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NRCS This Week

Friday, April 6, 2001 Washington, DC.

"We shall never achieve harmony with land any more than we shall achieve absolute justice or liberty for people. In these higher aspirations, the important thing is not to achieve, but to strive."

from Round River by Aldo Leopold (1887-1948) American author and conservationist

Focus on the Field
Indiana: Confined Feeding Rule Approved
Nebraska: Children's Groundwater Festival Features NRCS' "Awesome Aquifer"
Oregon: New Rules Adopted for Hood River and Malheur River Basins
Wisconsin: Tribes to Start Community Gardens

What's Up in Washington
NRCS Signs Lewis and Clark Memorandum of Understanding (MOU)
"The Leader In You" Series Kicks-Off 2001 Season
Integrated Accountability System Team Moves into High Gear

Tech Tip
Cumulative Effects Analysis Guide for NRCS Under Development
Accolades
PLANTS Receives Star Award from Awesome Library
 
USDA/NRCS 'NetNewsLinks
NRCS National Water and Climate Center Snow-Precipitation Update for the West: ftp://ftp.wcc.nrcs.usda.gov/data/snow/update/ws.txt.
NRCS Legislative Summaries: http://www.nrcs.usda.gov/about/legislative/Summary106.html.

Also on the 'Net:
AGRICOLA: USDA's AGRICultural Online Access
e-Notes from NACD: Weekly news briefs from the National Association of Conservation Districts: http://www.nacdnet.org/eNotes/.
 
Conference & Training Connection!
See the April 6 "Conference & Training Connection" for an alphabetical-by-subject list of upcoming events. . See NEW listings under Research and Wetlands.

FOCUS ON THE FIELD

Confined Feeding Rule Approved - The Indiana Water Pollution Control Board recently approved a new confined feeding rule, which establishes standards for the handling and storage of manure and the utilization of manure as a nutrient supplement for crops, as specified by Indiana's Confined Feeding Law. Indiana NRCS technical staff revised Indiana's conservation practice standards to reflect the requirements and comply with the new State rule. The rule requires farms with livestock numbers that exceed 300 cattle, 600 swine or sheep, and 30,000 fowl thresholds to apply for a permit from the Indiana Department of Environment Management. The permit specifies time limits for manure and wastewater storage, documentation of manure management soil testing, minimum acreage to spread manure, documenting where and when manure is applied, development of an emergency manure spill response plan, the minimum distance from a water body a landowner can construct a manure storage facility, and manure land application guidelines. Your contact is Mike McGovern, NRCS Public Affairs Specialist, at 317-290-3222, ext. 324.

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Children's Groundwater Festival Features NRCS' "Awesome Aquifer" - Nebraska NRCS recently participated in the Children's Groundwater Festival in Grand Island. Students had the opportunity to build their own aquifer using sand and gravel. Dubbed the "Awesome Aquifer," NRCS staff discussed various types of aquifers and the amount of groundwater they can hold. The Children's Groundwater Festival is one of the largest environmental education festivals in the State. More than 2,000 fourth and fifth-graders from across Nebraska were chosen from a lengthy waiting list to attend the festival. Government and State agency staff, along with private businesses, theatre troupes and students presented activities focusing on the importance of groundwater. Your contact is Joanna Pope, NRCS Public Affairs Specialist, at 402-443-3463.

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New Rules Adopted for Hood River and Malheur River Basins - The Oregon State Board of Agriculture recently approved water quality management plans and rules for the Hood and the Malheur River Basins. Developed by local advisory committees in both basins, the plans and rules address a wide range of conditions affecting water quality such as erosion, siltation, animal waste management, and riparian area management. The Hood and Malheur River Basins join the Tualatin, Bear Creek, Umatilla, Upper Grande Ronde, North Coast, Lower Deschutes, Yamhill, and Umpqua in adopting the new rules, which direct the Oregon Department of Agriculture to work with farmers and ranchers to develop overall water quality management plans. The plans will impact watersheds listed in the Federal Clean Water Act, Section 303 (d), as "water quality limited" and specify "outcome-based" solutions that provide landowners with the flexibility to develop their own approaches to local water quality problems. Your contacts are Ken Diebel, Oregon Department of Agriculture (ODA), at 541-963-4610 (Malheur River Plan) and Ellen Hammond, ODA, at 541-617-0017 (Hood River Plan).

