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| Friday, November 16, 2001 Washington, DC. |
"All things are bound together. All things connect. What happens to the Earth happens to the children of the Earth. Man has not woven the web of life. He is but one thread. Whatever he does to the web, he does to himself."
–- Chief Seattle (1787-1866), leader of the Suquamish Tribe
FOCUS ON THE FIELD
New Resource Conservation and Development (RC&D) Area Offices -
NRCS has new RC&D area offices in central and northwestern coastal Alaska. They were designated by Secretary Veneman to provide full-time technical assistance to rural villages, accessible only by air and intermittently by barge. The Bering Straits RC&D of Nome encompasses 16 communities, including Little Diomede and St. Lawrence Island, with a total population of about 9,000, with approximately 3,500 living in Nome. These communities have identified opportunities to diversify the economies of the villages in the region and strengthen the skills of their workforce; introduce a fish and wildlife curriculum into their schools; and develop a subsistence management plan for the region that incorporates traditional elder knowledge, native practices, and values. The Lower Kuskokwim RC&D of Bethel consists of 27 communities along the Kuskokwim River and near the Bering Sea, including the Bering Sea Islands of Nunivak and Nelson. The total population of the RC&D area is roughly 15,000, with about 6,000 located in Bethel. Community goals for the Bethel RC&D include improvement of housing, schools, water, and sewer facilities; conservation planning and development of fisheries resources; expansion of employment and tourism; promotion and expansion of the Alaska native arts and crafts industry; and establishment of teen centers, eldercare, childcare, and vocational training facilities.
Your contact is Jim Schmidt, NRCS Assistant Alaska State Conservationist, at 907-761-7760.
Soil Survey Completed -
Fifteen years and 950,000 acres later, the NRCS Washington County, Maine, Soil Survey is complete. The completion celebration, attended principally by NRCS soil scientists and conservationists who worked on the survey, was held in Calais, Maine, where lunch was served followed by presentations on the highlights of the survey. At the conclusion of the celebration, attendees proceeded to a final-acre ceremony on the Pottle Tree farm owned and managed by Jim and Sandra Pottle in Perry, Maine. Sandra also serves as an Associate supervisor for the Washington County SWCD.
Your contact is Elaine Tremble, State Public Affairs Specialist, at 207-990-9100 ext. 3.
Core 4 Partners for Conservation -
NRCS and its Core 4 partners reached several thousand people from 40 states with Core 4 conservation concepts through a unique partnership event hosted by Cabela's Outfitters Mega Store in Mitchell, South Dakota. The idea for reaching out to nontraditional audiences like pheasant hunters, tourists, and sportsmen by partnering with Cabela's came from a South Dakota Core 4 Conservation partnership meeting. For two days prior to the opening of South Dakota's pheasant hunting season, Core 4 volunteers staffed an exhibit featuring photos of South Dakota natural resources and displaying the Core 4 common-sense conservation slogan, "Better Soil. Cleaner Water. Greater Profits. Brighter Future." Part of the exhibit's attraction was a drawing for a signed wildlife print by nationally known South Dakota artist John Green. "To help people see the big picture, we put South Dakota natural resources facts on a registration card for the drawing," explained Angela Ehlers, executive director of the South Dakota Association of Conservation Districts and one of the event's organizers. Over the two days, approximately 2,500 cards were handed out with 1,103 tickets turned in for the drawing. The Core 4/Cabela's venture provided the impetus for establishing a working group representing both agricultural and sportsmen's interests.
Your contact is Joyce Watkins, NRCS public affairs specialist, at 605-352-1228.
NRCS Conservationist Lends New York City a Helping Hand -
NRCS soil conservation technician, Tony Rodriquez, who also serves as a volunteer firefighter paramedic, and several other members of the First Baptist Church in Jayton, Texas, wanted to help with recovery and cleanup efforts in New York City after the September 11 terrorist attacks. On October 18, the team finally got their clearance to travel to New York City, where they were housed at Floyd Bennett Field. They worked on a variety of tasks ranging from preparing roughly 170,000 meals delivered by the Red Cross to recovery and cleanup workers, to driving trucks to deliver water, food, medical supplies, gloves, hardhats, and teddy bears for the Ameri-cares, American Red Cross and the Southern Baptist Convention's Teddy Bear Project. Tony and his team's days began at around 6:00 a.m. and ended by washing dishes until midnight after returning to the Floyd Bennett Field kitchen. Walking through a warehouse and seeing 5,000 American flags to be used at a memorial service, and knowing that each flag symbolized someone lost in the tragedy, gave the team their most heartrending moment. Tony reflected upon his return to Jayton, saying, "if we help someone with a hot meal or a kind gesture, we create a light that will guide us through the darkness and remind us that we're not alone."
