Administrative Guidance Manual

The manual is provided here in html format for quick access, or can be downloaded as a pdf at the link immediately below. Please contact the State Conservation Commission with manual or policy questions, or to request a printed copy.

  • Admin Manual (4.60 MB): Effective 7/01/22 – final manual for reference and printing (updated May 2023)

About the Manual

The manual contains many hyperlinks that will direct you to other places within the document. Clicking on a topic in the table of contents will take you directly to that section of the manual. Clicking on an appendix in the text will take you directly to that appendix. The manual is laid out in the following structure:

Additional References

This Administrative Manual is intended to help Conservation Districts administer the Dirt, Gravel, and Low-Volume Road Program in their county.  In addition to this Manual, several other more technical resources are available.

DSA Handbook: Comprehensive guide to Driving Surface Aggregate, the only approved surface aggregate for use on Dirt and Gravel Road Projects

Stream Crossing Technical Manual: Comprehensive guide for the planning, design, and installation of stream crossing structural replacements.

Product and Process Approval Guide: The Program uses an approval process for products such as dust suppressants and soil stabilizers before they can be paid for with Program funds.  Both the product approval instructions and list of approved products are available on the Center’s website

Environmentally Sensitive Maintenance References

  • Technical Bulletins:  A collection of technical documentation for many of the ESM practices used by the Program is available on the Center’s website.
  • ESM Field Guide: “Glove-box guide” developed in association with the US Forest Service based largely on Program ESM Practices.
  • ESM Training Book: The training book given out at the ESM training.