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NRCS This Week

Friday, May 25, 2001 Washington, DC.

"Essentially, all life depends upon the soil. There can be no life without soil and no soil without life; they have evolved together."

– Charles E. Kellogg (1902-1980), Chief of Soil Survey Division, Bureau of Chemistry and Soils, "USDA Yearbook of Agriculture," 1938


Focus on the Field
Kansas: NRCS Volunteer Apprentice West Point Bound
Michigan: "Locally Led" Train-the-Trainer Workshops Scheduled
Ohio: First Conference for African American Farmers in Ohio

What's Up in Washington
Secretary's Honor Awards Ceremony
Celebrate American Wetlands Month

Tech Tip
NRCS Responds to Foot and Mouth Disease
Write-On!
NRCS This Week wants your stories! We welcome anything from finished articles to just a line or two about a story idea or event for follow-up. Please send your material for NRCS This Week to the editor by e-mail to: fred.jacobs@usda.gov; or by fax to: Editor, "NRCS This Week," 202-720-1564; or by mail to: Editor, "NRCS This Week," NRCS, P.O. Box 2890, Washington, D.C. 20013.

USDA/NRCS 'NetNewsLinks
Find out what USDA is doing to prevent Foot and Mouth Disease from entering the U.S. at http://www.aphis.usda.gov/oa/fmd/index.html, http://www.maff.gov.uk/animalh/diseases/fmd/default.htm, or http://www.environment-agency.gov.uk/envinfo/fmd/index.htm.
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 May 25 "Conference & Training Connection" for an alphabetical-by-subject list and a chronological-by-date-random-subject listing of upcoming events.

FOCUS ON THE FIELD

NRCS Volunteer Apprentice West Point Bound - Masey Wolfe, who served as an Earth Team Volunteer apprentice for three summers at the Tribune, Kansas, NRCS Field Office, has received an appointment to the U.S. Military Academy at West Point, New York. As an NRCS apprentice, Masey helped with Conservation Reserve Program status reviews, implementing soil and water conservation practices, and providing computer assistance to the Wichita, Scott, and Greeley conservation districts. Through the Kansas Natural Resource Apprentice Initiative, high school and college students become Earth Team volunteers who gain valuable natural resource knowledge and experience in order to make more informed career choices and fulfill community service requirements for scholarships, colleges, and technical schools. We wish Masey good luck at West Point and hope that he will continue to be active in conservation activities. Your contact is Mary Shaffer, NRCS State Public Affairs Specialist, at 785-823-4571.

"Locally Led" Train-the-Trainer Workshops Scheduled - "Developing Your Skills to INVOLVE COMMUNITIES in Implementing Locally Led Conservation" is a nine-module training program designed to be customized for use at the local level. A train-the-trainer workshop is scheduled to familiarize participants with the materials and provide the tools to cost effectively implement the training in their State or region. This training supports the NRCS Strategic Plan and current farm program. Attendees will include one representative from each region in addition to a representative from each State. The training will take place in Grand Rapids, Michigan, June 25 to June 29. Your contact is Barbara Wallace, Social Sciences Institute, at 616-942-1503.

First Conference for African American Farmers in Ohio - Among the more than 100 individuals who recently attended Ohio's first African American farmers' conference were State Representative Ray Miller and City Councilwoman Charleta Tavares. NRCS co-sponsored the event, held at the Stratford Ecological Center in Delaware, Ohio, which attracted agency staff, farmers, educators, news media, and young people interested in farming. The conference gave African American farmers an opportunity to discuss their farming needs and concerns. Farmers and non-farmers alike shared their experiences of growing up on a farm and expressed concern that rural young people didn't seem to be as interested in farming as selling their farms to the highest bidder. Several attendees suggested a solution to this problem might be to develop summer farming youth camps which would focus on the importance of preserving farmland and teaching agricultural history to foster an appreciation for the land. Other topics discussed were the dwindling number of black farmers in Ohio to just over 200, concerns over the inheritance tax, and developing effective low-cost conservation practices for limited resource producers. Next year's conference is scheduled for March 2002. Your contact is Tomika Walker, NRCS Outreach Coordinator, at 614-255-2496 or tomika.walker@oh.usda.gov.


WHAT'S UP IN WASHINGTON

Secretary's Honor Awards Ceremony - The Secretary's Honor Awards Ceremony will be held Monday, June 4, 2001, at 12:30 p.m. EDT, in the Ronald Reagan building, International Trade Center, 1300 Pennsylvania Avenue, N.W., Washington D.C. Satellite Coordinates are Telstar 6, transponder no. 12; Downlink Frequency: 3940 horizontal. Transmission problems should be addressed to Globecast Engineering at 202-861-4731. Other logistical questions may be directed to Sandra Anglade, USDA Employee Recognition Manager, at 202-720-8615; <sandra.anglade@usda.gov>; or Cecilia Matthews, USDA Incentive Awards Officer, at 202- 690-0266 (TTY 202-720-8372) <cecilia.matthews@usda.gov>.

