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Florida

Requires Windows Media Player.  Florida Panhandle Emergency Watershed Protection Program Featured in Southeast Agnet Radio Spot
Click on story number 04-25 FL Panhandle EWP Projects

Hawaii

Disaster relief to help clear Wailapa
Kaua‘i County officials will study what amounts from two federal funds can be tapped immediately to begin the removal of tons of debris that rest in Wailapa Stream nearly two months after the Ka Loko Reservoir in Kilauea breached and took seven lives.

 

Idaho

Rancher, NRCS Protect East Idaho Archaeological Site
Situated in rolling hills of privately owned range grass about 20 miles west of Idaho Falls are caves on rancher Steve Croft’s land containing one of the most complete records of the people occupying the region over 10,000 years ago. Steve knew he had a ranch to run but was concerned over the risk the caves posed to his cattle as well as the negative toll of trespassing and looting, so last year he contacted NRCS district conservationist Dennis Hadley at the Idaho Falls NRCS office and signed up for an EQIP contract.
 

New Hampshire

Seacoast, State Focus on Invasive Species
Read about NRCS and volunteers battling invasives along the New Hampshire coast.  Celastrus sandens, commonly known as bittersweet, ravaged a one-acre portion of the saltwater ecosystem in Bull Toad’s Pond until Wednesday, when members of the Conservation Commission and Garden Club braved blistering wind and cold rain to remove the viny tree killer from the area.
 

Texas

Sabine-Neches Spells RC&D: “Re-Cycle Day”
The Sabine-Neches Resource Conservation & Development (RC&D) area, composed of eight counties in northeast Texas, recently turned RC&D into Re-Cycle Day.  Darin Smith, district conservationist, has also served as the coordinator for this RC&D for past three years. Over the past three years, nearly a million dollars has come through the council and none of this money came from federal dollars.

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

USDA and University of Nevada Celebrate 100 Years of Studying Snow and Forecasting Streamflow
USDA recognized 100 years of studying snow and forecasting streamflow during an event at the University of Nevada, Reno on May 2. Deputy Under Secretary Merlyn Carlson of USDA's Office of Natural Resources and Environment presented a plaque to the University to honor the contributions of former professor Dr. James E. Church.

Links…
USDA news release: USDA and University of Nevada Celebrate 100 Years of Studying Snow and Forecasting Streamflow (May 2, 2006)

USDA’s Snow Survey and Water Forecasting Program

Celebrate Asian Pacific American Heritage Month
Twenty-seven years ago, President Jimmy Carter signed a joint resolution declaring the first Asian Pacific American Heritage Week as May 4-10, 1979. Eleven years later, in 1990, President George Bush extended the week into a month-long celebration. Two years after that, Public Law 102-450 designated May of each year Asian Pacific American Heritage Month. The theme for this year’s Asian Pacific American Heritage month is Celebrating Decades of Pride, Partnerships and Progress.

Links…
President's Proclamation for Asian/Pacific American Heritage Month

NRCS State Conservationist featured in Office of Personnel Management Video Spot
NRCS South Carolina State Conservationist Walt Douglas is featured in one of the Office of Personnel Management's (OPM) new recruitment video spots.  NRCS is one of only four Federal agencies featured in the spots, which were launched by OPM as part of Public Service Recognition Week.

Watch the recruitment video with Walt Douglas!
Read the story in the Spartanburg Herald!

Requires Windows Media Player.
USDA Natural Resources and Environment Deputy Under Secretary Merlyn Carlson Featured in Southeast Agnet Radio Spot
Click on story number 04-28 USDA Hopes For More Conservation Funding

Last Look at National Mall Event
NRCS staff from National Headquarters recently participated in Public Service Recognition Week (PSRW) activities held on the National Mall in Washington, D.C. The event, celebrated annually the first week in May, is a yearly opportunity to recognize and honor the men and women who serve as Federal, state and local government employees.
 

Proposed EPA Particulate Standards Have Implications for Agriculture
Located in Portland, Oregon, the Air Quality and Atmospheric Change (AQAC) National Technology Development Team has been working to evaluate the effects of newly proposed changes to the National Ambient Air Quality Standards for particulate matter (PM) set by the Environmental Protection Agency (EPA). These changes could have an important impact on how agricultural sources of emissions of particulates, dust, and ammonia are regulated.
 

Each week new NRCS directives will be posted in this section of NRCS This Week.  Click on the links below to find out more about new NRCS DVD's on foraging behavior.

National Bulletin: 190-6-11                                                                 May 8, 2006
Subject: ECS – FORAGING BEHAVIOR DIGITAL VIDEO DISKS (DVD's)
For several years, Dr. Fred Provenza, a professor at Utah State University, has taught Plant Herbivore Interactions, an NRCS National Employee Development Center-sponsored course. Knowledge of plant-herbivore interactions is essential for NRCS personnel in assisting clients to understand their grazing lands. Through a cooperative agreement, Dr. Provenza has developed a DVD exploring the interrelationships between plants and the grazing/browsing animals.

The U.S. Department of Agriculture (USDA) prohibits discrimination in all its programs and activities on the basis of race, color, national origin, age, disability, and where applicable, sex, marital status, familial status, parental status, religion, sexual orientation, genetic information, political beliefs, reprisal, or because all or a part of an individual's income is derived from any public assistance program. (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 to USDA, Director, Office of Civil Rights, 1400 Independence Avenue, S.W., Washington, D.C. 20250-9410 or call (800) 795-3272 (voice) or (202) 720-6382 (TDD). USDA is an equal opportunity provider and employer.