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Tribes to Start Community Gardens - A new community gardening effort will be launched this spring focusing on healthy foods and improved nutrition for the Bad River and Red Cliff Bands of Lake Superior Chippewa Indians. The tribes will receive funding through NRCS to set up gardens, provide training and education to tribal members, and create food distribution systems and food banks for elder centers. The Pri-Ru-Ta Resource Conservation and Development Council will hire a garden coordinator to organize and direct the effort. The community gardens will serve as demonstration sites for successful gardening techniques for northern climates, as well as producing healthy foods for tribal members. Part of the gardening initiative will include education on food safety and diet. Your contact is Tom Cogger, NRCS District Conservationist, at 715-682-9117, ext. 114.

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WHAT'S UP IN WASHINGTON

NRCS Signs Lewis and Clark Memorandum of Understanding (MOU) - NRCS Deputy Chief Tom Weber represented the agency this week at the signing of the Lewis and Clark Bicentennial MOU in Washington D.C. Forty signatories, including 9 Federal agencies signed the MOU, which is a public-private partnership with the National Council of the Lewis and Clark Bicentennial. NRCS and its partners have begun to organize and participate in activities relating to the Bicentennial. RC&D Councils in areas along the Missouri River have held tours and are raising funds for local Lewis and Clark activities. The House and Senate have each formed a bipartisan caucus for the Lewis & Clark Bicentennial commemoration that will be observed from 2003 through 2006. The Caucus includes 48 members from the House of Representatives and 20 from the Senate. A Circle of Tribal Advisors made up of the Confederated Tribes of Umatilla, Nez Pierce Tribe, Yakama Nation, Cheyenne River Sioux Tribe, the Oglala/Lakota, Shawnee of Ohio, Ponca Tribe of Nebraska, and Chinook Indian Tribe, and the Mandan/Hidatsa are also participating in the effort to include Indian culture and values and the roles they played in the success of the expedition. Your contact is Joan M. Comanor, Director, NRCS Resource Conservation & Community Development Division, at joan.comanor@usda.gov.

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"The Leader In You" Series Kicks-Off 2001 Season - "Beyond Management to Dynamic Leadership," the first seminar in this year's "The Leader in You" series, will be broadcast from 1-3:00 p.m., Eastern Daylight Time, Thursday, April 12. Handouts and satellite broadcast information have been distributed by e-mail. "The Leader in You" training program is designed to enhance skills at all levels as NRCS and its partners implement locally led conservation. Future programs are "Supercharger 2001 - Motivating the Motivators," May 3; "On Leadership," May 16; and "Stress Mastery," June 14. Your contact is Barbara Wallace, NRCS Social Sciences Institute, at 616-942-1503 or barbara.wallace@usda.gov.

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Integrated Accountability System Team Moves into High Gear - NRCS field and headquarters leadership who make up the Integrated Accountability System (IAS) team are moving toward their main goals to implement all improvements in the IAS databases and programs and to create an Executive Information System (EIS) by the end of this fiscal year. Other IAS team goals are to integrate data for IAS use and component operations; enhance data value; enhance data accessibility in order to minimize the field reporting burden, eliminate data duplication among databases, integrate and minimize records, and link all data to one central location; provide simplified use of key management data at all levels; and ensure that the data meets customer needs. The team will next develop specific integration plans for each of the system components, review them as a group, and oversee their implementation. Additional information on IAS team activities and goals is available from Ken Tootle, NRCS Integrated Accountability System Coordinator, at 817-509-3299. Your contact is Denise Decker at 202-690-0648 or denise.decker@usda.gov

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TECH TIP

Cumulative Effects Analysis Guide for NRCS Under Development - The NRCS Watershed Science Institute is developing a guide for those who develop areawide and watershed plans. The guide will review key considerations and requirements of cumulative effects analysis under the National Environmental Policy Act (NEPA) of 1969. It will also explain and demonstrate the integration of cumulative effects analysis into the areawide conservation planning process used by NRCS. The guide bases its approach to areawide watershed planning on the Council on Environmental Quality's report, "Considering Cumulative Effects" which states, "evidence is increasing that the most devastating environmental effects may result not from the direct effects of a particular action, but from the combination of individually minor effects of multiple actions over time." In general, modern natural resources conservation programs are positive in their effect at the site level. However, treatments may inadvertently have negative impacts when applied at the areawide level. For example, perfection and use of tillage techniques to the exclusion of erosion-controlling herbaceous and woody buffers - crucial for restoring indigenous wildlife habitat - could result in negative environmental impacts. Your contact is Lyn Townsend, NRCS Watershed Science Institute, at 503-414-3028 or ltownsend@wcc.nrcs.usda.gov.