Celebrate American Wetlands Month - Each May, thousands of individuals celebrate the uniqueness, beauty, and importance of wetlands. The theme of American Wetlands Month 2001 is "American Wetlands - Keep 'em Native." A wetland can be as tiny as a small wet spot or puddle or as large as the Everglades. They are found in every State in the U.S. This celebration is an ideal time to emphasize programs and activities that support voluntary wetland restoration and protection. Landowners are voluntarily restoring wetlands on an unprecedented scale. During May, conservation districts, grassroots organizations, and government agencies join individuals and educators across the country to acknowledge the importance of this valuable natural resource and the role wetlands play in the health of our Nation. Discover more about wetlands activities and programs on the NRCS wetlands website at http://www.nhq.nrcs.usda.gov/CCS/wetlands01.html.

Did You Know...
  • more than half of all adults (98 million people) in the U.S. hunt, fish, bird watch, or photograph wildlife? These activities, which rely in large measure on healthy wetlands, provide billions of dollars to the national economy.
  • wetlands often function like natural tubs or sponges, storing water (floodwater, or surface water that collects in isolated depressions) and slowly releasing it? Tress and other wetland vegetation help slow flood waters. This combined action, storage and slow release, can lower flood heights and reduce the water's erosive potential.


TECH TIP

NRCS Responds to Foot and Mouth Disease (FMD) - NRCS has formed an FMD coordinating team to guide agency response to recent outbreaks of foot and mouth disease in Europe, Great Britain, and South America. The team will work with the USDA Animal and Plant Health Inspection Service and other agencies in developing coordinated emergency response plans. USDA has strengthened protections to prevent entry of the disease into the U.S. So far the team has polled States on information provided by State Departments of Agriculture on the issue, contacted other USDA agency representatives, and met with members of the Food and Agriculture Council to develop standardized procedures. Your contact is Barry Kintzer, NRCS National Environmental Engineer, at 202-720-4485


CONFERENCE & TRAINING CONNECTION

May 25, 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

 
 Date Order By-Subject
 Date Order Random Subject Order
 


 
 
 
 


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/.
TO TOP



Agricultural Engineering
 
NEW! Stream Restoration Concepts Workshop
June 12-13
Chicago, Illinois
The conference will feature the latest information and techniques regarding streambank stabilization, buffer strips, dam removal, in-stream habitat, and stream meandering. The conference is designed for natural resource managers and engineers. For more information, contact Leslie Dorworth, Illinois-Indiana Sea Grant College, at 219-989-2726.

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.
TO TOP
 
NEW! 21st U.S. Society of Dams Annual Meeting and Lecture
July 30-August 3
Denver, Colorado
More than 50 lecture and poster session presentation by professionals from the utilities, academia, government agencies, and consulting firms will address a variety of contemporary issues
facing the dam industry. For more infmration, visit the conference website at http://www.uscold.org/~uscold/01amprep.html.
TO TOP
 


Agroforestry/Forestry
 
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 Reserve Enhancement Program (CREP)
 
CREP Forum 2001 - 2nd Annual CREP Round Table Forum
June 10-13
St. Michaels, Maryland - Harbourtowne Conference Center
The Maryland CREP Partnership is holding the CREP Forum to provide a format to discuss current and future issues related to the Conservation Reserve Enhancement Program. The goal of the forum is to further develop communications among the programs and to learn from each other's experiences. The forum is being held in St. Michaels, Maryland along the Eastern Shore of the Chesapeake Bay. The location is ideal not only for discussing the impact of CREP, but for learning about and enjoying an area so magnificent and critical, four of the current 15 CREPs are involved in its protection. The forum is designed for State and Federal Agencies directly involved with the design and implementation of CREP, non-government organizations involved in CREP implementation, and State and tribal officials seeking to start a CREP in the future. For more information, contact Betsy Kulle at 410-260-8718.
 
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Crop Residue Management
 
24th Annual Southern 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. 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.
 
TO TOP
 
NEW! 21st Annual Milan No-Till Crop Production Field Day
July 26
Milan, Tennessee
The field day will feature no-till research and equipment, water and natural resources research, as well as displays showing products and services related to no-till crop production. For more infomration call the University of Tennessee Milan Experiment Station at 901-686-7362.
 
