Nevada

High Desert RC&D Conducts Safety Training for Hispanic Tree Workers
Nevada's High Desert Resource Conservation and Development (RC&D) council  recently conducted a Spanish language safety course for Hispanic landscapers and laborers.  “The course was a huge success,” said Teri Knight, High Desert RC&D coordinator.  “Forty-two workers attended including several who drove 300 miles one way from Yuma, Arizona.”

Florida

NRCS Protects Endangered Species on Air Force Base
Officials from the Florida Three Rivers Resource Conservation and Development (RC&D) Council along with other partners celebrated the completion of the Mill Creek Restoration Project to restore and enhance the habitat of the Okaloosa Darter on the Elgin Air Force Base Golf Course.  

 

National

2008 Gulf Hypoxia Action Plan Released
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.

 

Minnesota NRCS Engineer Recognized
Minnesota NRCS State Hydraulic Engineer Sonia Maassel Jacobsen recently distinguished herself by claiming two American Society of Agricultural and Biological Engineers (ASABE) “firsts.” She was not only the first NRCS woman to be named as an ASABE fellow, but also the first non-academic woman to receive the honor.
 

Ortwin Bourquin -- Montana NRCS Earth Team Volunteer
Ortwin Bourquin became an Earth Team volunteer with NRCS in 2003 -- his first year in the United States.  His goal was to collect and identify all the plants around the 640-acre subdivision where he lives in Columbus Montana. Not a small task for anyone.  Located between the Stillwater and Yellowstone Rivers, the land consists of wetlands to ponderosa pine forest native plant communities.
 

NRCS and Smithsonian Celebrate New Dig-It Secrets of Soil Exhibit
USDA Deputy Under Secretary Gary Mast, Chief Arlen Lancaster, Smithsonian National Museum of Natural History Associate Director Elizabeth Duggal along with representatives from the organizations that assisted with the Dig-It Secrets of Soil exhibit development recently gathered to recognize those who helped with the effort.

New Agency Core Publication Available Soon
A new NRCS publication Helping You Help Your Land (PA# 1966) has been printed and will soon be available from LANDCARE (1-888-LANDCARE). The attractive 12-page full-color brochure briefly describes the agency vision, who we are and what we do, and the role of partners and programs along with images and quotes by NRCS customers and employees. Helping is primarily designed for landowners who aren't aware of NRCS and how we can help them, but it is also ideal for NRCS participation at events and activities where there is an opportunity to inform the interested public about agency's mission, work, employees, and customers.

New Recruiting Brochure
A new NRCS recruiting brochure Challenging Careers in the Natural Resources Conservation Service (PA# 1634) has been printed and will soon be available from LANDCARE (1-888-LANDCARE).  Careers briefly describes the agency history, mission, goals, employee benefits, volunteer program, and in more detail, the conservation career opportunities in NRCS along with images and quotes by eight employees serving in the various disciplines.  The attractive 12-page full-color brochure lists other support staff positions available within the agency as well.

Careers is ideal for NRCS participation at career fairs, State and county fairs, envirothons, and other conservation education-related events and activities where there is an opportunity to inform the interested public about careers with NRCS.