NRCS Disaster Assistance to Puerto Rico, Louisiana, the U.S. Virgin Islands, and Texas - NRCS, through the Emergency Watershed Protection Program (EWP), has approved $4 million in financial and technical assistance for Puerto Rico, $2.4 million for Louisiana, and $1.2 million for the U.S. Virgin Islands in the wake of Hurricane Georges.

$2.9 million in EWP funds has been approved for flood disaster assistance in the State of Texas. Through the EWP, NRCS provides assistance to pay project sponsors for work such as clearing debris from clogged waterways, restoring vegetation, and stabilizing flood-damaged river banks.

Emergency Watershed Protection (EWP) Program Update - Since the beginning of October, EWP funds totaling $19.5 million have been approved for Florida, Connecticut, Alabama, California, Puerto Rico, Louisiana, Iowa, Kentucky, the U.S. Virgin Islands, Mississippi, and Texas, which sustained damage from recent flooding.

Hurricane Georges Long-Term Recovery Plan for Puerto Rico - NRCS will work with agencies of the Government of Puerto Rico to conduct a series of public meetings to provide farmers with information on the full range of Department of Agriculture programs. It will also conduct meetings to inform residents about watershed restoration and flood prevention programs. NRCS, the Federal Emergency Management Agency (FEMA), and the Department of Housing and Urban Development will meet with government and local officials to discuss the need for flood hazard studies and mapping.

NRCS will meet with local sponsors of the Anasco River, Guayanes River, and Toa Vaca Lake small watershed projects to ascertain their status and any needed modifications or supplements to project plans. NRCS and FEMA will meet with project sponsors to ascertain alternative funding sources.

Hammer Awards - The Vice President's National Partnership for Reinventing Government's Hammer Award is presented primarily to teams of Federal employees who have made significant contributions in support of reinventing government principles. The award is the Vice President's answer to yesterday's government and its $400 hammer. Fittingly, the award consists of a $6.00 hammer, a ribbon, and a note from Vice President Gore, all in an aluminum frame. More than 1,000 Hammer Awards have been presented to teams comprised of Federal employees, State and local employees, and citizens who are working to build a better government.

So far, NRCS has been awarded 17 Hammers, with NRCS employees in Oklahoma having just recently been approved for the award for their participation in the Shared Neutrals Program - a partnership of Federal and State agencies that have created a unique workplace mediation program as an alternative to individual agency dispute resolution programs.

Backyard Conservation Published in Sunset Magazine - "When you plant a garden that's attractive to wildlife and that improves the land and water, you've made a place that's better for yourself as well." That statement is part of the backyard conservation article that is in the November issue of Sunset magazine. With a circulation of 1.4 million, Sunset is the "magazine of western living" - providing information on gardening, cooking, home ideas, and travel. Sunset will run another backyard conservation article in its spring 1999 special gardening issue.

NRCS Employees Honored by Two Professional Organizations - NRCS employees recently received honors from two professional organizations. John Kimble, a research soil scientist at the National Soil Survey Center, received the International Soil Science Award from the American Society of Agronomy for outstanding international service.

Maurice J. Mausbach, Deputy Chief for Soil Survey and Resource Assessment, received the honor of Fellow from the Soil Science Society of America. Dr. Mausbach was elected Fellow by other active members from a pool of only 3 percent of the active members of the society.

EQIP Work underway on Penobscot Nation Reservation - The Penobscot Indian Nation will be doing conservation work on 40,000-plus acres under the 1997 EQIP. Much of the work is along the Penobscot River which has historically provided the tribe with food, water, and an intricate transportation system. Today the river is used for industry, recreation, fishing, and other water sports. The Penobscot River surrounds over 200 islands (5,000-plus acres), which are the Penobscot Nation's Reservation Lands. These islands, along with three other parcels of land in Matagamon, Mattamiscontis, and Argyle Township, were funded for conservation work under the 1997 and 1998 Environmental Quality Incentives Program (EQIP).

The Penobscot River, along with areas in Argyle, will receive 100 duck houses, under a Wildlife Wetland Habitat Management Initiative. These houses will increase the number of nesting water fowl.

In Matagamon, a 9,000-plus acre land mass Northeast of Baxter State Park, forestland erosion control practices and wildlife wetland habitat management practices are being implemented.

Erosion control practices include culverts, road ditching, critical area seedings, and bridge repairs. Wildlife management practices include hardwood regeneration to improve beaver habitat, and 25 duck houses on the shores of Grand Lake Matagamon.

