DE382 - 1
NATURAL RESOURCES CONSERVATION SERVICE
CONSERVATION PRACTICE STANDARD
FENCE
(Ft.)
CODE 382
DEFINITION segments with posts adjusted closer together as
needed.
A constructed barrier to animals or people.
For additional criteria concerning materials and
PURPOSE installation of various types of livestock fences,
refer to the Delaware conservation practice
To control movement of animals and/or people, Specifications for Fence (382) and the Delaware
including vehicles. Standard Drawings (382).
CONDITIONS WHERE PRACTICE Vegetated areas that were disturbed during fence
APPLIES construction shall be replanted as needed. Based
on land use and site conditions, use one of the
This practice may be applied on any area where following Delaware conservation practice
management of animal or human movement is standards to specify the appropriate grasses or
needed. other vegetation: Conservation Cover (327),
Critical Area Planting (342), or Forage and
CRITERIA Biomass Planting (512).
General Criteria Applicable to All Purposes Fences shall comply with all applicable state
laws and local codes for construction. Where
Fencing materials, type, and design of fence shall applicable, establish clear rights-of-way to
provide the desired control of animals, vehicles, facilitate fence construction and maintenance.
and/or people of concern for the intended life of
the practice. Ingress/egress features, such as gates Follow all manufacturers' safety precautions
and cattle guards, shall be used as needed. when installing and maintaining fences. Wire that
is over-stretched may break and recoil. Wear
Based on objectives, fences may be permanently appropriate eye and hand protection.
installed, or temporary and movable.
Locate fences so that they do not contact electric
Fences shall be located, designed, and installed to lines and do not interfere with other utilities. In
meet appropriate local wildlife and land areas where public access is expected, place
management needs and requirements. warning signs on electric fences every 150 to 200
feet.
Fencing materials shall be new, of high quality
and durability, and installed to meet the intended Note: Specific programs may dictate criteria in
purpose of the practice. Use of high quality addition to, or more restrictive than, those
serviceable materials that are not new requires specified in this standard.
prior approval by NRCS.
CONSIDERATIONS
Fence alignment shall be as straight as
practicable between corners or turns. Construct Consider site suitability, based on soil survey
fences along curved lines by using straight data and field investigations, as appropriate, to
Conservation practice standards are reviewed periodically and updated if needed. To obtain NRCS, DE
the current version of this standard, contact your Natural Resources Conservation Service December, 2015
State Office or visit the Field Office Technical Guide.
DE382 - 2
determine any limitations to fence installation, ments, state and federal regulations, or program
such as depth to bedrock. requirements. If the fence is enrolled in a
financial assistance program, consider the type of
Consider the purpose for which the fence will be fencing and the number of gates that will be
used. This will determine the type of fence that is eligible for reimbursement.
suitable. Sheep, goats, and hogs generally require
woven wire fences to contain them. Board fences Consider using this practice to protect significant
and high tensile wire fences are typically used for archaeological resources or cultural properties
horses. Cattle can be contained with high tensile from damage.
or barbed wire fences. Chain link fences are often
used to keep people and domestic animals away This practice has the potential to affect National
from hazardous areas. Register listed cultural resources or eligible
(significant) cultural resources. These may
Consider the risk involved if livestock, wildlife, include archeological, historic, or traditional
vehicles, or people get through a fence. Fences cultural properties. Care should be taken to
along busy highways, around hazardous areas, or avoid adverse impacts to these resources. Follow
along property lines usually must be stronger NRCS state policy for considering cultural
than fences that are used for limited restraint, resources during planning.
such as for dividing paddocks within a field.
PLANS AND SPECIFICATIONS
Consider installing fences in locations that will
facilitate maintenance by avoiding irregular Plans and specifications for this practice shall be
terrain and/or water crossings. prepared in accordance with the previously listed
criteria. Plans and specifications shall contain
When fences will be used for managing sufficient detail to ensure successful implement-
livestock, consider handling, watering, and tation of this practice, and may be recorded in
feeding requirements before locating fences and narrative form, on Implementation Requirements
gates. (IR) worksheets, engineering designs and
specifications, or other approved forms.
Consider the potential for soil erosion, especially
when planning and installing livestock fences on The appropriate fact sheet(s), completed 382 IR
steep slopes. worksheet, and Delaware Standard Drawings
(382) can serve as the plan and specifications for
When fence construction involves the removal of this practice.
old fencing materials, consider proper disposal
methods to prevent harm to animals, people, and The following items shall be addressed, as
equipment. appropriate:
Consider the design and location of the fence, 1. Purpose of the fence (and type of livestock, if
and whether it might adversely affect wildlife applicable);
movement.
