Chief's Message - It's good to be back with the Natural Resources Conservation Service. Without a doubt, NRCS is one of the best agencies at USDA. The quality of our employees is second to none, and we have a reputation for knowing how to get the job done. I am very pleased and happy to be back.

Recognizing that we have a strong agency, I also know that we have challenges and that we need to make organizational and operational modifications that will improve our effectiveness and efficiency.

One of my major objectives is to take what the great conservationists who preceded me have done -- take the best of what they have done -- and use it in such a way that we can make our agency even better.

First among these is to ensure that our focus is placed squarely on program delivery to our field customers. I want to do everything to reduce the bureaucratic burden on customers and employees; to free up our time so we can focus on getting conservation on the land.

We must also make sure our conservation partners -- conservation districts, State conservation agencies, RC&D councils, and others -- are factored into everything we do. It is of critical importance to the future of our agency that we move forward in harmony and unison with our partners, making sure that the locally led concept becomes our way of doing business.

Another key objective is that we must improve our science and technology efforts so we can more effectively support our customers. Part of this is making better use of the knowledge that resides in the local and State academic research communities.

And we need to ensure that our performance measurement system accurately reflects the high quality work we accomplish and that we have clear accountability processes in place.

On a personal note, more than 28 years ago I was recruited as a student trainee by the Soil Conservation Service. Becoming the 11th Chief of this agency is a dream come true. I look forward to our work together -- and I ask for your help -- to make sure that our customers have the resources and support they need to ensure conservation on America's private lands.

Personnel Changes - Based on recent leadership meeting discussions, a decision has been made to realign National Headquarters into five deputy areas. The following leadership and organizational assignments are effective immediately, pending formal Departmental approval.

• Katherine Gugulis, Acting Deputy Chief for Strategic Planning and Oversight
• Dwight Holman, Acting Deputy Chief for Administration and Management
• Maurice Mausbach, Acting Deputy Chief for Soil Survey and Resource Assessment
• Thomas Weber, Acting Deputy Chief for Science and Technology
• Lawrence Clark will continue to serve as Deputy Chief for Programs. Carole Jett and Fee Busby will report to the Deputy Chief for Programs to focus on emerging water quality and animal agriculture issues, respectively.

Additional personnel changes include Charles Adams, Director, National Employee Development Center in Fort Worth, TX, who will serve as Acting Regional Conservationist, Southeast, Atlanta, GA, effective immediately. Edward Wright, Operations Partnership Liaison, Southeast Region will begin serving as Acting Director, National Employee Development Center effective March 29.

IN THE FIELD

New State Conservationists Named - Stephen F. Black has been selected as the State Conservationist for Colorado, effective May 10. Stephen Black is presently a Strategic Planner in the East Regional Office. Leonard Jordan, who is presently an Assistant State Conservationist in Oregon, has been selected as State Conservationist for Washington, effective May 10. Nicholas N. Pearson has been selected as State Conservationist for Nevada, effective March 29. Mr. Pearson is presently an Assistant State Conservationist in Nevada.

Preserving the Past - When Jim Errante, NRCS Cultural Resources Specialist serving North and South Carolina, looked over the cultural resources inspection sheet for a proposed site, he knew it would be worth a visit. The site is located on a bluff alongside the Pee Dee River in Georgetown, SC. The river is known to have been heavily traveled by prehistoric cultures. The landowner had contacted NRCS for assistance in constructing a pond on his land. Errante's first visit to the site resulted in the discovery of numerous artifacts that dated to both prehistoric and historic periods. Subsurface testing suggested a high potential for intact prehistoric archaeological features. The landowner concurred with Errante's recommendation to move the pond location and an important cultural resource site was preserved.

Riparian Buffer Strips/Field Files - NRCS is collecting stories on the good work that's being done in the field with riparian buffer strips. This week, we look at Missouri and Idaho.

Missouri. The Niangua River is a typical Ozark stream, with a bluff and trees on one side and grassy flat land on the other. Except that it contains the endangered Niangua River Darter, a 5--inch fish found only in eight north-flowing Missouri tributaries of the Osage River. Until 1996, Jerry Duff grazed his cattle right up to the Little Niangua River; but then, with 75 percent cost share from the U.S. Fish & Wildlife Service and the Missouri Department of Conservation, he put in electric fencing, a 50-foot buffer on each side of the river, and an alternative watering source for the cattle. Some grasses were seeded, but as NRCS District Conservationist Paul Frey says, "If we keep out the cows, Mother Nature will do the rest. In fact, Mother Nature has better luck seeding than we do." He adds that the cows are drinking better, healthier water, and the manure stays on the land where it's needed. In nitrogen, phosphate and potassium, a 100-cow herd "produces" $5,511.50 worth per year – value lost when the cows aren't on the land. Duff, whose partnership with resource agencies is a model for protecting threatened and endangered species in other parts of Missouri, says, "I figured there was a place for conservation and for a productive farm, and a way to meet both goals."