TO TOP
 

Geographic Information Systems
 
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.
TO TOP


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
TO TOP
 
Alabama Soil and Water Conservation Society Annual Meeting
June 13-15
Birmingham, Alabama Sheraton Birmingham South Hotel
Our Changing Watersheds: Issues in the Urban/Rural Interface
Management, development, and wise use of natural resources are the goal of the Alabama Soil and Water Conservation Society (SWCS). These strategies are important whether the communities are rural or metropolitan areas. The 2001 SWCS annual meeting will focus on the interface of rural and urban communities. Those who should benefit from this meeting are city planners, environmental consultants/engineers, conservationists, soil and water conservation districts, natural resource managers, architects, Federal and State regulators, watershed groups, builders and contractors, and regional planners.
TO TOP

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.
TO TOP


Research
 
Science Day 2001
May 31
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
TO TOP


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.
 
TO TOP


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.
TO TOP
 

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.
TO TOP
 

Volunteers
 
National Earth Team Volunteer Coordinators Training Conference
July 16-19
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.
TO TOP
 

Water Quality
 
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
 
TO TOP
 
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/.
TO TOP


Watersheds
 
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.
 
TO TOP
 
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.
 
TO TOP
 
Ninth National Nonpoint Source Monitoring Workshop
August 27-30
Indianapolis, Indiana - Hyatt Regency,
This workshop will bring together land managers and water quality specialists to share information on the effectiveness of best management practices in improving water quality, effective monitoring techniques, and statistical analysis of watershed data. The workshop will focus on the successes of Section 319 National Monitoring Program projects and other innovative projects from throughout the United States. The agenda will include three days of workshop sessions/presentations and a one-day field trip. Two half-day workshops will focus on monitoring program evaluation and GIS. Presentations will be 20 minutes, followed by 10 minutes for discussion. Poster presentations are also encouraged. Presenters will submit a paper due the date of the conference for publication by US EPA-ORD. If you have questions, contact Tammy Taylor at taylor@ctic.purdue.edu or visit www.ctic.purdue.edu/CTIC/NPSCall.html
 
TO TOP
 

Wetlands
 
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/.
 
TO TOP
 
NEW! Seventh Symposium on the Biogeochemistry of Wetlands
June 17-20
Sposnored by the Duke University Wetland Center, the symposium will emphasize various biogeochemical processes occuring in freshwater and estuarine wetlands. There will be numerous opportunites to discuss up-to-date research from acournd the world. For more information contact Dr. Richard J. Cutrtis, Director, Duke University Wetland Center, at 919-613-8006 or visit the conference website at http://www.env.duke.edu/wetland/SeventhSymposium/.
 
TO TOP
 
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.
 
TO TOP
 
NEW! Eighth International Waterfowl and Wetlands Symposium
July 20-22
Washington, D.C.
"The Waterfowl Legacy – Links to Watershed Health." Ducks Unlimited hosts the International Waterfowl and Wetlands Symposium every five years. Experts from around the world will gather to share their research findings and opinions on a range of issues affecting waterfowl, wetlands, and their management. Includes a tour of the Chesapeake Bay. For more information, contact Brenda Carlson, Ducks Unlimited, at 901-758-3707 or visit the conference website at http://www.ducks.org/conservation/symposium_conference_2001.asp.
 
TO TOP
 

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.
TO TOP
 
 

DATE ORDER LISTING


May 2001
 
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/.
TO TOP

Science Day 2001
May 31
Washington, D.C
The theme for this 23rd annual 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 information, 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.
TO TOP

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.
TO TOP



June 2001
 
National Conference on Locally Led Conservation Efforts
Association of State Floodplain Managers (ASFPM) Annual Conference
June 3-8
Charlotte, North Carolina - Adams Mark Hotel
The ASFPM is preparing to celebrate the organization's 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.
TO TOP

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
TO TOP

5th International Conference Diffuse/Nonpoint Pollution and Watershed Management
June 10-15
Milwaukee, Wisconsin
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.
TO TOP

2nd Annual CREP Round Table Forum
June 10-13
St. Michaels, Maryland - Harbourtowne Conference Center
The Maryland CREP Partnership is holding the CREP Forum to provide a format to discuss current and future issues related to the Conservation Reserve Enhancement Program. The goal of the forum is to further develop communications among the programs and to learn from each other's experiences. The forum is being held in St. Michaels, Maryland along the Eastern Shore of the Chesapeake Bay. The location is ideal not only for discussing the impact of CREP, but for learning about and enjoying an area so magnificent and critical, four of the current 15 CREPs are involved in its protection. The forum is designed for State and Federal Agencies directly involved with the design and implementation of CREP, non-government organizations involved in CREP implementation, and State and tribal officials seeking to start a CREP in the future. For more information, contact Betsy Kulle at 410-260-8718.
TO TOP
 
NEW! Stream Restoration Concepts Workshop
June 12-13
Chicago, Illinois
The conference will feature the latest information and techniques regarding streambank stabilization, buffer strips, dam removal, in-stream habitat, and stream meandering. The conference is designed for natural resource managers and engineers. For more information, contact Leslie Dorworth, Illinois-Indiana Sea Grant College, at 219-989-2726.
TO TOP
 