Your contact is Quenna Terry, NRCS public affairs specialist, at 806-791-0581.
Landscaping for a Better Home -
NRCS recently developed a landscaping plan just in time for the USDA Forest Products Laboratory (FPL) grand opening of their "Build a Better Home" research demonstration house at the FPL facility in Madison, Wisconsin. The landscaping plan, created by Bob Snieckus, NRCS National Landscape Architect, and Ginger Murphy from the NRCS Community Planning Staff uses backyard conservation practices like planting trees and shrubs to cool the structure in summer and protect it from the prevailing winter winds thereby reducing energy costs. Harvesting water for irrigation and capture, using semi-permeable pavement for drainage, forestry plots, and erosion prevention demonstration sites are among the many conservation practices represented. Additionally, conservation principles are applied through the use of subsistence, fragrance, and kitchen gardens. The landscaping will be installed next spring and will have interpretive signs for visitors as well as a permanent Backyard Conservation display located in the house. Recognizing the need to promote better construction methods, the FPL designed a house to showcase proper building practices and new building technologies. From the permanent wood foundation to the flashing around the chimney, this 4 bedroom, 3-bath, 2-story house features moisture-resistant building practices, the latest in energy efficient appliances and heating/ventilating/air-conditioning systems, and "green building" technologies advocated by the leading building science experts. Over 500 people toured the facility during the 2-day grand opening.
Your contact is Bob Snieckus, NRCS National Landscape Architect, at 202-720-9155 or Ginger Murphy, NRCS Community Planning Staff, at 202-690-5979.
November is American Indian Heritage Month!In 1986, President Reagan designated November 23-30 as "American Indian Week." President Bush proclaimed the first National American Indian Heritage Month four years later. Since then, each U.S. President has proclaimed each November as "American Indian Heritage Month." Listed below are some websites that deal with American Indian history, knowledge, lifestyles, current events and tradition.
http://www.aianea.com/ American Indian/Alaskan Native Employees Association for the NRCS. Visit this website to become a member or view projects (NOTE: this site is temporarily out of service. Check back in a week or two).
http://www.aihec.org American Indian Higher Education Consortium. This educational organization represents 32 colleges in the U.S.A. and Canada.
http://www.aises.org American Indian Science and Engineering Society. This professional organization nurtures building of community by bridging science and technology with traditional Native values.
http://www.americanindian.net Look up dates in North American Indian history. Links to numerous other web sites dealing with Tribal Peoples.
http://www.americanindiantribe.com Gives you a head start in research on the historical background of many American Indian Tribes.
http://www.ammsa.com/windspeaker/ Canada's national aboriginal news source.
http://www.cherokee.org Official website for the Cherokee Nation of Oklahoma.
http://www.doi.gov/bia/oirm/faq.htm Answers to frequently asked questions about American Indians.
http://www.indiancountry.com Website of "Indian Country" magazine. Current news articles about tribes, laws and lifeways.
http://www.indiantrust.com Website on the Cobell verse Norton (DOI) lawsuit. <http://www.indianz.com> Headline news of current events affecting American Indians and mainstream USA.
http://www.iaiancad.org Institute of American Indian Arts. Established by the U.S. Department of the Interior's Bureau of Indian Affairs in 1962. In 1975 it became a 2-year college in Santa Fe, NM.
http://www.nativeamericanheritage.com A good way to begin to learn about Indian heritage.
http://www.nativepeoples.com The forum is packed with interesting topics.
http://www.nativeweb.org Resources for indigenous cultures around the world. 3,505 web listings available.
http://www.tribalfires.com Promotes the publishing of Native American creative writers.
Preliminary Earth Team Survey Results In -
The NRCS Social Sciences Institute is analyzing preliminary data for the NRCS Earth Team Volunteer Survey, which was conducted to increase understanding of volunteer background, worksite locations, types of tasks performed, and satisfaction levels. From the over 500 surveys returned to date, preliminary results reveal that about half of the NRCS Earth Team volunteers are college graduates, 52 percent are female, and half are 55 years of age or older. Most respondents cited the Earth Team being a worthy cause as their main reason for volunteering. Survey results will be used to formulate recommendations for Earth Team recruiting and retention. Survey results will be provided to NHQ and field staff in an upcoming executive summary.