Mattamiscontis, the largest EQIP funded land mass in Penobscot County (21,000-plus acres), is located just west of Lincoln. As in Matagamon, Mattamiscontis will have both wildlife management practices and forestland erosion control practices. Sam Ayers Stream bridge, a heavily used structure, will be rebuilt under the program. The approach and exit to the bridge will also be reconstructed to address erosion that deposits large amounts of sediment into Sam Ayers Stream. The stream is home to native brook trout, and is stocked with salmon. The changes to the bridge will greatly reduce sedimentation and benefit aquatic species. Water control structures will also be placed in Mattamiscontis. These structures, also known as "Beaver Deceivers," use a fence type structure, and water quieting practices, to trick the beavers into not damming culverts, which would eventually wash out roads. The Penobscot Nation is in the forefront of this new technology.

In 1998 the tribe plans to replace the Sam Ayers Stream dam. The dam has been washed out, and retiring the dam will restore a much needed wildlife wetland habitat.

Tribes Work with NRCS on Watershed Assessments in Minnesota - In Minnesota, all of the State's American Indian Tribes are working with the agency and the Minnesota Pollution Control Agency to conduct unified watershed assessments called for in the President's Clean Water Action Plan. Representatives from the State's 11 Tribes and from 7 State agencies and 7 Federal agencies are working together to make the plan successful in Minnesota.

Promoting Backyard Conservation - NRCS in Maryland has worked with the National Plant Materials Center (NPMC) in Beltsville, Maryland, to create an exhibit on Backyard Conservation that demonstrates conservation practices appropriate for local backyard gardeners. The exhibit debuted at the Maryland Fall Home and Garden Show and featured a new Backyard Conservation display, wetlands, backyard ponds, and native grass and shrub plantings.

Held over 3 days in mid-October at the Maryland State Fairgrounds in Timonium, the show attracted about 15,000 people. Visitors to the NRCS booth received Backyard Conservation booklets, conservation practice tip sheets, and information on the NPMC, NRCS, and the NRCS Earth Team Volunteer Program.

Visitors to the booth had questions on native plants, what types of buffers to plant to protect the Chesapeake Bay waters, and installing wetlands, backyard ponds, and plants to attract wildlife.

NRCS and the NPMC are going to work together to create an educational, backyard garden display for the spring show planned for March 1999.

Farmers Share Views at EQIP Listening Session - NRCS in Maryland, the NRCS East Region, and FSA (all representing four-States, MD, DE, WV, and PA) recently co-hosted an Environmental Quality Incentives Program (EQIP) listening session on the program and its implementation process. This session was part of a series of national listening sessions at the grass roots level with the public, especially farmers and landowners, on successes with EQIP, and suggestions for improvement in the program's administration.

EQIP was established in the 1996 Farm Bill as a voluntary conservation program for farmers and ranchers who face serious threats to soil, water, and related natural resources. Priority areas of special environmental sensitivity are identified through a locally led conservation process. EQIP offers financial, educational, and technical assistance to install or implement structural, vegetative and management practices called for in 5-to 10-year contracts for agricultural land uses. Over the past 2 years, Maryland farmers have received more than $3.2 million in EQIP funding.

NRCS East Regional Conservationist Humberto Hernandez moderated the session, along with hosts David Doss, NRCS Maryland State Conservationist, and Jim Voss, FSA Maryland State Executive Director. The session was held at the Howard County Fairgrounds in West Friendship, Maryland. This was the second listening session held in the East Region, and one of eight sessions held throughout the Nation by USDA. The other session in the East Region was held in New York in early October.

USDA officials heard 21 oral testimonies and received 14 copies of written testimony. Participants included farmers, landowners, and representatives from soil conservation districts, RC&D Councils, and conservation groups. Approximately 80 people attended listening sessions.

Common concerns included four times as many applications as funds, the schedule of program implementation versus the farmer's planning season, increasing decision making at local levels, competitive ranking system, and excessive paperwork and planning involved in the preliminary sign-up process. Overall, participants believed EQIP would improve water quality and animal agriculture management, but felt more funds were needed.

All comments will be evaluated by USDA as future improvements are made to the program.

Testimonies received at the listening session can be viewed through the NRCS Maryland homepage at http://www.md.nrcs.usda.gov.