Idaho. Three rivers, the Lemhi, the Pahsimeroi, and the East Fork of the Salmon, all of which eventually flow into the Snake and then the Columbia Rivers, are essential for chinook salmon and steelhead. The Model Watershed Project (MWP) was initiated in 1992 to restore salmon habitat, with funding from the Bonneville Power Administration (BPA), owner of the Columbia and Snake River hydroelectric power dams that have affected salmon migration. Money goes through the Idaho Soil Conservation Commission to the Lemhi and Custer Soil and Water Conservation Districts for contracts with and financial assistance for participating landowners. The MWP, whose coordinator is Jude Tripani, on loan from the Bureau of Land Management, has worked with 15 different owners of 200- to 600-acre ranches. There are fencing projects, irrigation diversion improvements, alternative watering systems for cattle, more efficient irrigation systems, and streambank stabilization using rock and vegetative plantings. Also, 20 miles of riparian buffers are in place. One such owner is Merrill Beyeler, with a fenced strip along 1.25 miles of critical stream on the Upper Lemhi. The Beyelers pasture the strip, but not when salmon are spawning or eggs are hatching in spring. "We do have salmon that spawn and it is kind of exciting," Beyeler says, "but when I was a boy, you would see salmon on almost every riffle. Now, fewer spawn on the total length of the Lemhi than used to spawn just on our place. It would be nice to see them come back." Beyeler believes the most important reason the program is working is the feeling of trust. "Without that, people keep butting heads, and no one listens."

Dust Bowl Retrospect - A film crew from the British Broadcasting Company (BBC) will be in southeast Colorado for two weeks in June to visit several Colorado counties in that region which were impacted by the Dust Bowl. As part of the World Environmental Changes series, the documentary will attempt to show how this area looked in the 1930's, as compared with how it looks today. The crew will meet with families who have lived on the Plains since the Dust Bowl era, to see how they have changed their farming practices to reduce soil erosion and take better care their natural resources. In addition, they will look at how the Conservation Reserve Program (CRP) has affected the land. "We also hope they will depict how the NRCS and local districts have helped make these positive changes occur," said LeRoy Stokes, Colorado State Conservationist. "They know that we are the agency that was created to help reduce soil erosion resulting from the conditions that created the Dust Bowl," he added. Local NRCS field offices are helping locate families who recall the Dust Bowl era and the early conservation work done by NRCS.

Indiana Water Quality Project Honored - The North American Lake Management Society (NALMS) presented its annual Technical Excellence Award to the Upper Tippecanoe Water Quality Project in Indiana. "This award is given annually to the project that best exhibits demonstrable success in achieving lasting improvements in water quality or recreational utility through lake and/or watershed management in a cost-effective manner," stated William Jones, NALMS President. Jones congratulated District Conservationist Sam St. Clair, who is project coordinator, for the high degree of landowner cooperation and education fostered with this project. This project was a joint effort by many, including the Farm Service Agency, Purdue Cooperative Extension Service, the Natural Resources Conservation Service, and the Soil and Water Conservation Districts of Kosciusko, Noble, and Whitley Counties.

CONSTITUENCY AND PARTNERSHIP NEWS

Skains Re-elected President of National Association of RC&D Councils - The National Association of Resource Conservation and Development (RC&D) Councils re-elected president Reggie Skains to another 3-year term and elected Steve Driver from Connecticut as second vice president and Tom Spelmire from Ohio as treasurer. NRCS provides a full-time coordinator for each authorized RC&D Council and other direct support.

LEGISLATIVE NEWS

House FY 1999 Appropriations - The Agriculture, Rural Development, Food and Drug Administration, and Related Agencies Subcommittee (Chairman Joe Skeen, NM) of the House Appropriations Committee held a hearing on March 17. Under Secretary for Natural Resources and Environment Jim Lyons and NRCS Chief Pearlie Reed provided testimony to the Subcommittee on the President's Fiscal Year (FY) 1999 budget request. Chief Reed stated that his goal is to focus on assistance and program delivery to the field. He stated that he aims to reduce the bureaucratic burden on customers and employees to allow for increased time spent providing direct technical assistance. The Committee asked many questions on several topics including program accountability, the American Heritage Rivers Program, Clean Water Action activities, loss of farmland to development, and the general health of our resources.

Chairman Skeen said that he would like to see more emphasis placed upon field level conservation activities. He stated that NRCS needs to get its field staff "out from behind desks." Ranking Member Marcy Kaptur (OH) complimented the agency for its accomplishments. She also asked what the impact of proposed user fees would be on the agency. Rep. Jose Serrano (NY) expressed strong support for the agency's participation in the Urban Resources Partnership. Tom Latham (IA) said that he would like to see NRCS in charge of regulating large livestock operations. He said that farmers need to have one agency that is in charge of the issue, so that it would be clear what standards and regulations are required. He cited wetlands as an area that has caused many producers confusion in the past.

