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May 3, 2002
"A dawn wind stirs on the great
marsh. With almost imperceptible slowness, it rolls a bank of fog across the
wild morass. Like the white ghost of a glacier, the mists advance, riding over
phalanxes of tamarack, sliding across bog meadows heavy with dew. A single
silence hangs from horizon to horizon." from A Sand
County Almanac, by Aldo Leopold, (1887-1948), American author and
conservationist
NRCS NewsLinks
NRCS people, projects, and programs appeared this week in the
following newspapers:
Florida:
New Program to Improve Lake Quality,
Cost-sharing Program Aimed to Help Lake, and
Watershed Hearing Set for Tuesday
(The Okeechobee News)
Iowa:
Counties Receive RC&D Designation
(The Humboldt Independent)
Iowa:
DOT Restores Wetlands Lost to Highway
Projects (The Des Moines Register)
Kansas:
Hodgson Hopes to Blaze Trail with RC&D
(The Garden City Telegram)
Minnesota:
Soil Survey Moves Ahead (Citizen
Online, Windom)
Tennessee:
Wetland-to-be will Help Make Up for Loss
(GoMemphis.com),
More Than 700 Local Students Attend a Kids
Day on the Farm (Greene County Online, Greeneville)
NRCS Drought and Snowpack News
Colorado:
both">Colorado Crying Out for a Little Rain (The Gazette, Colorado
Springs),
State Ready to Act as Snowpack Drops
(The Denver Post),
both">It's Official: Mountains Dry (The Greeley Tribune)
Idaho:
April Precip Holds Down Water Use
(The Times-News, Twin Falls)
New Mexico:
Park Officials, Farmers Brace for Drought
Cuff to Coffers (The Albuquerque Tribune)
Oregon:
Snowpack is Striking in Its Normacy (The Mail Tribune, Medford)
Utah:
Drought, Fire Danger Intensify
(The Desert News)
(NOTE: Links are tested at the time NRCS This Week is cleared. However,
by the time readers try the link, the story
may be off the server. In most cases readers can go to the paper's homepage
where they will be able to access the story through the paper's archives).
Focus on the Field
Laotian Hands Across the Sea --
Growers and agricultural representatives
from Laos recently visited the Salinas and Fresno areas for 2 months to learn
about irrigation and erosion control technologies that could be useful in their
native country. The group visited strawberry and flower growers, the Southeast
Asian Specialty Crop Experimental Project at California
State University at Fresno
and the Salt Creek and Ketscher Citrus Orchards in Fresno and Monterrey
counties. Additionally, the Laotian growers and agricultural representatives
learned about the impact of this year's heavy rainfall on streambank erosion,
sedimentation, soil acidity, and crop production from NRCS
conservationists
and marketing techniques from University of
California Cooperative State Research,
Education, and Extension Service staff
line">. Your contact is
Jolene Lau, NRCS public affairs specialist, at 831-754-1595.
Investing in Volunteers -- The
NRCS New Hampshire Natural Resources
Volunteer Training program recently graduated 58
Earth Team and
Community Tree Steward volunteers from the 2002 Natural Resource Volunteers
training courses. The graduates represent varied backgrounds, including town
officials, planning commission members, students, retirees, master gardeners,
and a TV producer. Born of a partnership between the NRCS Earth Team and the
local Community Tree Stewardship programs, Natural Resources Volunteer Training
Program graduates volunteer for a minimum of 40 hours over a 2-year period in
exchange for 10 hours of training in natural resources conservation. The
training is sponsored by University of New
Hampshire Cooperative State Research, Education, and Extension Service; the
New Hampshire Division of Forests and Lands;
and the U.S. Forest Service; in partnership
with NRCS and three of New Hampshire’s 10 Conservation Districts in
Hillsborough, Strafford and
Rockingham counties. Courses were held in different parts of the State to
encourage local participation and included a wide range of training in natural
resource areas related to forestry, soil and water conservation, and watershed
management. The results of the training are already evident with a pilot
project training, inspired by the program, underway at University of New
Hampshire where students receive college course credit for the Natural Resource
Volunteers. Graduates are already assisting NRCS professionals and volunteers
in conservation projects throughout New Hampshire. Your contact is
Priscilla Johnston, NRCS volunteer coordinator, at 603-868-7581 or.
Helping People Understand Soils -- Nearly 200 attendees at the National
Conservation Education meeting hosted by the U.S. Forest Service in Albuquerque,
New Mexico, reacted enthusiastically to the NRCS rollout of its new soil
education CD. Included on the CD are the Soil Biology Primer; the NRCS-National
Science Teachers Association book, "Dig
In: Hands-on Soil Investigations;" information on State Soils, Dominant Soil
Order maps; and lesson plans. The meeting also included classroom projects
using mini-soil monoliths and exercises using soil crayons. In addition to the
"Train the Trainer" activities, soil scientists at the National Conservation
Education meeting interacted with leadership from various conservation education
organizations, inspiring a workshop planned for coordinators with Project
Learning Tree. Educational materials described above can be found at the
National
Soil Survey Center web site. Your contact is Gary Muckel, NRCS soil
scientist, at 402-437-4148 or. style="font-size: 11.0pt; font-family: Arial; color: blue">
Vermont
Youth Protect Famous River --
NRCS, the Bennington Conservation District, and
students from an alternative education program in Arlington, Vermont, have
teamed up to restore and protect the health of the famous Batten Kill, a river
known internationally for its brown trout and spectacular fishing. The wide
array of partners have teamed up to promote a stream buffer outreach program
directed toward riparian landowners encouraging them to develop riparian habitat
while giving area youth an opportunity to work on improving water quality in the
watershed. Students now attend classes led by Authentic Educators, a group of
local experts in the field of land use planning, natural history writing, uses
of Geographic Information Systems, historic bridge preservation, aquatic
ecology, and Battenkill Valley furbearers. After learning about the river’s
dynamics, students will plant willow trees to create a 2 mile-long buffer on the
Batten Kill and its tributaries. Your contact is Anne Hilliard,
NRCS public affairs specialist, at 802-951-6796, ext. 234.