Alabama Soil and Water Conservation Society Annual Meeting
June 13-15
Birmingham, Alabama Sheraton Birmingham South Hotel
Our Changing Watersheds: Issues in the Urban/Rural Interface
Management, development, and wise use of natural resources are the goal of the Alabama Soil and Water Conservation Society (SWCS). These strategies are important whether the communities are rural or metropolitan areas. The 2001 SWCS annual meeting will focus on the interface of rural and urban communities. Those who should benefit from this meeting are city planners, environmental consultants/engineers, conservationists, soil and water conservation districts, natural resource managers, architects, Federal and State regulators, watershed groups, builders and contractors, and regional planners.
TO TOP
 
NEW! Seventh Symposium on the Biogeochemistry of Wetlands
June 17-20
Sposnored by the Duke University Wetland Center, the symposium will emphasize various biogeochemical processes occuring in freshwater and estuarine wetlands. There will be numerous opportunites to discuss up-to-date research from acournd the world. For more information contact Dr. Richard J. Cutrtis, Director, Duke University Wetland Center, at 919-613-8006 or visit the conference website at http://www.env.duke.edu/wetland/SeventhSymposium/.
TO TOP
 
Coastal and Estuarine Wetland Restoration into the Millenium: Improving Effectiveness
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. 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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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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July 2001
 
The 24th Annual Southern Conservation Tillage Conference
July 9-11
Oklahoma City, Oklahoma
The 24th Annual Southern Conservation Tillage 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. 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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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." The meeting 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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National Earth Team Volunteer Coordinators Training Conference
July 16-19
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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NEW! Eighth International Waterfowl and Wetlands Symposium
July 20-22
Washington, D.C.
"The Waterfowl Legacy – Links to Watershed Health." Ducks Unlimited hosts the International Waterfowl and Wetlands Symposium every five years. Experts from around the world will gather to share their research findings and opinions on a range of issues affecting waterfowl, wetlands, and their management. Includes a tour of the Chesapeake Bay. For more information, contact Brenda Carlson, Ducks Unlimited, at 901-758-3707 or visit the conference website at http://www.ducks.org/conservation/symposium_conference_2001.asp.
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NEW! 21st Annual Milan No-Till Crop Production Field Day
July 26
Milan, Tennessee
The field day will feature no-till research and equipment, water and natural resources research, as well as displays showing products and services related to no-till crop production. For more infomration call the University of Tennessee Milan Experiment Station at 901-686-7362.
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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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NEW! 21st U.S. Society of Dams Annual Meeting and Lecture
July 30-August 3
Denver, Colorado
More than 50 lecture and poster session presentation by professionals from the utilities, academia, government agencies, and consulting firms will address a variety of contemporary issues
facing the dam industry. For more infmration, visit the conference website at http://www.uscold.org/~uscold/01amprep.html.
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August 2001
 
Soil and Water Conservation Society (SWCS) 2001 Annual Conference
August 4-8
Myrtle Beach, South Carolina, Kingston Plantation
For more information visit the SWCS conference website at http://www.swcs.org/f_what_calendar.htm
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American Agricultural Economics Association Annual (AAEA) Meeting
August 5-8
Chicago, Illinois
AAEA seeks submission of 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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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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Ninth National Nonpoint Source Monitoring Workshop
August 27-30
Indianapolis, Indiana - Hyatt Regency,
This workshop will bring together land managers and water quality specialists to share information on the effectiveness of best management practices in improving water quality, effective monitoring techniques, and statistical analysis of watershed data. The workshop will focus on the successes of Section 319 National Monitoring Program projects and other innovative projects from throughout the United States. The agenda will include three days of workshop sessions/presentations and a one-day field trip. Two half-day workshops will focus on monitoring program evaluation and GIS. Presentations will be 20 minutes, followed by 10 minutes for discussion. Poster presentations are also encouraged. Presenters will submit a paper due the date of the conference for publication by US EPA-ORD. If you have questions, contact Tammy Taylor at taylor@ctic.purdue.edu or visit www.ctic.purdue.edu/CTIC/NPSCall.html
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September 2001
 
The 5th International Airborne Remote Sensing Conference and Exhibition
September 17-20
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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October 2001
 
The 2nd International Nitrogen Conference (N2001), "Optimizing Nitrogen Management in Food and Energy Production and Environmental Protection"
October 14-18
Bolger Conference Center, in Potomac, Maryland
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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November 2001
 
The Wildland-Urban Interface: Sustaining Forests in a Changing
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 ownership. For more information, visit the conference website at conference.ifas.ufl.edu/urban/ or contact Susan Vince, at 352-846-0886 or svince@ufl.edu.
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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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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 http://www.southernforestscience.net/ or the USDA Forest Service, Southern Research Station at (828)-257-4302.
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