Indiana Records One of Nation's Largest WRP Easements - Indiana claims one of the Nation's largest Wetlands Reserve Program (WRP) easements with the recent signing of a 7,068-acre site in Greene County. This one-landowner easement area, historically known as Goose Pond, was cleared for farming in the late 1800s. The shallow glacial lakebed provides a natural resting site for waterfowl during spring and fall migrations. Several landowners have tried to drain and farm the site with limited success. The current landowner turned to WRP because of increasing difficulties raising crops in wet soil conditions. The dominant silty clay loam soils limit drainage of the property. NRCS personnel are currently evaluating the site to plan the restoration work. Construction should begin this summer, and practices will likely include tile cuts, ditch plugs, water control structures, low-level dikes, tree planting, and warm and cool season grass plantings. The restored site will provide a significant resting and nesting site for a variety of migratory waterfowl, shorebirds, and other wetland dependent species. Your contact is Pam Davidson, Public Affairs Specialist, on (317) 290-3222.

Inner City Kids Spend Milk Day "Talking Trash" With NRCS CT - Carol Donzella, NRCS Connecticut Project Coordinator, talked "trash" with New Haven's inner city kids at a Martin Luther King Day Celebration held at the Yale Peabody Museum. The "Let's Talk Trash" display used photographs to show how trash effects our fish, wildlife, water resources, health, and neighborhoods. Biodegradable cornstarch litterbags were handed out to visitors. The display complimented Dr. King's legacy of collective action and cooperation and the understanding of the inter-relatedness of things. Your contact is Carol at carol.donzella@ct.usda.gov Her address is USDA, NRCS, 85 Willow St., Suite 10, New Haven, Connecticut 06511.

Senator, AG and Conservation Groups Join to Protect WV Farmland - West Virginia State Senator John Unger is working with agriculture and conservation groups to get a voluntary farmland protection act passed by the State Legislature. The act would enable the State to establish a locally driven open space and farmland protection program. He is expected to introduce legislation this month. Supporting the concept are the State's Department of Agriculture, Farm Bureau, and Association of Conservation Districts, and county farm bureaus, conservation groups, and county commissions. According to NRCS' latest National Resources Inventory, West Virginia is losing more than 55,000 acres of farmland and woodland each year to urban expansion. Hardest hit are the Eastern and Northern Panhandles. West Virginia moved from 34 to 24 in State land development rankings. Your contact is Peg Reese, State Public Affairs Specialist, on (304) 291-4152X168.

TECH TIP

The National Environmental Policy Act

By Andree DuVarney, Environmental Specialist, NRCS Ecological Sciences Division

Did you know? An Environmental Assessment (EA) under NEPA only has to be 10 to 15 pages long! It's a concise public document and only has to be long enough to provide enough evidence and analysis to convince the decision maker and the public that the Federal action being implemented will have no significant impact on the quality of the human environment. Otherwise, an EIS is probably needed.

In guidance contained in the "Forty Most Frequently Asked Questions," the Council on Environmental Quality (CEQ), states: "For cases in which only an environmental assessment will be prepared, the NEPA process should take no more than 3 months, and in many cases substantially less, as part of the normal analysis and approval process for the action. While the regulations do not contain page limits for EA's, the Council has generally advised agencies to keep the length of EA's to not more than approximately 10-15 pages."

So keep your EA's brief! Just include a statement of the need for the action, at least one alternative to the proposed action including the no action alternative, a brief discussion of effects, and list the persons and agencies consulted. In some cases, it is not necessary to provide for public participation in an EA, as issues can be identified through other activities NRCS is involved in, such as locally led watershed groups. But don't forget to include scientific references or demonstrations to support your conclusions about effects! And keep your EA even shorter by incorporating by reference analysis from NRCS or other Federal agency Environmental Impact Statements!