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ACCOLADES

PLANTS Receives Star Award from Awesome Library - The NRCS PLANTS website was recently awarded the Star Rating from the Awesome Library (http://www.awesomelibrary.org). Sites included in the Awesome Library are among the top 5 percent of sites in the field of K-12 education. On rare occasions, a site within the top 2 percent stands out for a particular topic and is given a star rating. The purpose of the rating is to allow visitors with very little time to identify one or two sources as starting points within a topic. The star rating is given to a resource because it is the source for many other sources on the page, a very comprehensive source of information, unusually well organized, and contains essential information for the topic. The star rating joins the Best Fed on the Web, MERLOT (Multimedia Educational Resource for Learning and Online Teaching), and Exploring Minds awards won by the PLANTS website at http://plants.usda.gov. Your contact is Scott Peterson at 225-775-6280, or speterson@npdc.usda.gov

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CONFERENCE & TRAINING CONNECTION

April 6, 2001

As a service to NRCS personnel and the agency's partners, "NRCS This Week" offers the following by-subject list of conferences and training sessions. To add an event, please send an e-mail message to fred.jacobs@usda.gov

Agricultural Economics
Agricultural Engineering
Agricultural Marketing
Agroforestry/Forestry
Coastal Zone Management
Conservation Communications
Geographic Information Systems
Global Climate Change
Grazing Land & Grassland
Locally Led Conservation
Nutrient Management
Public Service
NEW! Research
Rural History
Soil Science/Erosion Control
Special Emphasis Program Training
Volunteers
Water Quality
Watersheds
NEW! Wetlands
Wildlife and Natural Resource Conservation
 

Agricultural Economics
 
American Agricultural Economics Associtaion Annual (AAEA) Meeting
August 5-8
Chicago, Illinois
AAEA seeks submission for posters, papers, organized symposia and free sessions for the 2001 annual meeting in Chicago. For more information, contact Nancy Herselius at 515-233-3202, or nancy@aaea.org or visit the meeting website at http://www.aaea.org/meetings/.
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Agricultural Engineering
 
American Society of Agricultural Engineers (ASAE) 2001 Annual Meeting
July 29-August 1
Sacramento Convention Center, Sacramento, California
The ASAE annual meeting will provide and opportunity for attendees to interact with engineering professionals worldwide, share ideas, techniques, and research with peers, and promote the profession of agricultural, food and biological engineering. For more information visit the conference website at http://www.asae.org/meetings/am2001/cfp-2001.pdf or contact William Hughey, NRCS National Agricultural Engineer, at 202-720-5023.
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Agricultural Marketing
 
Meat Goat Conference
May 12
Voorheesville, New York - USDA Service Center
The Hudson Mohawk Resource Conservation And Development Council, Inc. in partnership with Cornell University and Cornell Cooperative Extension are will sponsor a Meat Goat Conference from 9:00 a.m. - 4:00 p.m. at the USDA Service Center on Martin Road in Voorheesville. The increased demand for goat meat across the northeast has lead to a concerted effort to improve marketing channels. The production of meat goats could be environmentally sound and profitable on marginal land that has few alternative production uses. The conference will explore meat goat management, pasture requirements, animal health, and marketing. For more information, call 518-828-4385, ext. 105.
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Agroforestry/Forestry
 
Opportunities in Agroforestry Conference
April 7
LaCrosse, Wisconsin
Topics include: agroforestry overview, hybrid hazelnuts, cultivated & wild fungi, growing & marketing medicinal herbs, trees & more- short term income possibilities, ornamentals & agroforestry, silvopasturing & alley cropping, funding your agroforestry system, and maple sap collection & syrup production. For more information contact the Southwest Badger Resource Conservation and Development, at 608-348-3235 or steve.bertjens@wi.usda.gov.
 
