National Resources Inventory (NRI) Special Study Reveals Erosion in the U.S. Has Decreased - Total erosion on American cropland decreased by 42 percent from 1982 to 1995, dropping from 3.4 billion tons to 2 billion tons, but has remained relatively unchanged since then, according to the report.

Other highlights from the "1997 State of the Land Update" include:

• 1.1 million acres of cropland were taken out of production between 1995 and 1997. This land was converted to other uses such as pastureland and some urban development.
• The average quality of the land converted to cropland between 1995 and 1997 was generally lower, with a steeper slope and more erodibilty, than the average quality of the land already being used for cropland.
• In just one year, wind erosion control buffers increased by more than 15 percent. There were 320,900 acres of these buffers in use in 1997 - a 48,700-acre increase over the amount of wind erosion control buffers in 1996.

The special report provides data taken from 6,000 sampling sites across the country, supplemented by data collected in 1995 and 1996. It gives information practices and is statistically reliable for national analysis. NRCS collected the data though aerial photography and the examination of the historical record of the land.

The complete "1997 State of the Land Update" can be found on the NRCS Home Page at http://www.nrcs.usda.gov, or by contacting the NRCS Resources Inventory Division at 202-720-1881.

Coastal America's 1998 Partnership Award Winners - On September 8, the Coastal America Partnership gave its 1998 Partnership Award to the Coastal Ecosystem Learning Center Work Group, an interdisciplinary team effort dedicated to the health of America's coastal and marine environment. In a letter congratulating each team member, Vice President Gore wrote "as an award winner, you exemplify the benefits that can be accomplished through partnerships that bring together our collective resources to meet a common goal. By extending the Federal partnership to aquaria and marine educational facilities, a more efficient and effective coastal information network has been created."

Representatives from Federal partner agencies--including NRCS--and five Learning Centers received this honor.

Coastal America works to protect, preserve, and restore America's coastal heritage by integrating Federal actions with tribal, State, and local public and private efforts. Projects include habitat restoration, endangered species protection, and pollution mitigation. By establishing a nationwide network of Coastal Ecosystem Learning Centers, Coastal America combines the resources of outstanding regional educational centers with those of Federal partners. The aim is to raise public awareness of critical coastal issues and boost involvement in activities that benefit coastal ecosystems. Millions of people visit the Learning Centers each year.

Kudos for NRCS from Ducks Unlimited (DU) - The September/October issue of Ducks Unlimited features an article on efforts by DU to restore hardwood bottomlands of the Mississippi Delta region. The article recognizes NRCS as spearheading the coalition of the U.S. Fish & Wildlife Service, the Forest Service, and State fish and wildlife agencies assisting landowners with reforestation efforts.

New Riparian Buffer Brochure - A new "Riparian Buffers Work" brochure, developed by a team led by the National Conservation Buffer Initiative Coordinator, was recently distributed to selected NRCS State offices. It is intended to encourage producers in the West to install riparian buffers under the marginal pastureland provision of the continuous Conservation Reserve Program (CRP) sign-up. This provision marks the first time that ranchers with grazing land in the West are eligible to participate in CRP. It offers enormous potential for doing riparian restoration work on permanent and seasonal streams in the western United States.

The bulk of the copies went to Oklahoma, Texas, and States in the West and Northern Plains regions.

NRCS Personnel Change - Judith K. Johnson was appointed Regional Conservationist for the Northern Plains effective September 13. She formerly served as Regional Conservationist for the South Central Region.

IN THE FIELD

Massachusetts Makes Top 100 List for International Best Practices - The Massachusetts Integrated Watershed Management initiative was selected from a list of over 450 submissions for the 1998 Dubai Global Best Practices 100 List.

The Massachusetts Watershed Initiative is a cooperative effort of the Executive Office of Environmental Affairs and a wide range of community supporters dedicated to protecting environmental quality using limited resources. The Initiative is a Statewide effort to create public/private partnerships to manage and protect the environment using the natural boundaries of the State's 27 major watersheds as the key planning unit.

NRCS in Massachusetts continues to play an active role in the Watershed Initiative. As one of the 100 Global Best Practices, the initiative will be included on the 1998 Best Practices database. This will allow individuals and organizations from around the world to share the valuable knowledge and experience gained from the initiative.

New NRCS Conservation Archeologists Working in Arizona - Due to an unprecedented agreement with the Navajo Nation Historic Preservation Department (HPD) in Arizona, now NRCS employees, acting as "para-archeologists," are permitted to conduct archeological clearances for conservation projects on the Navajo Nation Tribal lands. The projects is being funded through the 5 Navajo Nation Soil and Water Conservation Districts. The Navajo Nation contains some of the most significant and well-preserved archeological sites in the world.

In recent years, many conservation projects were not implemented due to delays in acquiring the required archeological clearances before cost-share funds expired. In the spirit of cooperation, Navajo Nation Cultural Resource Compliance Officer, Peter Noyes, reached an agreement with Arizona NRCS Archeologist, Gary Navarre, to train 17 NRCS employees to perform the archeological clearances. This action has permitted NRCS employees to conduct surveys on the Navajo Nation Tribal lands.