Emergency Supplemental Clears Senate Committee - By a vote of 26-2, the Senate Appropriations Committee passed S. 1768, Emergency Supplemental Appropriations Act for FY 1998. The bill contains $50 million for the Emergency Watershed Program, with $10 million designated specifically for recovery efforts in Georgia. The bill also contains $60 million for the Emergency Conservation Program, with $4.48 million specifically earmarked to assist maple syrup producers in Vermont and New York who were impacted by ice storms earlier this year. The Senate Committee was not required to offset the spending contained in the bill. The legislation now goes to the Senate floor for consideration.

Briefing on Animal Waste - Staff from NRCS and the Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) briefed the Water Resources Subcommittee of the House Transportation and Infrastructure Committee, on March 20, regarding Confined Animal Feeding Operations (CAFOs). EPA outlined many aspects of the President's Clean Water Action Plan and the proposed strategy for regulating CAFOs under the Clean Water Act, which was announced on March 5. Congressional staff focused mostly on the process through which the final strategy will be developed. Staff also raised questions regarding the number of CAFOs that are estimated to exist, and asked how long agricultural producers would have to implement plans.

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UPCOMING

March 1-31 - National Women's History Month.

March 31 - The USDA Chapter of Blacks in Government will host a lunch time workshop in recognition of Women's History Month. Dr. Francine Dove Hawkins will give a presentation entitled, "Diversity or Die." The workshop will be held in Washington, D.C. For further information, contact Star Bryant at 202-720-0183. There is limited seating, so please RSVP to Star as soon as possible.

April 6-7 - First National Mitigation Banking Conference, J.W. Marriott Hotel, 1331 Pennsylvania Ave. N.W., Washington, D.C. Conference registration is being handled by the Terrene Institute, 4 Herbert St., Alexandria, VA 22305; or call 703-548-5473; fax: 703-548-6299. For more information, contact Gary Wooten, Watersheds and Wetlands Division, NRCS National Headquarters, at 202-690-1588; e-mail: gary.wooten@usda.gov.

April 6-7 - An American Wetlands Month Celebration, "Team Wetlands: 101 Ways to Win for Wetlands," Hyatt Crystal City, 2799 Jefferson Davis Hwy., Arlington, VA. For information, call 703-548-5473; fax: 703-548-6299; or write to Terrene Institute, 4 Herbert St., Alexandria, VA 22305.

April 19-25 - National Volunteer Week.

April 20-22 - NRCS and several partner organizations, including the National Council of Farmer Cooperatives, will hold a 3-day event "Agriculture and the Environment: A Growing Partnership, " culminating on Earth Day, April 22. The event will be held in the patio area of the Department of Agriculture Whitten Building. For more information, contact Fred Jacobs, 202-720-4649; email: fred.jacobs2@usda.gov.

April 20-24 - The Grazing Lands Technology Institute will host a national conference for NRCS employees that will highlight the new technology provided in the newly delivered National Range and Pasture Handbook. It will be held at the Holiday Inn-South in Fort Worth, Texas, beginning at 1:00 p.m., April 20 and ending at noon on April 24th. For more information, contact Larry Butler at 817/334-5232, ext. 3622; or email: lbutler@ftw.nrcs.usda.gov.

May 4-10 - Public Service Recognition Week, National Mall Event. For more information, contact Gretchen Hakola at 202-410-4352; fax: 202-401-4433; e-mail: permail@patriot.net.

May 5-7 - Federal Asian Pacific American Council (FAPAC) Conference, sponsored by USDA and 23 other Federal agencies. The conference will be held in Washington, DC. For more information, contact Harry Takai at 202-267-6024.

May 23-28, 1999 - 10th International Soil Conservation Organization (ISCO) Conference "Sustaining the Global Farm," Purdue University, West Lafayette, IN. For information, call 765-494-8683; fax: 765-494-5948 c/o ISCO99; e-mail: isco99@ecn.purdue.edu. Write to ISCO99, Purdue University, 1196 SOIL Building, West Lafayette, IN 47907-1196.

June 14-16 - National Association of Conservation Districts, Northern Plains Regional Meeting, Badlands Motel, Medora, ND. For further information, contact Robert Raschke at 303-988-1810; fax: 303-988-1896.

July 27- August 1 - 11th National Envirothon, Michigan State University, Lansing MI. For more information, contact Brenda Weiser at 800-825-5547, ext. 27; e-mail: envirothon@nacdnet.org.

September 10-12 - The National Coalition for Abandoned Mine Reclamation and the Acid Mine Drainage Coalition will host their annual conference, "Building Partnerships for Reclamation" in Knoxville, TN. The theme will focus on using a watershed approach to assist locally led conservation groups obtain needed resources to implement reclamation programs.

QUOTE

"The young women of today, free to study, to speak, to write, to choose their occupation, should remember that every inch of this freedom was bought for them at a great price. It is for them to show their gratitude by helping onward the reforms of their own times, by spreading the light of freedom and of truth still wider. The debt that each generation owes to the past it must pay to the future."

-- Abigail Scott Duniway, suffrage organizer in the Pacific Northwest

NRCS This Week is issued weekly by the Conservation Communications Staff, NRCS headquarters, Washington, D.C., and posted on the NRCS Home Page at http://www.nrcs.usda.gov. Please send correspondence and material via e-mail to: 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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