Agroforestry and Forest Management Learning Community Workshop
April 24-26
Cornell University, New York - Arnot Forest
The workshop is designed to advance professional development in the area of agroforestry and forest management as these practices apply to sustaining small farms and to creating forest farming learning communities in the northeast. For more information contact Louise E. Buck at 607-255-5994 or Leb3@cornell.edu.
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Forest Utilization Conference
May 1-3
Wagoner OK
The Ouachita Mountains Resource Conservation and Development, Inc. will sponsor its 6th annual Forest Utilization Conference and Equipment Exposition at the Western Hills Guest Resort in Sequoyah State Park on the shores of Lake Fort Gibson. For information, contact Gary Garman, Coordinator for Ouachita Mountains RC&D Council, at (918)-423-2479, fax 918-423-0793, email omrcandd@icok.net or visit the web site http://www.icok.net/~omrcandd
 
Southern Forest Science Conference: Contributions of Forest Research to Sustainable Forestry Preliminary Conference Announcement and Call for Papers
November 26 - 28
Renaissance Waverly Hotel, Atlanta, Georgia
The Southern Forest Science Conference will highlight the history and future of research in sustainable forestry. The conference is for anyone interested in the science of southern forests and is open to researchers, research managers and research users as well as policymakers, landowners and other interested stakeholders. Call for Papers: Topics, deadlines and other information can be found at the conference website at http://www.southernforestscience.net/ For more information contact www.southernforestscience.net or the USDA Forest Service, Southern Research Station at (828)-257-4302.
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Coastal Zone Management
 
Coastal Zone 01
July 15-19
Cleveland, Ohio
Coastal Zone 01 will feature important lessons learned by coastal managers around the world and models of successful partnerships, such as that established in the Great Lakes, where two sovereign nations jointly manage water and living resources of this great "inland sea." Cleveland offers an outstanding opportunity to examine how local and regional issues are connected to worldwide influences of culture and commerce, climate and biology. For more information, visit the conference website at http://www.csc.noaa.gov/cz2001/conference.html.
 
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Conservation Communications
 
National Association of Farm Broadcasters
April 28-May 1
Washington, D.C.
This is the "Washington Watch" meeting. Some 35 broadcasters interview persons on Capitol Hill, at USDA, and others around Washington, D.C. For more information, visit the NAFB website at http://www.nafb.com.
 
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Geographic Information Systems
 
2001 American Society of Photogrammetry and Remote Sensing Annual Conference
April 23-27
America's Center / Adams Mark Hotel
St. Louis, MO
The 2001 ASPRS Conference and Technology Exhibition will highlight capabilities and technologies needed for you to succeed as we enter an era where decisions are increasingly based on geographic data. For more information, visit the conference website at http://www.asprs.org/stl01/.
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The Fifth International Airborne Remote Sensing Conference and Exhibition
17-20 September
San Francisco, California - San Francisco Marriott Hotel
This international conference will provide a unique forum for the exchange of ideas and information on the latest developments in airborne remote sensing systems and applications for addressing critical issues now facing the scientific, governmental, and commercial communities. Sessions will include disaster assessment and management data handling and processing, sensor systems for early fire detection, small aircraft and UAV operations, environmental planning and risk management, airborne science operations, land mines and unexploded ordinance, integration of airborne and satellite imaging, water resources and waste disposal monitoring, augmenting satellite remote sensing data, and advanced airborne sensors. The program will offer over 300 presentations by experts from around the world. For more information, visit the conference website at http://www.erim-int.com/CONF/5th_airborne/5thairborne.html.
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Global Climate Change
 
The GW XII Global Warming International Conference and Expo
April 8-11
Cambridge, United Kingdom
The GW XII Global Warming International Conference and Expo will provide an international review of progress towards Kyoto Protocol Targets by all nations in all relevant sectors, and to present the most current science and policy activities on global warming, sustainable environment and health on five continents. For more information, visit the conference website at http://www2.msstate.edu/~krreddy/glowar/gw12c.html.
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Grazing Land & Grassland
 
Diversified Grazing Program
April 7
Acra, New York - Lange's Groveside Resort
The program will be held from 8:00 a.m. - 4:30 p.m., offering opportunities in grass based agriculture. The program features Dr. James Hayes the leading authority on grassland management for diversified livestock operations. Adele Hayes will articulate effective marketing strategies for your livestock operation. The distinguished panel of experts will discuss insights into raising pastured veal, poultry, sheep, goats and elk. There will be a grass based dairy panel comprised of three of our region's innovative dairy farmers. Agricultural entrepreneurs can learn how to profit from Troy Bishop's presentation, "Amber Waves of Goldenrod Into Green...Beef Production on Rented Land." For more information, contact Hudson Mohawk Resource Conservation And Development Council, Inc. at 518-828-4385 x 105.
 