NRCS Buffer Conference Set for September - NRCS in Wisconsin will hold a Statewide conference on buffers September 16-17 for agencies of Federal, State, and local governments, and non-profit organizations, legislators, and agribusiness. The conference will build a network of stakeholders to help NRCS and its partners reach the State's goal of establishing buffers on 80 percent of streams and lakes by 2002.

NRCS To Present Training Session to Certified Crop Advisers - On September 14, NRCS staff will present a one-day training session for Certified Crop Advisers (CCAs) in NE. CCAs in neighboring States, including South Dakota, Iowa, and Kansas may also attend.

The purpose is to explain the Third Party Vendor Memorandum of Understanding between the NRCS and the American Society of Agronomy Certified Crop Advisers, explain what a CCA is expected to do, provide an explanation of applicable programs, and provide training in what a nutrient management and pest management sub-component of a conservation plan should include.

CONSTITUENCY AND PARTNERSHIP NEWS

Sixth National Nonpoint-Source Monitoring Workshop - NRCS, the U.S. Environmental Protection Agency, and United States Geological Survey staff will be participating in the Sixth National Nonpoint-Source Monitoring Workshop to be held in Cedar Rapids, Iowa, on September 21-24, 1998. The focus of this joint agency-sponsored workshop is to interpret water quality responses to land treatment, and it will include discussion on such issues as the use of watershed data in developing total maximum daily loads (TMDLs), the use of biological monitoring data, and the effectiveness of best management practices in solving nonpoint source pollution problems. Highlights of several local water quality projects will also be presented at the workshop.

Minnesota and North Dakota Hold 2-day Conservation Buffer Initiative Conference - Over 40 different groups and organizations attended a buffer initiative conference organized by State and Federal agencies in Minnesota and North Dakota. The purpose of the conference was to identify ways to promote and implement conservation buffer practices. Conference sponsors included: NRCS and Farm Service Agency staff from North Dakota and Minnesota, U.S. Fish & Wildlife Service, the Minnesota Department of Natural Resources, Minnesota Pollution Control Agency, University of Minnesota Extension, North Dakota Department of Health, North Dakota Forest Service, and North Dakota State University Extension Service. Other objectives were to create a buffer alliance within Minnesota and North Dakota, as well as promote buffer practices in Minnesota and North Dakota on expiring Conservation Reserve Program contracts. Dave Stanwick, from the National Conservation Buffer Council; Arnold King; Joe Bagdon; Bill Kuenstler; and Max Schnepf, from NRCS were among the featured speakers. There are plans to conduct a follow-up meeting in Minnesota and North Dakota for later this fall.

Buffers a Popular Theme At Vermont Regional Fairs - Throughout this summer's fair and field day season, NRCS and Farm Service Agency have teamed up in Vermont to promote a "buffers" conservation message. This year's theme is moving in "sync" with the Secretary's "Two Million (buffers) by 2002" campaign. Under the Team USDA banner, buffers as well as the Farm Bill programs that support them, are receiving widespread attention. Buffer logo magnets are already beginning to appear on refrigerators from Massachusetts to the Canadian border, attesting to the success of the awareness campaign.

LEGISLATIVE NEWS

Congressional Schedule - The House of Representatives returned from recess this week for the final session of the 105th Congress. Congressional leadership has agreed to push for adjournment by October 9.

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UPCOMING

September 13-15 - NACD Pacific Regional Meeting, Sonoma County Hilton (1-800-445-8667), Santa Rosa, CA. For more information, contact Robert Raschke at 303-988-1810; fax: 303-988-1896.

September 15-17 - NACD Business Alliance Council Meeting, Washington, DC. For more information, contact Donna Smith at 202-547-6223; fax: 202-547-6450.

September 16-18 - NACD Great Lakes Committee Meeting (September 16) and Great Lakes Sediment & Erosion Control Conference to be held at the Radisson Hotel in Toledo, OH. For more information, contact Bill Horvath at 715-341-1022; fax: 715-341-1023.

September 19-23 - Society of American Foresters 1998 National Convention, Traverse City, MI. NRCS foresters will meet September 24, following the convention, to participate in strategic planning, technology exchange, and top discuss and resolve various issues. For more information, contact Keith Martell at 517-731-4612.

September 22-25 - National Civil Rights Committee Meeting, Washington, D.C. For more information, contact Darrel Dominick at 207-866-7241; or e-mail: ddominick@me.nrcs.usda.gov.

September 27-29 - NACD Agricultural Lands Resources Committee Meeting to be held at the Holiday Inn in Topeka, KS. For more information, contact Bill Horvath at 715-341-1022; fax: 715-341-1023.

September 27-30 - Thorne Ecological Institute hosts "Peaks to Prairies: A Conference On Watershed Stewardship, Sustaining Communities and the Environment" at the Rushmore Plaza, Holiday Inn, Rapid City, SD. For more information, call 303-499-3647; fax: 303-499-8340; or e-mail: dir@thorneecoinst.org.

