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NRCS This Week

Friday, April 27, 2001 Washington, DC.

"Everything we do, all we share, even whatever we amount to as a great and enduring people, begins with and rests on the sustained productivity of our agricultural land."

Hugh Hammond Bennett (1881-1960), from a series of 1959 lectures at North Carolina State University

Focus on the Field
California: Partnerships for Farm Water Quality
Indiana: Revegetating Slag Refuse Areas with Native Warm-Season Grasses
Kansas: Clean a Stream and Get a Prize That Will Last a Lifetime
Texas: Lavaca Germplasm Canada Wildrye Released for South Texas

What's Up in Washington
NRCS Celebrates Earth Day and Earth Team Volunteers
NRCS to Participate in Public Service Recognition Week Mall Activities

National
Collaboration on Study of Cold Soil Behavior
 
Tech Tip
New Poplar-Willow Technology Network
 
Accolades
NRCS National Historian Honored
 
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 27 "Conference & Training Connection" for an alphabetical-by-subject list of upcoming events. See NEW! listings under Wetlands and Wildlife and Natural Resource Conservation.

FOCUS ON THE FIELD

Partnerships for Farm Water Quality - NRCS, the University of California Cooperative Extension, Coalition of Central Coast County Farm Bureaus, and the Regional Water Quality Control Board are conducting short courses on water quality for local farmers in California's Central Coast region. With the emphasis on water quality issues, nutrient and sediment management, sessions cover watershed functions, watershed issues, State and Federal regulations, creating a water quality plan, monitoring, riparian issues, management practices, and USDA cost share programs. Participants will develop water quality plans for their individual farms and are encouraged to monitor water quality before and after they implement conservation practices. Your contact is Jolene Lau, NRCS Public Affairs Specialist, at 831-754-1595, or jolene.lau@ca.usda.gov.

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Revegetating Slag Refuse Areas with Native Warm-Season Grasses - A study designed to determine how topsoil and fertilizer supplements affect the establishment of native warm-season grasses on a northwestern Indiana slag refuse site has yielded positive results. Slag is discarded material from processing iron ore into steel. Split slag site plots were planted with a mix of five locally collected warm-season grasses that were treated with added topsoil, fertilized, or left untreated. Compared to non-fertilized slag sites, those with topsoil added had significantly more foliar cover and a higher relative effectiveness rating for improving wildlife habitat and aesthetic value. No significant differences were found between fertilized and unfertilized plots. Based on comparisons between several varieties of warm- season grasses planted on individual plots, little bluestem had the highest plant counts relative to its proportion in the mix compared to all other varieties of grass seed. Your contact is Tony Bush, NRCS Research Agronomist, at 517-641-4982, or tony.bush@mi.usda.gov.

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Clean a Stream and Get a Prize That Will Last a Lifetime - What do you get when you put 854 students, 189 adults, and a stream together? You get the fourth annual Kansas City Clean Streams 2001 & Clean Water Celebration. The Blue River Watershed Association and local school-based stream teams sponsored the event where participants were asked to adopt a stream near their school and pick up trash or plant at least two trees in the area of the stream. The participants experienced the satisfaction of cleaning streams near their schools. They also enjoyed a picnic lunch, local performers and a "stream trailer," a tricycle constructed from re-cycled materials bearing a conservation message and built by staff from the Johnson County Conservation District. The event was a success by all accounts, as best expressed by a student overheard to remark, "I can't wait for next year's Clean Stream Celebration. This was awesome!" Your contact is Mary Shaffer, NRCS Public Affairs Specialist, at 785-823-4571, or mary.shaffer@ks.nrcs.usda.gov.

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Lavaca Germplasm Canada Wildrye Released for South Texas - The NRCS Kika de la Garza Plant Materials Center (PMC) in Kingsville, Texas has announced release of Lavaca Germplasm Canada wildrye - a native, cool-season, perennial grass - for use in south Texas. Lavaca Germplasm can be used as a component in native seed mixtures for range restoration. It is also suitable for cool-season pastures, especially in wooded riparian areas. Lavaca Germplasm was selected from a collection of 60 accessions for its vigorous vegetative growth, total biomass, persistence, drought resistance, heat tolerance, and good seed production. Foundation seed may be obtained by contacting the Kika de la Garza PMC. Your contact is John Lloyd-Reilley, NRCS Plant Materials Center Manager, at 361-595-1313, or jreilley@tx.nrcs.usda.gov

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WHAT'S UP IN WASHINGTON

NRCS Celebrates Earth Day and Earth Team Volunteers - NRCS celebrated Earth Day (nationally observed on April 22) and National Volunteer Week, April 22-28, this week at an awards ceremony in the USDA Whitten Building patio. Chief Reed recognized six Earth Team volunteers for their contributions to conservation. The honorees were Chad Latiolais, Louisiana; Randy Thompson, Maryland; Sonia Santos, Michigan; Vicki Bauer, Nebraska; William Eagle, Oregon; and James Beckley, Virginia. "America was built on the spirit of volunteerism," said Reed. "We are grateful for the contributions of our Earth Team volunteers. We have a big job to do and volunteers are a vital part of getting conservation on the land," he added. As part of the celebration, the new Earth Team public service announcement was "rolled out." The spot, narrated by actor Morgan Freeman, encourages Americans to "take care of our planet and join the Earth Team." This year marks the 20th anniversary of the NRCS Earth Team Volunteer Program that provides opportunities for people who need professional work experience or academic credit or want to work with others to protect and conserve natural resources.