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American Forage and Grassland Council Annual Conference
April 22 to 25, 2001
Springdale, Arkansas
The theme of the 2001 Conference is "Forages- Diamonds in the Rough". The meeting provides attendees an opportunity to hear the latest on Special workshops on "Forage Quality" and "Hay Sampling" will be featured. The meeting will focus on the mechanics and benefits of controlled grazing while professional papers will cover the latest in all aspects of forage agriculture. For a complete program agenda and registration form contact http://www.afgc.org/meeting2001.html or call Dana Tucker at 1-800-944-2342.
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Locally Led Conservation
 
National Conference on Locally Led Conservation Efforts
June 3-5
Nebraska City, Nebraska, Lied Conference Center on the Arbor Day Farm
NRCS, the National Arbor Day Foundation, and the National Association of Conservation Districts will sponsor a national forum for individuals and groups to share lessons learned about locally led or locally driven conservation efforts and to stimulate the advances of this "bottom up" approach to natural resource management. Program focus: Locally led or locally driven conservation is an effort to empower citizens a community to work effectively to assess the health of their land and to address collectively their conservation priorities using the programmatic tools and resources available from Federal, State, and local governments, as well as private sources. For more information, visit the conference website at http://www.arborday.org/programs/conferences.html
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Nutrient Management
 
The Second International Nitrogen Conference (N2001), "Optimizing Nitrogen Management in Food and Energy Production and Environmental Protection"
October 14-18
Bolger Conference Center, in Potomac, Maryland, near Washington, DC
N2001 will bring together a diverse array of scientists, policy makers, and nitrogen producers and users to discuss current understanding of nitrogen science and policy; ways to meet humanity's increasing demand for food, feed and fiber production, energy, and transportation, while minimizing environmental problems brought about by increased circulation of biologically active N compounds. Complete instructions and updates on submission of papers, oral and poster presentations, abstracts and general information concerning the conference can be found at http://esa.sdsc.edu/n2001. For further information, contact Rhonda Kranz at 202-833-8773 ext 212.
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Public Service
 
Public Service Recognition Week (National Mall Event)
May 7-13, 2001
The National celebration of Public Service Recognition Week will occur on May 10-13, 2001. For four days, more than 100 government agencies, non-profit organizations, and private companies will exhibit and celebrate the innovation and quality of work performed by public employees. NRCS NHQ will feature an exhibit regarding natural resource conservation. For more information, contact Ted Kupelian, NRCS Public Affairs Specialist, at 202-720-5776.
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Research
 
NEW! 23rd Annual Science Day
May 31, 2001
Washington, D.C
The theme for this year's Science Day is "Sustainability: Substance or Slogan?" The event, sponsored by local chapters of six natural resource professional societies in the Washington, D.C. area, will be held at Resources For the Future Conference Center, located at 1600 P. Street N.W. Larry Clark, NRCS Deputy Chief for Science and Technology, will be the meeting chairperson. For more more infomration, visit the conference web-site at http://www.potomac-afs.org/science_day.html or contact Bill Boyer at 202-720-0307 or bill.boyer@usda.gov
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Rural History
 
Hugh Hammond Bennett's 120th Year Birthday Celebration
April 13
Platteville, Wisconsin at University of Wisconsin at Platteville
NRCS is organizing and coordinating celebration of Hugh Hammond Bennett's 120th birthday anniversary to kick-off the Earth Day/Earth Team festivities across the Nation. Hugh Hammond Bennett, known as the "father of the Soil Conservation Service," was the first Chief of Soil Conservation Service. The all-day Chautauqua-style meeting will feature live music from Warren Nelson's Big Top Chautauqua and a re-enactment of the original 1933 play, "Old Man Erosion." Many noted conservationists will speak throughout the day. For more information, contact Renae Anderson, NRCS Public Affairs Specialist at 608- 276-8732 ext.- 227.
Water and Rural History Symposium
May 31 - June 2
Reno, Nevada, University of Nevada at Reno (UNR) College of Agriculture
The Agricultural History Society, NRCS, University of Nevada at Reno (UNR) College of Agriculture, and UNR Department of History will hold a Water and Rural History Symposium,. Housing is available at the University Inn on the UNR campus. In addition to the presentations, the symposium will include a one-day field tour focusing on history and water issues in Nevada. For registration information, please contact Professor William D. Rowley, History Department (308), University of Nevada, Reno NV 89557 (Telephone 775-784-6852) or by e-mail at rowley@scs.unr.edu.
 
