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 (5.40 MB): Effective 7/01/22 – final manual for reference and printing (updated March 2025)
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:
- Chapter 1: Introduction – A brief overview of the purpose, structure, and functionality of the Program. This chapter serves as an abstract for the rest of the manual.
- Chapter 2: State Conservation Commission Role – Outlines the role of the State Conservation Commission in Program administration.
- Chapter 3: Conservation District Role – The largest chapter of the manual dealing with the administration of the Program by Conservation Districts at the County level.
- Chapter 4: Quality Assurance Board (QAB) Role – Outlines the importance and role of the QAB to the county Program as an advisory group to the Conservation District.
- Chapter 5: Applicant Role – This section intentionally repeats much of the information in previous chapters, but is written towards an applicant perspective. This chapter of the manual was designed so that it can be printed and given to potential applicants.
- Chapter 6: Center for Dirt and Gravel Road Studies – Outlines the role of the Center in providing education, outreach, technical assistance, and administrative support to the Program.
- Chapter 7: Additional Program Policies – A few specific policies that may not apply to every project. These include stream crossing replacement, Driving Surface Aggregate, and Low Volume Road specific policies.
- Chapter 8: Permits and Other Requirements– A brief overview of Permitting as it applies to Program projects.
- Appendices: Program reference documentation and blank forms with instructions.
- Appendix A: Dirt Gravel, And Low-Volume Road Program Law 9106
- Appendix B: Commission Statement Of Policy
- Appendix C: Grant Application
- Appendix D: Traffic Count Validation and Instructions
- Appendix E: Cost Allocation Method Examples
- Appendix F: Driving Surface Aggregate Standard and Specification
- Appendix G: Stream Crossing Design and Installation Standard
- Appendix H: Stream Crossing Eligibility Determination
- Appendix I: Exemptions from the Stream Crossing Standard
- Appendix J: Stream Crossing Project Lifecycle Checklist
- Appendix K: Definitions And Acronyms
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.
