English, University of Georgia.
Ask the Expert: A Q&A on Agricultural Wetlands and Water Quality with Dr. Joseph Prenger
This Ask the Expert features Dr. Joseph (Joe) Prenger, CEAP Wetlands Lead. Joe answers questions about new findings on the capacity of wetlands to capture and store nutrients from cropland fields, associated water quality benefits, and NRCS resources to support wetlands on private and Tribal lands.
Reducing Woody Encroachment to Conserve Rangeland Production in the Great Plains
This Conservation Outcomes Webinar highlights key strategies to reduce woody encroachment on rangelands across the Great Plains to restore and maintain healthy grasslands ecosystems and improve forage production. The presenter is Dr. Dirac Twidwell, University of Nebraska-Lincoln.
Addressing Water Quality Outcomes Through Nutrient and Water Management
This Conservation Outcomes Webinar highlights the science that supports water quality outcomes that can be achieved through SMART nutrient and water management strategies. The presenter is Dr. Kevin King of USDA’s Agricultural Research Service.
Additional Resources
Publications | Conservation Effects Assessment Project
USDA’s Conservation Effects Assessment Project, CEAP, provides a suite of publications highlighting the effects of voluntary conservation across the nation’s working lands.
Learn MoreConservation Assessment and Planning Tools
USDA’s Conservation Effects Assessment Project (CEAP) collaborates with partners to deliver tools that support conservation assessment and planning for diverse land uses and management goals.
Learn MoreFrequently Asked Questions | Conservation Effects Assessment Project
This webpage provides answers to frequently asked questions about the Conservation Effects Assessment Project (CEAP).
Last Updated: April 17, 2023
Learn MoreConservation Outcomes Webinar Series
The Conservation Outcomes Webinar Series provides key findings, data, and tools to support producers and partners in pursuing voluntary conservation efforts across the nation's working lands.
Learn MoreContacts
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Chris Lester
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Acting Modeling Team Lead and Croplands Lead, Conservation Effects Assessment Project
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Carrie-Ann Houdeshell
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Acting Grazing Lands Lead, Conservation Effects Assessment Project
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Joe Prenger
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Wetlands Lead, Conservation Effects Assessment Project
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Charlie Rewa
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Wildlife Lead, Conservation Effects Assessment Project
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Lisa Duriancik
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Watersheds Lead, Conservation Effects Assessment Project
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Natural Resources Assessment
NRCS documents the effects of conservation practices and systems so that better decisions can be made and risk is managed more effectively. NRCS cooperates with other Federal and State agencies and conservation partners to collect and analyze natural resource data.