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Soil Science/Erosion Control
 
National Cooperative Soil Survey Conference
June 25-29
Ft. Collins, Colorado
The conference convenes every other year on the odd-numbered years to discuss and develop solutions to issues of national concern to the National Cooperative Soil Survey. Participants of the National Cooperative Soil Survey include representatives from the 1862 land-grant universities experiment stations, NRCS, U.S. Fish & Wildlife Service, Bureau of Land Management, BIA, EPA, USFWS, National Association of Consulting Soil Scientists, the 1890 land-grant universities and western tribal colleges. Other interested foreign and domestic groups such as lead scientists from Canada, Mexico and South Africa are invited to participate as users of soil surveys. This year the theme of the conference will be Building for the Future: Science, New Technology & People. For more information, contact Maxine Levin, Program Manager, NRCS Soil Survey Division, at 202-720-1809 or maxine.levin@usda.gov.
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The 24th Annual Southern Conservation Tillage Conference
July 9-11
Oklahoma City, Oklahoma.
The conference will provide federal and non-federal scientists, educators, consultants, and farmers from the Southern Region the opportunity to present and discuss recent, research accomplishments in conservation tillage. Deadline for title/summaries is Jan. 15, 2001. For more information visit the website at http://www.agr.okstate.edu/SCTC or contact Jim Stiegler at 405-744-6421 or jhs@mail.pss.okstate.edu.
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Special Emphasis Program Training
 
Third Annual Asian Pacific Islander Organization (APIO) National Training Conference
August 14-17
Reno, Nevada
The APIO National Training Conference will be held at the Boomtown Resort near Reno, Nevada. Check the APIO web site for all of the latest information as it becomes available at http://www.nv.nrcs.usda.gov/apio or contact Kent Matsutani, Vice President APIO, at 308-254-4507 ext.3, or w.matsutani@ne.usda.gov.
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Volunteers
 
National Earth Team Volunteer Coordinators Training Conference
July 16-19,2001
Arlington, Virginia
For more information about the conference, contact Michele Eginoire, NRCS National Earth Team Volunteer Coordinator, at 515-289-0325, ext.29 or eginoire@swcs.org.
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Water Quality
 
2nd National Conference - Nonpoint Source Pollution Information & Education Programs
May 14-17
Chicago, Illinois – Congress Plaza Hotel
The conference will provide a unique opportunity – on a national scale – to learn and share ideas on nonpoint source pollution information and education strategies. The conference will explore practical, state-of-the-art examples of successful outreach programs through exciting sessions that focus on "lessons learned." The conference is for nonpoint source program staff and environmental service groups that work with local adult and youth education programs. For more information, contact Bob Kirschner at 847-835-6837 or bkirschn@chicagobotanic.org.

Soil and Water Conservation Society (SWCS) 2001 Annual Conference
August 4-8
Myrtle Beach, South Carolina, Kingston Plantation
For more information visit the confernce website at http://www.swcs.org/f_what_calendar.htm
The deadline for Call for Papers is December 1, 2000. For more information visit the conference website or contact Charlie Persinger, Director of Member Services, SWCS, at 515-289-2331, ext 12 or charliep@swcs.org.
 
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2001 Groundwater Foundation Annual Conference
November 14-16
Pittsburgh, Pennsylvania - Pittsburgh Hilton and Towers
This year's theme is "Technologies Communities Can Use to Protect Their Drinking Water." The conference is a useful event for anyone involved with education about water resources, whatever your audience. The conference will provide and opportunity for attendees to learn about successful activities undertaken in communities across the country and share what they've learned in their own communities. For more information contact Sherene Hess, Project Director, Water Resource Education Network, at 724-465-4978 or sherenehess@yourinter.net or visit the conference website at http://pa.lwv.org/wren/.