For more information, see the NRCS NEPA implementing regulations at 7 CFR Part 650, and the NRCS NEPA policy contained in the General Manual at Title 190, Part 410 at http://policy.nrcs.usda.gov/national/gm/title190/part410/index.htm

AWARD OPPORTUNITIES

Grassland Evaluation Contest Invites FFA, 4-H From 50 States - FFA and 4-H teams nationwide are invited to compete in the 1st Annual Mid-America Grassland Evaluation Contest. Set for June 5-7 in Cape Girardeau, Missouri, the contest will feature soil interpretation, plant identification, forage and livestock management, and wildlife habitat management. The goal is to educate students in the benefits, use, and management of grasslands for livestock production and wildlife habitat. Sponsoring the contest is the Missouri Forage and Grassland Council, in cooperation with NRCS, the Missouri Department of Conservation, and University of Missouri Outreach and Extension. For more information, contact Melodie Marshall, NRCS, Rolla, Missouri, on (800) 364-8732x3, or Mark Kennedy, NRCS, Houston, Missouri, on (417) 967-2028.

SPECIAL EVENTS

January 2000

 

National Association of Conservation Districts 54th Annual Meeting

Colorado Springs, Colorado

January 30 to February 3, 2000

Registration information and agenda are at http://nacdnet.org/meetings/00annual/

 

22nd Annual Zero Till Workshop

Minot, North Dakota

January 31-February 1-2

Sponsored by the Manitoba-North Dakota Zero Till Farmers Association. The Web site is http://www.mandakzerotill.org

 

February 2000

 

Working at a Watershed Level

California State University, Stanislaus

Turlock, California

February 7-11

An introductory-level training program for watershed group coordinators and members, agency staff, consultants and others addressing watershed issues. Will focus on watersheds in California's Central Valley that support natural production of Chinook salmon, steelhead, and other anadromous fish. Your contact is Ashley Griffen, CSU Stanislaus Foundation, on (209) 667-3062. Her fax number is (209) 667-3026.

 

Livestock Conference 2000-A New Era

Colby, Kansas

February 11

Sponsored by the Western Prairie RC&D Area. Topics include: Direct and Cooperative Marketing, Grass-Fed and Alternative Livestock Production, Livestock technology, Grazing Systems, Ranch Tourism. For more information, call Western Prairie RC&D at (785) 462-2602.

 

53rd Annual Meeting of the Society for Range Management

Boise, Idaho

February 13-18

Registration begins November 15, 1999

 

NEW!

Great Lakes International Grazing Conference

Shipshewana, Indiana

February 14-15

Among featured topics will be grazing cows, sheep, and horses, alternative marketing, and grass species. For more information, call Dona Hunter at (219) 463-3471 or check out the conference's Web site at http://www.msue.msu.edu/jackson/GLGC.htm

International Erosion Control Association, 31st Annual Conference and Expo

Palm Springs, California

February 21-25

 

Agricultural Outlook Forum 2000

Arlington, Virginia

February 24-25

Topics include: Farm Prospects, 2000 and Beyond; Future of Farming and Rural America; Farming Under Contract; Impact of Agribusiness Mergers; New Markets: E-Commerce, Organics, and Industrial Uses. Updates on speakers http://www.usda.gov/oce To get updates by e-mail, send an e-mail to agforum@oce.usda.gov

March 2000

 

Farming and Ranching for Profit, Stewardship, and Community

Portland, Oregon

March 7-9

Innovative agricultural techniques, scientific research, networking, visions of the future, and examples of successful sustainable agriculture. Sponsored by USDA Western Sustainable Agriculture Research and Education, with contributions from land-grant universities and the Federal sustainable agriculture effort. Deadline for scholarship applications is January 21; contact Jim Freeburn or Lori Schafer on (307) 532-8892.

Check the web site at http://wsare.usu.edu/2000

WEB SITE UPDATE!