Last year, 38,000 Earth Team volunteers nationwide contributed more than 900,000 hours of their time to conservation on private lands. Volunteers help farmers, ranchers, and other private landowners with conservation practices and projects that reduce wind and water erosion, improve water quality, enhance wildlife habitat, and reduce flooding. They also help people of all ages learn about conservation through hands-on educational activities.

Earth Day and Earth Team conservation activities were held across the country throughout the month. NRCS participated in many of these activities including: helping students at the Mississippi School for the Blind plant trees on the newly constructed campus, participating in a public forum on environmental issues with the Virginia Tech Environmental Coalition, and seeding native grasses and shrubs around a public bicycle loop in the State of Washington. Your contact is Fred Jacobs, NRCS Public Affairs Specialist, at 202-720-6794, or fred.jacobs@usda.gov.

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NRCS to Participate in Public Service Recognition Week Mall Activities - NRCS will feature an exhibit on soils to help celebrate the 2001 Public Service Recognition Week Mall Event. The event will occur May 10-13, on the National Mall between the National Air and Space Museum and the National Gallery of Art. The activity, cosponsored by Public Employees Roundtable and the President's Interagency Council on Administrative Management, will begin at 11:45 a.m. on Thursday, May 10, with welcoming remarks from Vice President Dick Cheney (invited) and other distinguished guests.

For four days, nearly 100 civilian and military agencies, non-profit organizations, and private corporations are expected to participate in this celebration. The Mall event is visited by both government workers and the general public and is a great way to demonstrate to the public the value of services provided by government employees. Your contact is Ted Kupelian, NRCS Public Affairs Specialist at 202-720-5776 or ted.kupelian@usda.gov.

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NATIONAL

Collaboration on Study of Cold Soil Behavior - The National Soil Survey Center has been collaborating with scientists in New Zealand to determine the impact of fuel spills on soils in Antarctica. The study, initiated in 1999, placed soil climate station sites on Ross Island, near Scott Base; the Antarctic coast; and in a dry valley, an area kept free from snow by high winds. Hourly averages of soil water content, soil temperature, and atmospheric variables are recorded on dataloggers and retrieved annually at each site, which has two stations, one in a spill area, and one nearby in a non-spill area for comparison. Because permafrost-affected areas are believed to be the most sensitive to global climate change, the soil climate station data provide valuable information for models used to predict climate change and its effects. Modelers need soil climate information to calibrate and verify their models. The project will yield data for Antarctica managers to help them decide whether to ameliorate oil-contaminated soils or let nature repair itself and for NRCS to improve soil taxonomy, classify soils for the proposed Southern Hemisphere Circumpolar Soils Map, and better understand cold soil behavior. Data will be available via the Internet and results of the study, scheduled to end in 2002, will be published in various formats, including a Soil Survey Investigations Report. Your contact is Ron Paetzold, NRCS Research Soil Scientist, at 402-437-4133 ron.paetzold@usda.gov.

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TECH TIP

New Poplar-Willow Technology Network - The USDA National Agroforestry Center (NAC), in cooperation with Washington State University, has developed a national network of experts to provide technical support in poplar-willow technology for individuals, private companies, and city, county, State and Federal agencies. This network was established because of the increasing interest in using fast growing tree species for wastewater treatment and other similar types of tree-related environmental projects. The network is organized by regions of the U.S. based on biological and environmental limitations of growing species of Populus and Salix and their interspecific hybrids. An expert in each region can provide information on species and variety selection and suitability, a list of nurseries where planting stock can be purchased, and a list of ongoing wastewater projects, if any, and contact information. A hardcopy of the poplar/willow technology network can be obtained from the USDA NAC's web site at http://www.unl.edu/nac; select "News and Nic Nacs." In addition, a copy can be obtained by calling the NAC at 402-437-5178. Your contact is Douglas Williams, NRCS National Forester, at 202-720-1858.

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ACCOLADES

NRCS National Historian Honored - NRCS National Historian, Douglas Helms, was recently elected president of the Agricultural History Society, an 80-year-old organization dedicated to the study of agriculture and rural life. In addition, his presidential address, "Soil and Southern History," was recently published in the fall 2000, issue of "Agricultural History." The article examines the influence of soil properties on the history of agriculture in the southern United States and how these patterns changed once fertilizers were available. Doug benefited from having access to the work of NRCS soil scientists and the soil survey program as the paper relied heavily on soil surveys and soil taxonomy in analyzing historical developments. Your contact for a reprint of the article is Doug Helms at 202-720-3766, or douglas.helms@usda.gov.

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CONFERENCE & TRAINING CONNECTION

April 27, 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
Locally Led Conservation
Nutrient Management
Public Service
Research
Rural History
Soil Science/Erosion Control
Special Emphasis Program Training
Volunteers
Water Quality
Watersheds
Wetlands
NEW! 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
 
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
September17-20
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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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
 
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
 
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
 
 
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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
 
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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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
 
NEW! Urban Wildlife Management National Conference
May 1-3
Nebraska City, Nebraska
This conference will demonstrate management opportunities for urban habitats from small city parks in urban centers to large subdivisions with considerable open space. The roles of urban soils, vegetation, water quality, noise, open space, greenways, habitat, animal communities, and human communities will be discussed. Presenters will share proven strategies for successfully integrating increased wildlife habitat in our cities and towns. For more information, visit the conference website at http://www.arborday.org/urbanwildlife or contact John Rosenow,
National Arbor Day Foundation, at 402-474-5655.
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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