(above) NRCS Regional Assistant Chief East Dick Coombe signs a memento 2008 Gulf Hypoxia Action Plan cover (NRCS image -- click to enlarge) Coombe with memento 2008 Gulf Hypoxia Action Plan cover (NRCS image -- click to enlarge)

NRCS Regional Assistant Chief East Dick Coombe and Louisiana NRCS State Conservationist Kevin Norton recently joined EPA Assistant Administrator for Water Benjamin H. Grumbles in New Orleans, Louisiana, to announce the release of the 2008 Gulf Hypoxia Action Plan by the Mississippi River/Gulf of Mexico Watershed Nutrient Task Force.  Task-Force member USDA helped to revise the plan and is committed to aiding implementation of key actions designed to reduce nutrient loading and to address water quality concerns locally and in the Gulf. Planned actions include development of State-level strategies that will be useful in helping to set priorities for NRCS technical and financial assistance programs such as those made available in the 2008 Farm Bill.

In his remarks, Coombe noted that the old plan only addressed nitrogen loading whereas the new plan now includes phosphorus as well. Coombe was optimistic that with the new farm bill, NRCS could anticipate accelerating assistance to address hypoxia problems through increased funding for programs like the Environmental Quality Incentives Program.
Your contact is NRCS Mississippi River Basin Coordinator Michael Sullivan at 501-758-2544.

Links….
The Mississippi River/Gulf of Mexico Watershed Nutrient Task Force 

The Mississippi River/Gulf of Mexico Watershed Nutrient Task Force 2008 Gulf Hypoxia Action Plan