Asian Pacific Islander Organization 2nd Annual Training Conference

March 14-17

San Diego, California

Theme: "The Pacific Rim: Leading America Into the New Millennium." Contacts: Mon Yee at (909) 869-2191, e-mail mon.yee@ca.usda.gov, Virginia Lewis at (505) 761-4408, e-mail virginia.lewis@nm.usda.gov, and Quan D. Quan at (602) 280-8832, e-mail qquan@az.nrcs.usda.gov For more information, see the APIO Web site at http://www.nv.nrcs.usda.gov/apio

NACD Spring Legislative Conference

March 19-22

Washington, DC

For information, see NACD's web site at http://nacdnet.org/meetings Your contact is Robert Raschke on (303) 988-1810. His fax number is (303) 988-1896

10th Annual Non-Industrial Private Forest Landowners Conference

March 20-21

Moscow, Idaho

The Clearwater RC&D Council hosts "Forest Stewardship Management: Looking Ahead into the New Millennium." Sessions include: What Can Regulations Do for Us and to Us?; Practicing What They Preach on Their Own Land; Envisioning Your Land in the New Millenium; and Forest Health: Managing the Millennium Bugs and Other Pests. Contacts: Dan Pierce on (208) 882-4960, ext. 4; and Harry Lee on (208) 885-6900; or e-mail: crcdc@moscow.com

 

North Central Region RC&D Annual Conference

March 22-24

Oneida Indian Nation near Green Bay, Wisconsin

The conference will focus on diversity, outreach, sustainability, and partnerships. The Glacierland RC&D (though not federally designated) and the Wisconsin State RC&D Association will host this conference. To receive an agenda, please contact Gwen Klay at gwen.klay@wi.usda.gov

New Income Opportunities from Specialty Products: Agroforestry in the Northeast

March 23-25

Portland, Maine

A regional conference to help shape the future and success of agroforestry in the Northeast. Sponsored by NRCS, the Maine and New England associations of RC&D's, and USDA's National Agroforestry Center. Visit the Web site at

http://www.thresholdtomaine.org/agroforestry/, or contact Velma Orcutt, Down East RC&D, at (207) 546-2368 or Velma.Orcutt@me.usda.gov

Global Sustainability Conference

Springfield, Illinois

March 28-29, 2000.

Carbon sequestration and ecological practices in agriculture and forestry, global warming, water quality, bio-energy, soil health, world food security, production agriculture, and ecological economics. Sponsored by the Gallatin County Soil & Water Conservation District and the Shawnee RC&D Council. E-mail: Michele.Gidcumb@ilridgway.fsc.usda.gov

For more information, see the conference agenda on the NRCS Illinois web site at: www.il.nrcs.usda.gov

 

Managing Nutrients and Pathogens from Animal Agriculture

Camp Hill, Pennsylvania

March 28-30

A forum to present recent research, field experiences, and government responses regarding interactions of animal agriculture and the environment in the Eastern U.S. Topics include: Nutrients and Water Quality, NRCS and EPA Goals in Nutrient Management, Feed Management To Reduce Excess Nutrients, Manure Management Practices, and Nutrient and Pathogen Transport in Watersheds. USDA's Water Quality Working Group provided seed money for the conference. For more information, contact the Natural Resource, Agriculture, and Engineering Service on (607) 255-7654, or by fax on (607) 254-8770.

 

CONTACT UPDATE!

The Watershed Approach to Improving Water Quality: Fact or Fantasy?

LaCrosse, Wisconsin

March 28-30

Sponsored by the West North Central Chapters of the Soil and Water Conservation Society in cooperation with other partners. The conference agenda and details can be found at http://www.cares.missouri.edu/watershed/ Contact Ann Robinson at annr@osmre.gov or Mary Hanks at mary.hanks@state.mn.us

 

Summit 2000--Private Forest Forum: A Policy-Oriented Look at Private

Forests in Washington State

March 29-30

Capitol Lake, Olympia, Washington

Summit objectives are to understand and protect the economic, social, and biological viability of private forests in the State and devise a plan for sustaining future prosperity. The symposium is designed for forestland owners, managers, policy makers, and others interested in management and policies governing forestlands. Summit 2000 is designed to be participatory, technical and philosophical. For more information, please contact Dr. Donald Hanley, Forester, Program Chairman, on (206) 685-4960, or at dhanley@u.washington.edu

 

NEW!