Your contact is Michele Eginoire, NRCS National Earth Team Volunteer Coordinator, at 515-289-0325 ext. 29.
The First Soil Scientists -
Soil science actually began in North America long before the first European settlers arrived. Archeological evidence suggests that early American Indians were familiar with soil use as well as its limitations. Many ancient American Indian campsites were located on productive soil near rivers, but also out of flood-prone areas where rocks on the surface were minimal and surface soil textures allowed free drainage. Further evidence of early Native American knowledge of the use of soils was documented by Henri Juotal accompanying French discoverer René-Robert Cavelier Sieur de La Salle who explored the length of the Mississippi River. Juotal's journals describe an advanced culture of Caddo Indians successfully growing crops on some of the most productive and fertile soils in northeast Texas. Early East Coast European settlements were also located in areas with productive, deep, well-drained, medium textured soils indicating their knowledge of the relationship between soils, landscapes, and agricultural production.
Your contact is Alan Terrell, NRCS Soil Scientist, at 254-742-9862.
2001 CF Industries National Watershed Award Winners Announced -
The Conservation Fund has announced that watershed groups based in Alaska, Idaho, Wisconsin, and Vermont will receive the 2001 CF Industries National Watershed Award for demonstrating effective nonregulatory approaches to improve water quality. The recipients of the 2001 CF Industries National Watershed Award are the Duck Creek Watershed Management Project in Juneau, Alaska; Tri-State Water Quality Council based in Sandhill, Idaho; Riverland Conservancy established by Madison, Wisconsin-based Alliant Energy; Lake Champlain Water Basin Program based in Grand Isle, Vermont. Three communities and one corporation are honored annually for innovative local partnerships that seek to improve water quality by balancing a watershed's environmental and economic needs and emphasizing economic incentives, voluntary initiatives and education. The award is administered by The Conservation Fund, a nonprofit organization based in Arlington, Virginia, that acts to protect the nation's land and water resources. The Conservation Fund works in partnership with other organizations, public agencies, foundations, corporations and individuals. Since its establishment in 1985, the organization has helped its partners safeguard wildlife habitat, greenways, community "greenspace" and historic sites totaling three million acres throughout the U.S.
Your contact are Beth Koonse, The Conservation Fund, at 304-876-2815 and John Dewey, CF Industries, at 847-438-9500.
Water for Wildlife in Wetland Restoration Projects -
Wildlife use of wetland restorations is closely related to the time of the year that surface water is present. To ensure that wetland restoration projects provide for the greatest diversity of wildlife use and benefit, surface water should be present throughout as much of the year as possible. Management actions that remove surface water to foster optimal habitat conditions for one species or species group (e.g., wintering waterfowl) may reduce habitat conditions for others. It may also limit the inherent benefits of the wetland to only a limited portion of the year. For example, a wetland restoration site that is managed for the maximum production of waterfowl food plants (e.g., spring drawdown and fall reflooding) may provide excellent winter feeding habitat for dabbling ducks but little value to many species of other wildlife that require surface water for summer survival (e.g., wood ducks, colonial nesting birds, fishes, and many reptiles and amphibians). Correspondingly, a wetland restoration that limits the effects of water control structures to only a portion of the wetland and incorporates land de-leveling features (e.g., excavation of potholes, sloughs and swales), will provide multi-seasonal habitat for both waterfowl and a diverse assemblage of other wildlife.
Your contact is Billy M. Teels, Director NRCS Wetlands Institute at 301-497-5938 or billy_teels@usgs.gov.
Please send correspondence and 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.
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The U.S. Department of Agriculture (USDA) prohibits discrimination in all its programs and activities on the basis of race, color, national origin, sex, religion, age, disability, political beliefs, sexual orientation, or marital or family status. (Not all prohibited bases apply to all programs.) Persons with disabilities who require alternative means for communication of program information (Braille, large print, audiotape, etc.) should contact USDA's TARGET Center at 202-720-2600 (voice and TDD).
To file a complaint of discrimination, write USDA, Director, Office of Civil Rights, Room 326W, Whitten Building, 14th and Independence Avenue, SW, Washington, D.C. 20250-9410 or call 202-720-5964 (voice and TDD). USDA is an equal opportunity provider and employer.
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