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Alaska

Jeff Oatley riding in the Alaska Fireweed (photo courtesy of George Stransky)Alaska Engineer Bikes Across the U.S.
NRCS civil engineer Jeff Oatley is back.  With the 2006 Alaskan Iditarod under his belt, he's now on a 3,043-mile cross-country odyssey that began June 10 in Oceanside, California, and should end this week in Atlantic City, New Jersey, and in Jeff's words, "gotten pretty weird the last couple days."

 

Indiana

(from left) Kevin Wickey, Mike Hubbs, Debbie Curtis, Gary Lee, Elana Cass, Jane Hardesty, George Cleek, Xavier Montoya, and Tom Drewes (NRCS photo – click to enlarge) “New” State Conservationists Get Valuable Administrative Training
Six fledgling State Conservationists (STCs) were in Indiana recently for the new NRCS State Conservationist Administrative Training.

 
National

soil survey report for Douglas County, IllinoisSoil Survey Reports  Adobe Acrobat Document (Requires Adobe Acrobat.)
 Check out these recently published soil survey reports for Douglas County, Illinois; Delaware County, New York; Green County, Arkansas; King County, Texas; Carroll County, Illinois; Kimball County, Nebraska (not posted to Web); Fulton County, Pennsylvania (not posted to Web); and Delaware County, Ohio.

 

Connect to NRCS' State News, Newsroom, and News Releases!

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the FY06 CSP Team of NRCS, Maryland Department of Agriculture, and Soil Conservation District employees worked across county lines to make the Maryland CSP Watershed the highest funded on the East Coast and the 4th highest funded in the Nation Chesapeake Bay Foundation Recognizes Maryland Conservationist of the Year
Maryland NRCS, the State’s soil conservation districts, and the Maryland Department of Agriculture recently received the Chesapeake Bay Foundation’s (CBF) Maryland Conservationist of the Year award for their outstanding work to improve water quality in the State's rivers, streams, and Chesapeake Bay.  The three groups work out of the 24 soil conservation district offices throughout the State helping farmers implement conservation practices.
 

soil Scientist John Doll of Illinois receives the Soil Scientist of the Year award from Micheal Golden, Director of Soil Survey Division, NRCS, National Headquarters National Soils Organization Honors Two NRCS Soil Scientists
The National Cooperative Soil Survey (NCSS) honored two soil scientists and a professor for their soil science achievements during its annual conference this month in Madison, Wisconsin.

 

 

(from left) Sylvia Gillen, Carol Rushin, and Kerry Goodrich (NRCS photo -- click to enlarge)NRCS Receives EPA Award
This week NRCS received an EPA Environmental Achievement Award from Region 8 EPA Assistant Regional Administrator Carol Rushin for the agency’s efforts in the 2006 American Fork-Pacific Mine site Good Samaritan cleanup.  Accepting the award for the NRCS were Utah NRCS State Conservationist Sylvia Gillen and area conservationist Kerry Goodrich.

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new brochure detailing the work of the Jimmy Carter Plant Materials Center (NRCS photo)New Jimmy Carter Plant Materials Center Brochure
A new brochure detailing the work of the Jimmy Carter Plant Materials Center (PMC) in Americus, Georgia, can be downloaded from the PMC ftp site.

 

 

 

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the new Student Volunteers Can Make A World of Difference Earth Team brochure geared toward attracting younger volunteers (NRCS photo -- click to enlarge)States to Receive New Earth Team Student Brochure
NRCS State Earth Team (ET) volunteer coordinators will soon be receiving 25 copies of the new Student Volunteers Can Make A World of Difference Earth Team brochure geared toward attracting younger volunteers.  The two-fold, six-panel, full color brochure explains the NRCS mission, what ET volunteers do, how they can make a positive difference in helping conserve and protect soil and water resources on private lands, who can volunteer, and how to sign-up to be an ET volunteer.  Additional copies will be available through LANDCARE.  A National Directive will soon be published to officially announce the availability of the new brochure.

Leonora, Ida and June in waders preparing to survey the Weir Creek Salt Marsh (NRCS photo)Massachusetts Earth Team Group Creates Salt Marsh Restoration Design Plan
A multi-cultural group of Smith College engineering students served as group volunteers for the Massachusetts Earth Team this past school year.  From September 2006 to May 2007, the volunteers worked with NRCS staff and partners to design a culvert for the restoration of the Weir Creek Salt Marsh in Dennis, Massachusetts.
 

 

 

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NRCS Directives for June 20, 2007

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a Nebraska farmer, Mr. Richards, setting a spile (or siphon) as he irrigates his corn from an elevated ditchHistorical Irrigation
This photo shows a Nebraska farmer, Mr. Richards, setting a spile (or siphon) as he irrigates his corn from an elevated ditch.  The irrigation system was improved by NRCS Harlan County, Nebraska, Soil and Water Conservation District technicians.  "This elevated ditch is an irrigator's dream.  The spiles carry the water to the rows quickly and easily with one spile enough for each row.  The system is so simple my eight-year old son can do a good job of irrigating,"  Richards said. (National Archives 114g-ne-1610 and 1612 photo — click to enlarge). 

NRCS This Week features a weekly historical photo and caption.  NHQ, districts, States, RC&D councils, and all other NRCS entities are invited to submit a historical photo of activities or individuals who have worked or are working for the agency along with a caption. 
 

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