MANRRS 2000: Minorities in Agriculture, Natural Resources, and Related Sciences 15th Annual Career Fair and Training Conference

March 30-April 1

Lexington, Kentucky

Sponsored by National Society of Minorities in Agriculture, Natural Resources, and Related Sciences. For registration: Conferences & Institutes, University of Kentucky, 218 Peterson Service Building, Lexington, Kentucky 40506-0005. Phone: (606) 257-3929. Fax: (606) 323-8522.

April 2000

 

CONTACT UPDATE!

Nation's First Upstream Flood Control Rehabilitation Project Celebration

Cheyenne, Oklahoma

April 14

Site 2 Sergeant Major Creek will be rededicated after complete rehabilitation of the 50-year dam, which will extend its life for another 100 years. For more information, contact Nena Wells, Upper Washita Conservation District, Cheyenne, Oklahoma, on (580) 497-3413.

Forest Utilization Conference & Equipment Expo

Western Hills Resort, Sequoyah State Park, Wagoner, Oklahoma

April 26-28

Contact Ouachita Mountains RC&D on (918) 423-2479, or at omrcandd@icok.net

 

May 2000

 

The Culture, Economics, and Ecology of Ranching West of the 100th Meridian

Colorado State University at Fort Collins

May 4-6

Will bring together people who have devoted their lives to thinking, practicing, and helping change the culture, ecology, and economics of ranching. Sponsored by NRCS, American Farmland Trust, the Western Center for Integrated Resource Management, The Nature Conservancy, and others. For registration information, contact CSU's Office of Conference Services on (970) 491-6222.

 

Use of Conservation Buffers on Urbanizing Landscapes

Arbor Day Farm, Nebraska City, Nebraska

May 9-11, 2000

For more information, please check the National Arbor Day Foundation's web site on

http://www.arborday.org

 

Third National Mitigation Banking Conference

Denver, Colorado

May 17-20

Sponsored by the Terrene Institute. Sessions on mitigation banking for wetlands, habitat conservation, introductory mitigation banking, and advanced sessions for practicing bankers. NRCS co-sponsors. For more information, contact the Institute on (800) 726-4853

 

Sustainability of Wetlands and Water Resources: How Well Can Riverine Wetlands Continue To Support Society into the 21st Century?

University of Mississippi at Oxford

May 23-25

Information is available at http://130.74.129.109/

June 2000

 

NEW!

1ST Annual Mid-America Grassland Evaluation Contest

Cape Girardeau, Missouri

June 5-7

Open to FFA and 4-H teams, nationwide. Contest includes soil interpretation, plant identification, forage and livestock management, and wildlife habitat management. Sponsored by the Missouri Forage and Grassland Council, in cooperation with NRCS, the Missouri Department of Conservation, and University of Missouri Outreach and Extension. Contact Melodie Marshall on (800) 364-8732x3, or Mark Kennedy on (417) 967-2028.

Association of State Floodplain Managers' 24th Annual Conference

Austin, Texas

June 16-23, 2000.

"Floodplain Management 2000 and Beyond: A New Beginning in a New Millenium." For reservations, call (512) 477-1234.

 

National Association of RC&D Councils Conference

Ogden, Utah

June 18-21, 2000

Your contacts are the National Association of RC&D Councils on (202) 434-4780, and David Spann, Coordinator, Bonneville RC&D Office, 1030 West 5370 South, Murray, Utah 84123. Phone: (801) 262-6838. Fax: (801) 263-3667. E-mail: mpatten@ditell.com

 

July 2000

 

SWCS Annual Conference: Gateway to the Future-Conserving Private Land

St. Louis, Missouri

July 8-12

Information is available on the Soil and Water Conservation Society's Web page at http://www.swcs.org Your contact is Charlie Persinger, SWCS, Director of Member Services, 7515 NE Ankeny Road, Ankeny, Iowa 50021-9764. Voice: (515) 289-2331, ext. 12. Fax: (515) 289-1227. Email: charliep@swcs.org

 

Valuation 2000

July 10-13

Las Vegas, Nevada

A business, education, and networking conference sponsored by the American Society of Appraisers, American Society of Farm Managers and Rural Appraisers, and the Appraisal Institute. Will focus on environmental concerns and their impact on valuation, technology in valuation and its use, employment, regulatory concerns, trends, and other unique valuation problems. May be the largest gathering of NRCS' resource information customers, especially regarding soil survey. For more information, see http://www.val2000.org/

 

NEW!