New NRCS Dam to Protect People, Property, and Wetlands - NRCS in Massachusetts announced the completion of a new dam that will provide flood control for the town of Lee and protect more than 200 acres of wetlands. NRCS provided technical assistance for the construction of the dam. Several miles of hiking trails will be established in the wetlands by the Berkshire Conservation District.

Why Not Try This In Your State? - The October 30 edition of "NRCS This Week" featured a story entitled, "Greene, KUTV Receive Conservation Communication Honors." The story described how NRCS in Utah recently recognized KUTV 2-News and the program's producer John Greene as "Conservation Communicators of the Year."

For its part, NRCS in Utah presented KUTV an organizational award for its sponsorship and support of "Dirt: Secrets in the Soil," a project designed to help Utah's fourth grade teachers instruct students on soil science.

At the Utah Association of Conservation Districts' 50th Anniversary conference this week in St. George, Greene and KUTV will receive their awards.

NRCS State PASs might consider how a similar program would enhance conservation education efforts in their State. If you'd like to find out more about how it was done in Utah, contact Ron Nichols at 801-524-4556; or e-mail Ron at rnichols@ut.nrcs.usda.gov.

Kansas Buffer Initiative Underway - Governor Bill Graves of Kansas has proposed the creation of the Kansas Water Quality Buffer Initiative. The initiative will support the installation of filter strips and riparian forest buffers in critical areas of northeast Kansas as part of his ongoing Governor's Water Quality Initiative. The Kansas Legislature supported this proposal and the Governor's Water Quality Buffer Initiative was formed. Initially funded as a pilot project, two watersheds were designated for the initiative due to increased levels of certain pathogens and fecal coliform.

The initiative, in its infancy, has received a broad base of support from various private, local, State and Federal agencies. An NRCS employee has been assigned to the Kansas State Conservation Commission office to assist with the coordination of the project.

The Kansas Buffer Initiative will supplement the continuous sign-up provisions of the Conservation Reserve Program by using State funds to provide the incentive to producers to enroll in the program.

NRCS to Exhibit at National FFA Career Show - On November 11-13, NRCS will display a major conservation exhibit at the National FFA career show in Kansas City, MO. The NRCS exhibit will illustrate how conservation practices work together - various types of buffers, upland conservation, forestry, use of native vegetation, conservation tillage, and ponds. The exhibit will feature stream corridor restoration practices, and attendees will be able to use a computer to tap into the Stream Corridor Restoration Handbook CD. Nearly 50,000 persons are expected to attend.

NRCS offices in the Greater Kansas City area, Earth Team volunteers, representatives of conservation districts, staff from National Headquarters, and members of local American Indian associations will participate.

NRCS and National Association of Conservation Districts (NACD) Developing Locally Led Fact Sheet - The NRCS Conservation Operations Division has been working with NACD to develop a fact sheet on the locally led conservation process. When this fact sheet is published, NACD will provide copies of it to all conservation districts to help their members better understand the topic and to assist local community members with their locally led conservation efforts.

Wildlife Program Proves Popular in South Dakota - NRCS reports that 178 applications to the Wildlife Habitat Incentives Program (WHIP) were approved for funding of more than $800,000 in South Dakota. Through WHIP, wildlife habitat on more than 51,000 acres will have the benefits of resource management systems. Applications that addressed vegetative cover for winter, and wetland and associated upland cover, received high priorities.

Congress will be in recess until January 6, 1999.

Receive "NRCS This Week" by E-mail - You can receive "NRCS This Week" by e-mail the minute it's cleared. To get on the NRCS THIS WEEK mailing list, send an e-mail to: listproc@nrcs.usda.gov. Do not use a subject line and put the following in the body of the message: subscribe NRCS-THIS-WEEK Firstname Lastname (example: subscribe NRCS-THIS-WEEK Fred Jacobs). To get help with other commands that are available at the "listproc@nrcs.usda.gov" address, send a message with no subject and the word HELP on a line by itself in the body of the message. "NRCS This Week" will continue to be posted on the NRCS Homepage.

November 1-30 - National American Indian Heritage Month, 1998.

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

November 10-13 - (Hawaii) The Pacific Rim Resource Conservation & Development Association Meeting will be held in Kona, Hawaii. For more information, call the Resource Conservation & Community Development Division at 202-720-2241.

November 10-13 - (China) 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 15-20 - (Nevada) The NRCS American Indian/Alaskan Native Employees Association's 2nd Annual Training Conference will be held at the Reno Hilton, Reno, NV. For more information, contact Stevanie Running Hawk at 505-761-4434; e-mail: srunning@nm.nrcs.usda.gov; or Thedis Crowe at 406-587-6970; e-mail: tcrowe@mt.nrcs.usda.gov.

