Dr. Pierce Joins NRCS -- On January 13, Dr. Fran Pierce started working with NRCS where he will be developing NRCS positions, issues, and relationships in the area of Precision Farming. Dr. Pierce is a professor of soil science in the Crop and Soil Sciences Department at Michigan State University and his research has focused on soil management with a special emphasis on conservation tillage systems and their impact on crop production and soil and water quality. His efforts have also focused on the development and evaluation of site-specific management (SSM) for agriculture.

Status of 1996 Wildlife Habitat Incentives Program (WHIP) Proposed Rule -- The comment period for the WHIP proposed rule runs through January 27. NRCS State Conservationists are working with partners to determine wildlife priorities and to develop competitive proposals on how they would use WHIP funds. The partners include Federal and State agencies, nonprofit wildlife organizations, and private corporations.

Under WHIP, landowners may restore aquatic habitat as well as adjacent streambanks, wetlands, and uplands. The goal is to provide the best habitat possible for the species of fish and wildlife the landowner is trying to help. Published rules and notices can be viewed on the NRCS World Wide Web Homepage at http://www.nrcs.usda.gov.

IN THE FIELD

New Year's Flood Summary -- One hundred and four counties in California, Idaho, Nevada, Oregon, and Washington have suffered significant flood damages. Here's a breakdown of the situation by State:

• California -- Heavy rains have driven central and northern California streams to record flows resulting in massive flooding. Governor Wilson has declared 42 counties as disaster areas. NRCS has responded to the flooding with over 120 employees in 35 field offices assessing damages as emergency crews open access to flooded areas. At least six major levee failures have done extensive damage to homes, transportation systems, and agricultural land. Requests for assistance under the Emergency Watershed Program (EWP) are pending.
• Idaho -- Nineteen counties in northern and western Idaho have been declared disaster areas by the Governor and President Clinton. NRCS in Idaho has mobilized 60 people in response to the flooding and is working on damage assessment and response efforts. NRCS anticipates requests for EWP assistance to be forthcoming.
• Nevada -- Seven counties have been declared disaster areas by the President (two of the counties are located in eastern California but are serviced by NRCS in Nevada). Disaster counties in Nevada are located in the west central part of the State. Nevada has mobilized 30 percent of its total work force for emergency activities. NRCS has estimated approximately 200 potential EWP projects at this time.
• Oregon -- Governor Kitzhaber has declared six counties disaster areas with flood damage to levees, irrigation infrastructures, and roads; the heaviest damage occurring in the southwestern counties, the Willamette Basin, and counties in the eastern part of the State. NRCS in Oregon has assigned 35 employees to assist in the emergency. The State Conservationist has received eight requests for technical and financial assistance. There are approximately 200 estimated potential EWP projects at this time.
• Washington -- Governor Lowry has declared 30 counties disaster areas and is requesting Federal assistance for damage caused from flooding, landslides, and serious erosion. The widespread flooding closed all mountain passes and the Columbia Gorge, trapping thousands. NRCS has formed two emergency teams in Olympia and Spokane, totaling 45 employees, to prepare eligible projects for construction. To date, 28 projects have been identified

Acting State Conservationists -- As of the first week in January, the following employees assumed the responsibility of Acting State Conservationists: Kalven L. Trice, Arkansas; Leroy E. Ahlers, Kansas; John H. Jones, Kentucky; Shirley J. Elliott, Montana; Dick Y. Fowler, North Carolina; and James R. Sims, Tennessee.

CONSTITUENCY AND PARTNERSHIP NEWS

More Kudos -- Rarely does an NRCS State Conservationist receive a letter that doesn't ask for something or register a complaint. But a couple of months ago, Nebraska State Conservationist Steve Chick received a letter from Tom Moser, General Manager, Lewis & Clark Natural Resources District (NRD), in Nebraska that is worth sharing. Here are some excerpts:

"...(earlier) this year, Dixon County (Nebraska) received, according to Doppler images, somewhere around 8-12" of rain in the Aowa Creek Watershed. As you know, the Lewis & Clark NRD, working in partnership with NRCS, has been laboring long and hard to complete a PL 566 Federal Watershed Project to provide flood and erosion control to the communities of Newcastle and Ponca, sometimes whether they appreciate it or not. I have been here for 23 years and worked with legions of engineers, site inspectors, and technicians from NRCS on the 44 structures completed. Over the years they and I have been the subjects of criticism from 'nay-sayer' landowners who have told us: 'the dams weren't needed, we should move them on the neighbors land,' and 'the ones built were greatly over designed.'

"I'm here to testify in this letter that 'they were wrong -- we was right' and the structures, where we had them, did their job in quiet dignity in a proud statement of strength."

"As I told a gathering of NRCS engineers in Norfolk recently, I am proud of the work we have done for this area, I feel NRCS has something to be proud of as well! Thank you."

Missouri Voters Show Support for Parks and Soil -- Missouri voters have once again voiced support for their State parks and soils. Since 1984, one-tenth of 1 percent of the sales tax has been split between State parks and soil and water conservation. The parks and soil tax renewal was on the November '96 ballot and passed at a rate of 67 percent. The strong support for the State's parks and soil and water is an outstanding example of Missouri citizens' commitment to the continued improvement of their natural resources.

Farm Bureau Affirms 1996 Farm Bill -- At their annual convention earlier this month in Nashville, TN, American Farm Bureau Federation delegates reaffirmed their support for the law and said property rights, conserving the environment, and new risk management tools should be emphasized during the new era of farm policy.

The delegates said national farm policy "must contribute the focus of a consistent, long-term, market oriented farm policy that will rely substantially less on government and increasingly more on the market."