Land Conservation Summit 2000

July 28-29

St. Paul, Minnesota

The conference will advance the debate about private land conservation and the use of conservation easements in the new millennium.

2000 Annual Meeting of the American Association of Agricultural Economists

July 30-August 2

Tampa, Florida

For meeting information, see http://www.aaea.org/meetings/m2000

August 2000

 

International Conference on Riparian Ecology and Management in Multi-Land Use Watersheds

Portland, Oregon

August 27-31

An event of the American Water Resources Association, and co-sponsored by NRCS, this conference will provide a forum for discussion of biological, physical, chemical, social, and economic aspects of riparian areas and stream corridors. For more information, visit http://www.awra.org/meetings/Portland/Portland.html or Bruce Newton at the National Water and Climate Center, at bnewton@wcc.nrcs.usda.gov

 

WEB SITE UPDATE!

Carbon: Exploring the Benefits to Farmers and Society

August 29-31

Des Moines, Iowa

Ag perspectives on emerging policies and technologies involving carbon management and sequestration and other greenhouse gases. Focus on the impacts and benefits of carbon sequestration affecting ag producers, society and the environment. Hear ideas from a cross-section of policy, science, and industry perspectives. Contact Jim Cooper, Coordinator, Chariton Valley RC&D at 515/437-4376 or jcooper@cvrcd.org The conference's Web site address is http://www.cvrcd.org/carbon.htm

 

Spetember 2000

 

International Poplar Commission 2000 Conference

Sept. 24-30

Portland, Oregon

Will include scientists and practitioners from more than 32 countries. The theme: "Poplar and Willow Culture: Meeting the Needs of Society and the Environment." Papers will be presented in working group sessions, including Poplar and Willow Breeding, Diseases, Insects and Other Animal Pests, Production and Environmental Systems, and Logging and Utilization. The Web site is http://www.ncfes.umn.edu/IPC2000/

October 2000

 

North American Association for Environmental Education National Conference

October 17-21

South Padre Island, Texas

The conference theme is "Spanning Cultural and Ecological Diversity through Environmental Education." Learn more about the conference, at http://www.naaee.org

 

Third Biennial Conference on Understanding Each Other and Working Together for a Better Future

October 24-25

Eugene, Oregon

Forum for agricultural interests, government, and environmentalists to discuss issues relevant to agriculture and water quality. Perspectives presented in a non-confrontational forum and others see and understand other points of view. For more information, see the conference's Web site at http://www.agwaterqualitynw.org

 

December 2000

 

TELEPHONE CONTACT UPDATE!

National Conference on Grazing Lands

Las Vegas, Nevada

December 5-8

Economic and environmental effects of proper grazing lands management. Sponsored by NACD, Grazing Lands and Public Lands Committee, the Grazing Lands Conservation Initiative (GLCI), and others. Abstracts for oral and poster papers accepted until April 1. Contact John W. Peterson, NCGL Program Manager, by phone on (703) 455-4387, or fax at (703) 455-6886, or by e-mail on jwpeterson@erols.com

 

May 2001

 

National Watershed Coalition Conference

Richmond, Virginia

May 20-24

"QUOTE OF THE WEEK"

The true meaning of life is to plant trees under whose shade you do not expect to sit.

-- Nelson Henderson, author

"NRCS THIS WEEK" WANTS TO HEAR FROM YOU!

Please send correspondence and material for "NRCS This Week" to the editor by: e-mail to: brad.fisher@usda.gov; or by fax to: Editor, "NRCS This Week," 202-720-1564; or by mail to: Editor, "NRCS This Week," NRCS, P.O. Box 2890, Washington, D.C. 20013

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