Soil and Water Conservationists

Career Description: Plan and develop coordinated practices for soil erosion control, soil and water conservation, and sound land use.

Industry: Life, Physical, and Social Science

Other Job Titles for Soil and Water Conservationists:

• Realistic: Realistic occupations frequently involve work activities that include practical, hands-on problems and solutions. They often deal with plants, animals, and real-world materials like wood, tools, and machinery. Many of the occupations require working outside, and do not involve a lot of paperwork or working closely with others.
• Investigative: Investigative occupations frequently involve working with ideas, and require an extensive amount of thinking. These occupations can involve searching for facts and figuring out problems mentally.
• Artistic: Artistic occupations frequently involve working with forms, designs and patterns. They often require self-expression and the work can be done without following a clear set of rules.
• Social: Social occupations frequently involve working with, communicating with, and teaching people. These occupations often involve helping or providing service to others.
• Enterprising: Enterprising occupations frequently involve starting up and carrying out projects. These occupations can involve leading people and making many decisions. Sometimes they require risk taking and often deal with business.
• Conventional: Conventional occupations frequently involve following set procedures and routines. These occupations can include working with data and details more than with ideas. Usually there is a clear line of authority to follow.
• First Interest High-Point: Primary-Rank Descriptiveness
• Second Interest High-Point: Secondary-Cutoff/Rank Descriptiveness
• Third Interest High-Point: Tertiary-Cutoff/Rank Descriptiveness

• Develop and maintain working relationships with local government staff and board members.
• Apply principles of specialized fields of science, such as agronomy, soil science, forestry, or agriculture, to achieve conservation objectives.
• Advise land users, such as farmers and ranchers, on conservation plans, problems and alternative solutions, and provide technical and planning assistance.
• Plan soil management and conservation practices, such as crop rotation, reforestation, permanent vegetation, contour plowing, or terracing, to maintain soil and conserve water.
• Visit areas affected by erosion problems to seek sources and solutions.
• Monitor projects during and after construction to ensure projects conform to design specifications.
• Compute design specifications for implementation of conservation practices, using survey and field information technical guides, engineering manuals, and calculators.
• Revisit land users to view implemented land use practices and plans.
• Coordinate and implement technical, financial, and administrative assistance programs for local government units to ensure efficient program implementation and timely responses to requests for assistance.
• Analyze results of investigations to determine measures needed to maintain or restore proper soil management.
• Participate on work teams to plan, develop, and implement water and land management programs and policies.
• Develop, conduct, or participate in surveys, studies, and investigations of various land uses, gathering information for use in developing corrective action plans.
• Survey property to mark locations and measurements, using surveying instruments.
• Compute cost estimates of different conservation practices, based on needs of land users, maintenance requirements, and life expectancy of practices.
• Provide information, knowledge, expertise, and training to government agencies at all levels to solve water and soil management problems and to assure coordination of resource protection activities.
• Respond to complaints and questions on wetland jurisdiction, providing information and clarification.
• Initiate, schedule, and conduct annual audits and compliance checks of program implementation by local government.
• Compile and interpret wetland biodata to determine extent and type of wetland and to aid in program formulation.
• Manage field offices and involve staff in cooperative ventures.
• Review and approve amendments to comprehensive local water plans and conservation district plans.
• Review proposed wetland restoration easements and provide technical recommendations.
• Review grant applications and make funding recommendations.
• Conduct fact finding and mediation sessions among government units, landowners, and other agencies to resolve disputes.
• Review annual reports of counties, conservation districts, and watershed management organizations, certifying compliance with mandated reporting requirements.
• Provide access to programs and training to assist in completion of government groundwater protection plans.
• Build geographic information systems (GIS) to record, analyze, and cartographically represent the distribution of languages, cultural and natural resources, land use, and settlement patterns of specific populations.
• Observe and measure bodily variations and physical attributes of different human groups.

Emerging Tasks

• Present research findings at professional meetings.
• Regulate grazing (e.g., by issuing permits and checking for compliance with standards), and help ranchers plan and organize grazing systems in order to manage, improve and protect rangelands and maximize their use.
• Supervise and monitor production processes in order to ensure that equipment is used efficiently, specifications are changed when needed, and projects are completed within appropriate time frames and budgets.
• Use chemicals and other substances to examine latent fingerprint evidence and compare developed prints to those of known persons in databases.
• Supervise the work of others including interns, clinicians in training, and other counselors.