November 15-19 - (Alabama) 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 - (Nevada) 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. For more 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.

December 8-12 - (Arkansas) 7th Annual Training Conference of the National Organization of Professional Black Natural Resources Conservation Service Employees, "Bridging the Gap to the New Millennium," will be held at the Excelsior Hotel in Little Rock, AR. For more information, contact Jackie Roscoe at 202-720-5235; fax: 202-720-5548.

December 13-16 - (Nevada) The National Ground Water Association (NGWA) will hold its Annual Convention and Exposition at the Las Vegas Convention Center, Las Vegas, NV. For more information, call 1-800-551-7379; or visit the NGWA convention and exposition website at: http://www.ngwa.org/whatsnew/gold.html.

December 17 - (Washington D.C.) USDA Policy Advisory Board Meeting, Washington, DC

January 10 - 13 - (South Dakota) The Western Resource Conservation & Development Association Meeting will be held in Spearfish, SD. For more information, call the Resource Conservation & Community Development Division at 202-720-2241.

January 19-21, 1999 - (Illinois) Soil and Water Conservation Society will host a 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; or e-mail: swcs@swcs.org.

January 24-27, 1999 - (Colorado) Colorado State University will host "Tailings and Mine Waste '99" in Ft. Collins, CO. The conference will provide a forum for presenting information on mine 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 - (California) 53rd National NACD Annual Meeting to be 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. Meeting agenda highlights and registration information on NACD's home page at http://nacdnet.org/meetings/

February 17-20, 1999 - (Texas) 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 e-mail: WayneF86@aol.com.

February 21-26, 1999 - (Nebraska) The Society for Range Management and the American Forage and Grasslands Council will hold their annual meeting, "Building on Our Heritage," at the at the Holiday Convention Center, 3321 South 72nd Street in Omaha, NE. For more information, visit the Society for Range Management web site at: http://srm.org/meetings.html.

April 21, 1999 - (Connecticut) The Southern New England Chapter of the Soil and Water Conservation Society is holding its Spring conference, "Urban Riparian Buffers," in Enfield, CT, at the Harley Hotel. The deadline for the call for papers is December 1. Submit papers to the Southern New England Chapter of the Soil and Water Conservation Society, PO BOX 262, Storrs, CT 06268; or e-mail to JPASHNIK@PRODIGY.NET.

May 16-19, 1999 - (Texas) The National Watershed Coalition is presenting its Sixth National Watershed Conference, "Getting the Job Done at Ground Level," at the Doubletree Hotel in North Austin, TX. For more information, contact John W. Peterson at 703-455-6886 or 4387; fax: 703455-6888; or e-mail: jwpeterson@erols.com.

May 23-28, 1999 - (Indiana) 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.

June 6-9, 1999 - (Pennsylvania) The American Farmland Trust and 13 other agricultural organizations in cooperation with NRCS and several other Federal agencies will host the "Keep America Growing: Balancing Working Lands and Development" conference at the Adam's Mark Hotel in Philadelphia, PA. Deadline for abstract is November 15. For questions regarding proposals, call 703-440-8611; or e-mail: kotte@gateway.net. For more information on the conference, contact Karl Otte at 703-440-8611; or visit the conference website at: www.farmland.org/KAG.html.

"The signs of the dawn are seen in the east and the breath of the new life is here. Mother Earth is the first to be called to awake. She moves, she awakes, she rises, she feels the breath of the new born Dawn. The leaves and the grass stir; all things move with the breath of the new day; everywhere life is renewed. This is very mysterious; we are speaking of something very sacred, although it happens every day."

- "The Kurahus Tahirussawichi," Pawnee, c. 1900.

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.

U.S. Department of Agriculture (USDA) prohibits discrimination in all its programs and activities on the basis of race, color, national origin, gender, religion, age, disability, political beliefs, sexual orientation, and marital or family status. (Not all prohibited bases apply to all programs.) Persons with disabilities who require alternative means for communication of program information (Braille, large print, audiotape, etc.) should contact USDA's TARGET Center at 202-720-2600 (voice and TDD).

To file a complaint of discrimination, write USDA, Director, Office of Civil Rights, Room 326W, Whitten Building, 14th and Independence Avenue, SW, Washington, D.C. 20250-9410 or call 202-720-5964 (voice or TDD). USDA is an equal opportunity provider and employer.

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