2. Type of fence, location, layout, dimensions,
Consider whether restricting public access may and materials to be used;
be an issue in areas where the right of access was
previously established by past use and law. 3. Include the following statement:
Consider the need for access by public safety It is the responsibility of the landowner or
personnel, and assess whether the fence will operator to contact Miss Utility at 1-800-257-
unnecessarily restrict activities such as fire 7777 (or dial 811) at least 2 business days in
control and emergency rescue. advance of construction to locate and mark
underground utilities.
Identify and evaluate any other constraints, such
as economic feasibility, maintenance require-
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December, 2015
DE382 - 3
OPERATION AND MAINTENANCE 2. Assistance notes. The notes shall include dates
of site visits, name or initials of the person
An Operation and Management (O&M) plan who made the visit, specifics as to alternatives
shall be prepared and is the responsibility of the discussed, decisions made, and by whom;
client to implement. The appropriate fact sheet(s)
and IR worksheet may serve as the management 3. Completed IR worksheet, and copy of the
plan, as well as supporting documentation, and appropriate fact sheet(s), standard drawings,
shall be reviewed with and provided to the client. or other specifications and management plans;
At a minimum, the following components shall 4. Document on assistance notes initial
be addressed in the O&M plan, as applicable: discussion about the landowner’s
responsibility to notify Miss Utility, and any
1. Inspect fences at least annually for structural information from the landowner about the
integrity. Regular inspection of fences should existence and location of known utilities;
be part of an on-going management program.
Fences located near trees should be inspected 5. Document on assistance notes assurances
after severe weather. In areas that flood, from the landowner that Miss Utility has been
inspect fences after each storm event. Perform notified, including staking by the utilities.
maintenance in a timely manner and promptly
repair worn or otherwise damaged sections; Construction Check Data/As-Built Plans
2. Control the encroachment of weeds, brush, Document approval by the designer of any
and trees along fences by mechanical or changes from the drawings or specifications
chemical methods to prevent them from before implementation of the change. Verify and
damaging or otherwise impacting the life and document that fencing has been installed
function of the fence; according to plans and specifications.
3. For electric fences: REFERENCES
a. Inspect insulators, energizers (chargers), 1. American Wood Protection Association.
and other components frequently (and Treated Wood Is All the Same, Right? AWPA
especially after lightning storms) for proper Fact Sheet.
function. Replace worn, damaged, or http://www.awpa.com/references/documents_PDF/
otherwise nonfunctional components. NotAllTreatedWoodTheSame-web.pdf
b. Keep all metallic implements away from 2. American Wood Protection Association. 2015.
electric fence lines. Do not tether animals Use Category System: User Specification for
with chains near any electric fences. Treated Wood. AWPA Standard U1.
http://www.awpa.com/standards/U1excerpt.pdf
c. Warn children that electric fencing is being
used and let neighbors know where and 3. Gay, Susan W., and Richard D. Heidel. 2009.
how to shut off the current. Post warning Constructing High-tensile Wire Fences.
signs every 150 – 200 feet in areas with Publication 442-132, Virginia Cooperative
public access. Extension. https://pubs.ext.vt.edu/442/442-
132/442-132_pdf.pdf
SUPPORTING DATA AND
DOCUMENTATION 4. Gay, Susan W., S. Ray Smith, and Gordon E.
Groover. 2009. Planning Fencing Systems for
The following is a list of the minimum data and Controlled Grazing. Publication 442-130,
documentation to be recorded in the case file: Virginia Cooperative Extension.
http://pubs.ext.vt.edu/442/442-130/442-
1. Location of the practice on the conservation 130_pdf.pdf
plan map;
NRCS, DE
December, 2015
DE382 - 4
5. Hygnstrom, Scott E., Gary E. Larson, Robert
M. Timm (eds.). 1994. Prevention and
Control of Wildlife Damage. University of
Nebraska Cooperative Extension, Great Plains
Agricultural Council, and USDA-APHIS.
http://ncforestry.info/unl-extension/
wildlife_damage/
6. Kays, Jonathan. Managing Deer Damage in
Maryland. Bulletin 354, Maryland
Cooperative Extension.
https://extension.umd.edu/sites/default/files/_docs/
programs/woodland-
steward/EB354_ManagingDeerDamage.pdf
7. USDA, Natural Resources Conservation
Service. Conservation Practice Standards.
Delaware Field Office Technical Guide,
Section IV.
8. USDA, Natural Resources Conservation
Service. 2005. Electric Fencing for Serious
Graziers. Columbia, Mo.
9. USDA, Natural Resources Conservation
Service. 2003. National Range and Pasture
Handbook, revision 1, Washington, DC.
10. Worley, John W. 2015 (rev.). Fences for the
Farm. Circular 774, University of Georgia
Extension.
http://extension.uga.edu/publications/files/pdf/C%
20774_5.PDF
11. Worley, John W., and Gary Heusner. 2015
(rev.). Fences for Horses. Bulletin 1192,
University of Georgia Extension.
http://extension.uga.edu/publications/files/pdf/B%
201192_5.PDF
NRCS, DE
December, 2015