INTERNET ADDRESSES OF NOTE

If you or your co-workers need a training resource, you need not look any further than the Internet. The Training Registry has information about training courses, products, services and other resources -- all listed by category and topic. Some of the training categories include computer application software, personal and organizational, industrial/environmental, government/public sector, and more. Visit the Training Registry website at: http://www.tregistry.com.

UPCOMING EVENTS

January 27-29 -- The 19th Annual Manitoba-North Dakota Zero Tillage Workshop sponsored by the Manitoba-North Dakota Zero Tillage Farmer's Association. Contact: Lyle Samson, 701-852-8895.

January 29-February 1 -- 1997 National Cattlemen's Beef Association Convention & Trade Show, Kansas City, MO. Contact: Debbie Hubler, 303-694-0305.

February 2-5 -- National Association of Conservation Districts, 51st Annual Meeting, "Building for the Future," Kansas City, MO. Contact: Brenda Anderson, 800-825-5547.

February 16-21 -- 50th Anniversary National Meeting of the Society for Range Management (SRM), Rapid City, SD. For more information contact SRM Annual Meeting, P.O. Box 575, Huron, SD 57350-2675. Contact: Dave Schmidt, 605-352-1236, FAX: 605-352-1270.

February 19-22 -- Land Improvement Contractors of America Convention, Holiday Inn City Center, Tucson, AZ. Contact: Ken Williams, 605-892-3116, or Wayne F. Maresch, 301-248-5749.

February 24-25 -- Agricultural Outlook Forum ¢97, Omni Shoreham Hotel, Washington, D.C. Call: 202-720-3050 or 202-401-9421.

March 6-7 -- "Enhancing Montana's Natural Resources: A Coordinated Effort." Sponsored by the SWCS Montana Chapter. Contact: Valerie Oksendahl, 406-538-7401.

March 12-14 -- Soil and Water Conservation Society Conference; Cover Crops, Soil Quality, and Ecosystems, Sacramento, CA. Contact: Nancy Herselius, 800-843-7645, ext. 18 or e-mail: nancyh@swcs.org. Conference information can also be found at: http://www.swcs.org.

March 22 -- 4th annual "Providing Education Though Agriculture for Students" (PEAS), Memorial School, Natick, MA. Contact: Stacia Caplanson, 413-245-7402 or Stacy Miller, 617-259-9506, ext. 7700.

March 24-27 -- NRCS National Economics and Related Social Sciences Meeting, Nashville, TN. Contact: Jerry Hammond, 202-720-2357.

April 3-6 -- 45th Annual Meeting, National Science Teachers Association (NSTA), Ernest N. Morial Convention Center, New Orleans, LA. Information about NRCS participation may be obtained from Tom Levermann, NRCS Office of Public Affairs, 202-720-7570. Information about the convention is available from the NSTA Convention Office at 703-243-7100 or FAX: 703-243-7177.

April 4-5 -- Timber Utilization Conference & Equipment Expo, Wagoner, OK, sponsored by Ouachita Mountains RC&D. Call: 918-423-0785 or FAX: 918-423-0793. Conference information can also be found at: http://www.icok.net/~omrcandd/timber_conf.html.

April 27-May 2 -- 21st Annual Conference of the Association of State Floodplain Managers, Little Rock, AR. Contact: Rod Emmer, 608-274-0123.

May 14-16 -- Senior Action for Healthy Neighborhoods is the theme for the Environmental Alliance of Senior Involvement annual meeting, Ramada Plaza Hotel, Alexandria, VA. Information about the conference is available from Harlow Knight Associates, 703-241-0019 or FAX: 703-538-5504.

May 25-28 -- 8th Global Warming International Conference & Expo, New York, NY. Conference Hotline: 630-910-1561.

July 23-26 -- The 52nd Soil and Water Conservation Society Annual Conference; Interactions, Managing Ecosystems on a Watershed Basis; Toronto, Canada. Contact: Nancy Herselius, 800-843-7645, ext. 18 or e-mail: nancyh@swcs.org. Conference information can also be found at: http://www.swcs.org/AnnCon.htm.

July 27-30 -- The 84th American Agricultural Economics Association Annual Meeting, Toronto, Canada. Call: 515-233-3202. Conference information can also be found at: http://www.aaea.org/Meetings.html.

September 7-9 -- National Coalition for Abandoned Mine Reclamation, Huntington, WV. Contact Kelly Sponaugle, 304-255-9225 or FAX: 304--255-1250.

November 11-14 -- Environmental Technology China ¢97 (ETC '97), Third International Exhibition on Environmental Protection, Pollution Control and Green Production Technology, Shanghai Exhibition Center, Shanghai, China. Contact: Perry Tang, Adsale Exhibition Services Ltd., 4/F Stanhope House, 734 King's Road, North Point, Hong Kong, 852-25163346 or FAX: 852-25165024.

QUOTE

"I have a dream that one day this nation will rise up and live out the true meaning of this creed; We hold these truths to be self-evident: that all men are created equal..."

Dr. Martin Luther King, Jr. (1929-1968).

 

NRCS This Week is issued weekly by the Office of Public Affairs, NRCS headquarters, Washington, D.C., and posted in the SCS:SCS shared folder on FTS2000Mail. Please send correspondence and material via FTS2000Mail to !A16SCSOPA and type "This Week" on the subject line or e-mail: fred.jacobs@usda.gov or mail to Editor, "NRCS This Week," NRCS, P.O. Box 2890, Washington, DC 20013 or fax to Editor, "NRCS This Week," 202-690-1221.

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