October 3 - The Girl Scout Council of the Nation's Capital is planning to hold an environmental ECO-EXPO at Greenbelt Park in Greenbelt, MD. NRCS will be present with a soil display and 'hands on' soils exhibit for the participants. Volunteers are needed! For more information, contact Leslie Burks at 202-645-3087, or Cheryl Simmons at 410-465-3180.

October 4-7 - North American Conference on Enterprise Development Through Agroforestry: Farming the Agroforest for Specialty Products, will be held at the DoubleTree Park Place Hotel, in Minneapolis, MN. For more information, contact Scott Josiah at 612-624-7418; fax: 612-625-5212; or e-mail: CINRAM@forestry.umn.edu.

October 5-9 - Joint meeting of the State Resource Conservationists and State Conservation Engineers, Reno, NV. For more information, contact David Thackeray at 202-720-0134; or email: david.thackeray@usda.gov.

October 11-14 - The Association of Dam Safety Officials will host "Dam Safety '98," Riviera Hotel, Las Vegas, NV. For more information, call 606-257-5140; fax: 606-323-1958; or e-mail: damsafety@aol.com.

October 21-23 - The Texas Section of the American Society of Agricultural Engineers will hold its annual meeting in San Marcos, Texas, at South West Texas State University. For more information, contact Anna Rodriguez at 512-239-1307; or fax: 512-239-1300.

October 24-28 - NACD Fall Executive Board Members Meeting to be held at the Radisson Inn in Bloomington, MN. For more information, contact Robert Raschke at 303-988-1810; fax: 303-988-1896.

October 27-28 - The New Mexico Association of Soil and Water Conservation Districts is hosting their 52nd annual conference, "Local Vision --- Locally-Led --- Global Hope," at the Sheraton Uptown in Albuquerque, NM. For more information, please contact Debbie Hughes, at 505-981-2400.

November 8-10 - California Association of Resource Conservation Districts will host its annual business meeting and conference, "Bridging the Gap" at the Double Tree Hotel in Palm Springs, CA. For more information, contact Aleta Zak at 916-447-7237; e-mail: carcd@ns.net.

November 10-13 - ETC/Environmental Technology China will present "The 4th International Exhibition on Environmental Protection, Pollution Control, and Green Production Technology," China International Exhibition Centre, Beijing, P.R., China. For more information, contact Rebecca Fung at 852-25163346; fax: 852-25165024; or e-mail: aes@adsaleexh.com.

November 16-19 - The American Water Resources Association (AWRA) is sponsoring its Annual Conference at the Marriott Grande Hotel in Point Clear, AL. For more information, call the AWRA at 703-904-1225.

November 17-20 - The National Organization of Professional Asian Pacific American NRCS Employees is sponsoring its first annual training conference in Sparks, NV. Poster and technical papers are being solicited. Deadline to submit topic and general outline is October 30. Poster papers cannot exceed an area of a 4' x 8' board or table top display. For more information on poster papers, contact Kent Matsutani at 308-254-4507; or email: wmatsuta@ne.nrcs.usda.gov. For general information on the conference, contact Mon Yee at 503-414-3264; e-mail: myee@or.nrcs.usda.gov; or Virginia C. Lewis, at 505-761-4408; e-mail: vlewis@nm.nrcs.usda.gov.

January 19-21, 1999 - Soil and Water Conservation Society will host their National conference, "The State of North America's Private Land" at the Holiday Inn O'Hare in Chicago, IL. For more information, contact Charlie Persinger at 515-289-2331; fax: 515-289-1227; e-mail: swcs@swcs.org.

January 24-27, 1999 - Colorado State University will host "Tailings and Mine Waste '99" in Ft. Collins, CO. The conference will provide a forum for presenting information on mill tailings, mine waste, and current and future issues facing the mining and environmental communities. Contact Linda L. Hinshaw at 970-491-6081; fax: 970-491-3584; or e-mail: lhinshaw@engr.colostate.edu.

January 31-February 4, 1999 - 53rd NACD Annual Meeting to held at the Town and Country Resort and Conference Center (1-800-772-8528) in San Diego, CA. For more information, contact Robert Raschke at 303-988-1810; fax: 303-988-1896.

February 17-20, 1999 - Land Improvement Contractors of America Winter Convention, Adams Mark Hotel, San Antonio, TX. Contact Wayne F. Maresch at 301-248-5749; FAX-301/248-0847; or email: WayneF86@aol.com.

May 23-28, 1999 - The International Soil Conservation Organization will host the 10th International Soil Conservation Conference, "Sustaining the Global Farm," at Purdue University in West LaFayette, IN. For more information, call 765-494-8683; fax: 765-494-5948 c/o ISCO99; e-mail: isco99@ecn.purdue.edu; or visit the conference website at: http://spc3.ecn.purdue.edu/isco99/isco99.htm.

QUOTE

"I believe a leaf of grass is no less than the journeywork of the stars,

And the tree-toad is a chef-d'oeuvre for the highest,

And the running blackberry would adorn the parlors of heaven,

And the narrowest hinge in my hand puts to scorn all machinery,

And the cow crunching with depressed head surpasses any statue..."

Walt Whitman, (1819-1892) American author, from Leaves of Grass

NRCS This Week is issued weekly by the Conservation Communications Staff, 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.jacobs2@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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