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Watersheds
 
 
Seventh National Watershed Conference
May 20-23
Richmond, Virginia
The theme: "Small Watershed Programs: Past, Present, and Future." This conference will examine our Nation's rich history with upstream small watershed programs and will explore innovative ways of accomplishing watershed project objectives as traditional sources of assistance become harder to get. . For more information contact John W. Peterson, (703) 455-6886, fax (703) 455-6888;e-mail, jwpeterson@erols.com
 
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Association of State Floodplain Managers (ASFPM) Annual Conference
June 3-8, 2001
Charlotte, North Carolina - Adams Mark Hotel
ASFPM is preparing to celebrate its 25th year of working to reduce flood losses in the Nation. The association has identified and recommended improvements in federal floodplain policy and programs to help the nation move toward sustainable floodplain use and disaster-resilient communities. In view of this, the face of the annual national conference is evolving to better meet the needs of a diverse audience. For more information visit the ASFPM website at http://www.floods.org, by call 608-274-0123 or memberhelp@floods.org.
 
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5th International Conference Diffuse/Nonpoint Pollution and Watershed Management
June 10-15
Milwaukee, WI
The conference will point out the problems of the past and develop solutions for the new century. The resolution of the problem requires innovative technologies, economic and regulative tools, basin wide planning, and citizens' initiatives. Problems and solutions of diffuse pollution may differ between the developed and developing countries. Different goals and approaches are also apparent; however, the need for resolution is unifying. Therefore, this conference will provide a platform for the exchange of ideas and networking among the delegates and national delegations. Papers and posters will be presented on the following general themes: A. Source Identification and Measurement; B. Water Quality Impact; C. Solutions to Diffuse Pollution; D. Socioeconomic and Policy Considerations; and E. Modeling, Information Management and Transfer. More than 200 speakers and presenters from 36 countries and all five inhabited continents will be featured during the four-day program. For more information, visit the conference website at http://www.mu.edu/environment/iwa-page.htm.
 
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Wetlands
 
NEW! New York State Wetlands Forum, Inc., 2001 Annual Conference and Meeting
April 11-12
Albany, New York - Albany Holiday Inn
The New York State Wetlands Forum, Inc. Annual Conference, and Meeting, "New York Wetlands – Regional Programs from Statewide Perspectives" will offer presentations covering such topics as wetlands in the courtroom, wetland monitoring, stream restoration, New York State Department of Transportation environmental initiative case studies, wetland values and mitigation, Hudson River, and tidal wetlands. For more information call 518-783-1322 or visit the website at http://www.wetlandsforum.org/2001am.htm.
Izaak Walton League of America National Conference
May 16-18
Orlando, Florida
Topics include: wetland education, restoration, conservation, and international issues. To get on the mailing list for the conference, contact: awm@iwla.org or call (800) BUG-IWLA (284-4952)
 
The Society of Wetland Scientists (SWS) 22nd Annual Meeting
May 27-June 1
The SWS annual meeting, co-hosted by the American Society of Civil Engineers, will be held in Chicago, Illinois. The meeting is intended for all who are involved in wetland science, research, protection, management, education, or policy. This year's conference theme is theme centered on urban wetlands. For more information, visit the conference website at http://www.sws.org/chicago/.
 
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NEW! Coastal and Estuarine Wetland Restoration Into the Millenium: Improving Effectivenesss
June 19-21
Baton Rouge, Louisiana - Radisson Hotel
This National Symposium and workshop that will be conducted by the Institute for Wetland Science and Public Policy, Association of State Wetland Managers, hosted by Louisiana Department of Natural Resources and sponsored by NRCS, the U.S. Environmental Protection Agency, and the National Oceanic Atmospheric Administration. The overall symposium goal is to improve the effectiveness of coastal and estuarine wetland restoration throughout the Nation. If you are interested in presenting a paper, please submit a 200 to 300-word abstract by May 1, 2001. For more information, visit the conference website at http://www.aswm.org/meeting/coastal01.htm or contact: Jon Kusler, Association of State Wetland Managers, at 518-872-1804; or aswm@aswm.org.
 
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Wildlife and Natural Resource Conservation
 
The Wildland-Urban Interface: Sustaining Forests in a Changing Landscape - Conference Announcement and Call for Presentations
November 5-8
University of Florida Hotel and Conference Center, Gainesville, Florida
This conference will provide current information and tools to enhance natural resource management, planning, and policy-making at the wildland-urban interface. Invited and contributed presentations will highlight four main areas related to the interface: Planning and Managing Growth, Human Dimensions, Conserving and Managing Forests for Ecological Services and Benefits, and Conserving and Managing Forests under Different Ownerships. For information on the conference program, registration, and abstract submission, check our website at conference.ifas.ufl.edu/urban/ or contact Susan Vince at (352) 846-0886 or svince@ufl.edu.
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