• Analyzing Data or Information: Identifying the underlying principles, reasons, or facts of information by breaking down information or data into separate parts.
• Assisting and Caring for Others: Providing personal assistance, medical attention, emotional support, or other personal care to others such as coworkers, customers, or patients.
• Coaching and Developing Others: Identifying the developmental needs of others and coaching, mentoring, or otherwise helping others to improve their knowledge or skills.
• Communicating with Persons Outside Organization: Communicating with people outside the organization, representing the organization to customers, the public, government, and other external sources. This information can be exchanged in person, in writing, or by telephone or e-mail.
• Communicating with Supervisors, Peers, or Subordinates: Providing information to supervisors, co-workers, and subordinates by telephone, in written form, e-mail, or in person.
• Controlling Machines and Processes: Using either control mechanisms or direct physical activity to operate machines or processes (not including computers or vehicles).
• Coordinating the Work and Activities of Others: Getting members of a group to work together to accomplish tasks.
• Developing and Building Teams: Encouraging and building mutual trust, respect, and cooperation among team members.
• Developing Objectives and Strategies: Establishing long-range objectives and specifying the strategies and actions to achieve them.
• Documenting/Recording Information: Entering, transcribing, recording, storing, or maintaining information in written or electronic/magnetic form.
• Drafting, Laying Out, and Specifying Technical Devices, Parts, and Equipment: Providing documentation, detailed instructions, drawings, or specifications to tell others about how devices, parts, equipment, or structures are to be fabricated, constructed, assembled, modified, maintained, or used.
• Establishing and Maintaining Interpersonal Relationships: Developing constructive and cooperative working relationships with others, and maintaining them over time.
• Estimating the Quantifiable Characteristics of Products, Events, or Information: Estimating sizes, distances, and quantities; or determining time, costs, resources, or materials needed to perform a work activity.
• Evaluating Information to Determine Compliance with Standards: Using relevant information and individual judgment to determine whether events or processes comply with laws, regulations, or standards.
• Getting Information: Observing, receiving, and otherwise obtaining information from all relevant sources.
• Guiding, Directing, and Motivating Subordinates: Providing guidance and direction to subordinates, including setting performance standards and monitoring performance.
• Handling and Moving Objects: Using hands and arms in handling, installing, positioning, and moving materials, and manipulating things.
• Identifying Objects, Actions, and Events: Identifying information by categorizing, estimating, recognizing differences or similarities, and detecting changes in circumstances or events.
• Inspecting Equipment, Structures, or Material: Inspecting equipment, structures, or materials to identify the cause of errors or other problems or defects.
• Interacting With Computers: Using computers and computer systems (including hardware and software) to program, write software, set up functions, enter data, or process information.
• Interpreting the Meaning of Information for Others: Translating or explaining what information means and how it can be used.
• Judging the Qualities of Things, Services, or People: Assessing the value, importance, or quality of things or people.
• Making Decisions and Solving Problems: Analyzing information and evaluating results to choose the best solution and solve problems.
• Monitor Processes, Materials, or Surroundings: Monitoring and reviewing information from materials, events, or the environment, to detect or assess problems.
• Monitoring and Controlling Resources: Monitoring and controlling resources and overseeing the spending of money.
• Operating Vehicles, Mechanized Devices, or Equipment: Running, maneuvering, navigating, or driving vehicles or mechanized equipment, such as forklifts, passenger vehicles, aircraft, or water craft.
• Organizing, Planning, and Prioritizing Work: Developing specific goals and plans to prioritize, organize, and accomplish your work.
• Performing Administrative Activities: Performing day-to-day administrative tasks such as maintaining information files and processing paperwork.
• Performing for or Working Directly with the Public: Performing for people or dealing directly with the public. This includes serving customers in restaurants and stores, and receiving clients or guests.
• Performing General Physical Activities: Performing physical activities that require considerable use of your arms and legs and moving your whole body, such as climbing, lifting, balancing, walking, stooping, and handling of materials.
• Processing Information: Compiling, coding, categorizing, calculating, tabulating, auditing, or verifying information or data.
• Provide Consultation and Advice to Others: Providing guidance and expert advice to management or other groups on technical, systems-, or process-related topics.
• Repairing and Maintaining Electronic Equipment: Servicing, repairing, calibrating, regulating, fine-tuning, or testing machines, devices, and equipment that operate primarily on the basis of electrical or electronic (not mechanical) principles.
• Repairing and Maintaining Mechanical Equipment: Servicing, repairing, adjusting, and testing machines, devices, moving parts, and equipment that operate primarily on the basis of mechanical (not electronic) principles.
• Resolving Conflicts and Negotiating with Others: Handling complaints, settling disputes, and resolving grievances and conflicts, or otherwise negotiating with others.
• Scheduling Work and Activities: Scheduling events, programs, and activities, as well as the work of others.
• Selling or Influencing Others: Convincing others to buy merchandise/goods or to otherwise change their minds or actions.
• Staffing Organizational Units: Recruiting, interviewing, selecting, hiring, and promoting employees in an organization.
• Thinking Creatively: Developing, designing, or creating new applications, ideas, relationships, systems, or products, including artistic contributions.
• Training and Teaching Others: Identifying the educational needs of others, developing formal educational or training programs or classes, and teaching or instructing others.
• Updating and Using Relevant Knowledge: Keeping up-to-date technically and applying new knowledge to your job.

Detailed Work Activities

• adhere to safety procedures
• advise clients or customers
• advise governmental or industrial personnel
• analyze biological research, test, or analysis data
• analyze ecosystem data
• analyze operational or management reports or records
• analyze project proposal to determine feasibility, cost, or time
• analyze scientific research data or investigative findings
• assign work to staff or employees
• calculate engineering specifications
• collect scientific or technical data
• collect statistical data
• communicate technical information
• compile data on economic, social, or physical factors affecting land use
• compute production, construction, or installation specifications
• conduct field research or investigative studies
• conduct land surveys
• conduct training for personnel
• confer with engineering, technical or manufacturing personnel
• confer with research personnel
• confer with scientists
• convert information into instructional program
• coordinate engineering project activities
• design construction projects
• determine specifications
• develop or maintain databases
• develop plans for programs or projects
• develop policies, procedures, methods, or standards
• develop tables depicting data
• direct and coordinate activities of workers or staff
• direct and coordinate civil engineering projects
• direct and coordinate scientific research or investigative studies
• direct implementation of new procedures, policies, or programs
• discuss conservation or related land use plans with land users
• ensure compliance with government regulations
• establish and maintain relationships with community organizations
• evaluate management programs
• explain complex mathematical information
• explain government laws or regulations
• explain rules, policies or regulations
• identify crop characteristics
• inspect project operations, or site to determine specification compliance
• interpret aerial photographs
• judge soil conditions
• maintain records, reports, or files
• make decisions
• make presentations
• monitor soil responses to management practices
• negotiate with federal and state agencies and other political organizations
• obtain land survey data using surveying instruments
• operate land or site surveying instruments
• oversee execution of organizational or program policies
• plan forestation, reforestation, or range revegetation projects
• prepare audit reports or recommendations
• prepare reports
• prepare technical reports or related documentation
• provide advice on rural or urban land use
• read maps
• read surveying instruments to measure property
• recognize plant diseases
• recognize soil erosion patterns
• recognize tree or forest plant species
• recognize wood species characteristics
• recommend action to ensure compliance
• recommend further study or action based on research data
• record test results, test procedures, or inspection data
• resolve customer or public complaints
• resolve engineering or science problems
• use building or land use regulations
• use computers to enter, access or retrieve data
• use conflict resolution techniques
• use cost benefit analysis techniques
• use drafting or mechanical drawing techniques
• use field notes in technical drawings
• use fire suppression techniques
• use forest fire protection methods
• use forestry, range, or other public land management techniques
• use government regulations
• use knowledge of environmental laws and regulations
• use knowledge of investigation techniques
• use knowledge of regulations in surveying or construction activities
• use knowledge of relevant laws
• use land surveying techniques
• use library or online Internet research techniques
• use long term forest or range land planning techniques
• use mathematical or statistical methods to identify or analyze problems
• use pollution control techniques
• use project management techniques
• use public speaking techniques
• use relational database software
• use scientific research methodology
• use spreadsheet software
• use word processing or desktop publishing software
• work as a team member
• write business project or bid proposals
• write research or project grant proposals
• write scholarly or technical research papers
• use research methodology procedures in health care
• use sanitation practices in health care settings
• use scientific research methodology
• use spreadsheet software
• use word processing or desktop publishing software
• write research or project grant proposals
• write scholarly or technical research papers
• write technical health or medical documents
• use scientific research methodology
• use spreadsheet software
• use word processing or desktop publishing software
• work as a team member
• work with management or employees to improve organizational system
• write business project or bid proposals
• write employee orientation or training materials
• write research or project grant proposals
• write scholarly or technical research papers

Overall Experience
A minimum of two to four years of work-related skill, knowledge, or experience is needed for these occupations. For example, an accountant must complete four years of college and work for several years in accounting to be considered qualified.

Job Training
Employees in these occupations usually need several years of work-related experience, on-the-job training, and/or vocational training.

Education
Most of these occupations require a four - year bachelor's degree, but some do not.

Examples
Many of these occupations involve coordinating, supervising, managing, or training others. Examples include accountants, human resource managers, computer programmers, teachers, chemists, and police detectives.

• n/a

• Projected growth (2006-2016): 5.32%
• Projected need (2006-2016): 1,053
• Employment (2006): 19,777

• Biologists
• Environmental Scientists and Specialists, Including Health
• Fish and Game Wardens
• Foresters
• Landscape Architects
• Range Managers
• Soil and Plant Scientists
• Soil and Water Conservationists
• Physics Teachers, Postsecondary
• Soil and Water Conservationists