Secretary Veneman Signs CREP Agreement
-- Secretary Ann Veneman, representing NRCS and
other USDA and Federal partners, launched a new Conservation Reserve Enhancement
Program (CREP) to safeguard more than 4,600 watershed acres in West Virginia.
The Secretary, along with Governor Bob Wise, representing the State partners,
recently signed the CREP agreement in Charleston where Congresswoman Shelly
Moore Capito and nearly 200 people attended. Immediately after the signing,
Linnie Fullen of Union, Monroe County, became the State's first landowner to
sign up for the new program. CREP is a cost-effective way to address rural
conservation concerns by offering a sign-up incentive for enrollees who earn a
set level of cost sharing on enrolled land. CREP combines State and Federal
dollars with funding from non-government sources to tackle specific
agriculture-related environmental issues. In West Virginia, $11.4 million will
help to bring an improvement to water quality and help treat environmentally
sensitive areas. Your contact
is Peg Reese, NRCS public affairs specialist, at 304-284-7547.
Natural Resources and Environment (NRE) Earth Day -- NRCS and the
U.S. Forest Service teamed up under the NRE
mission area banner to celebrate Earth Day on April 22, at
USDA’s Forest Products Laboratory,
Madison, Wisconsin. The goal was to highlight the two agencies' ongoing
conservation contributions to clean water and air, healthy soil, improved
wildlife habitat, and a quality environment on private and public lands.
Secretary Ann Veneman and Chief Pearlie Reed planted an "Indigo" silky dogwood
from NRCS Plant
Materials Center in East Lansing, Michigan, to symbolize the agencies'
conservation efforts and the $24.6 million earmarked by the Administration and
Congress for conservation projects. "America’s farmers and ranchers are the
best stewards of the land and this Earth Day we are highlighting some of these
successes," Veneman said. "These programs, many of which are partnerships with
local communities, demonstrate the Bush Administration’s strong commitment to
protecting the environment," she added. Bob Snieckus, NRCS National Landscape
Architect, created the landscape/conservation plan for the FPL Research House,
which includes practices such as slope stabilization plantings and shrubs for
visual screening to cool the structure in summer and to protect it from winter
winds, thereby reducing energy costs as well. Another major highlight of the
Earth Day Event was the
NRCS Soil Survey Division's unveiling its
SoLIM
(Soil-Landscape Inference Model)
software and new display by Dr. Sheryl Kunickis, NRCS soil scientist/landscape
analyst. The event was featured on local television and in newspapers
Statewide. Your contact is Renae Anderson, NRCS Public Affairs Specialist,
at 608-276-8732, ext. 227.
Word from Washington
Celebrate American Wetlands Month
Each May,
thousands of individuals celebrate the uniqueness, beauty, and importance of
wetlands. The theme of American Wetlands Month 2002, is "Bogs, Playas, Pools:
Protect America's Unique Wetlands." A wetland can be as tiny as a small wet
spot or puddle or as large as the
Everglades, and they are found
in every State in the U.S. This celebration is an ideal time to emphasize
programs and activities that support voluntary wetland restoration and
protection. During May, conservation districts, grassroots organizations,
and government agencies join individuals and educators across the country to
acknowledge the importance of this valuable natural resource and the role
wetlands play in the health of our Nation. Discover more about wetlands
activities and programs on the
NRCS wetlands web site.
What Can You Do to Help Preserve and
Protect America's Wetlands?
Participate in Wetlands Conservation
and Sustainability Workshops.
Every year,
workshops are offered to volunteers, non-profit groups, government agency
staffs, and businesses across the country. Participants learn about wetland
ecology, functions and values, regulations and permits, and wetland monitoring.
Each workshop includes field time getting to know wetlands by examining
hydrology, plants, soil, and surrounding land uses. Call 800-284-4952 for
information about workshops, events, and conferences in your area.
Take Advantage of Wetland Technical
and Networking Resources.
The Izaak
Walton League (IWLA) offers AWM kits on the Internet to help local groups
initiate on-the-ground projects. The kits include fact sheets on wetlands,
project ideas, contact information, case studies of projects from across the
country, and links to many informative wetland sites. You can download the kit
from the IWLA's website at http://www.iwla.org/sos/awm/awmkit.html. IWLA also
provides technical and networking assistance to anyone interested in working for
wetlands. Call 800-284-4952, or e-mail awm@iwla.org, to get more information.
Save Our Streams (SOS) sells informative materials including the
Handbook for Wetlands Conservation and Sustainability
and a video, "Wetland Stewardship: A Call to Action." View these and other
wetlands publications and materials at
http://www.iwla.org/sos/handbook/index.htm. Your contact is
Fred Jacobs, NRCS public affairs specialist, at 202-720-6790.
New Wetlands Reserve Program
(WRP) Publication -- The NRCS Watershed and
Wetlands Division has distributed a new WRP publication, titled "Restoring
America's Wetlands." The six-page, four-color, brochure features important and
interesting facts, statistics, and images on WRP in fifteen States. Over 50,000
have been sent to NRCS WRP coordinators in State offices. Limited quantities
are available from the NRCS Wetlands Division. Your contact is
Leslie Deavers, NRCS National WRP Coordinator, at 202-720-1067.
Celebrate Asian Pacific
American Heritage Month -- Twenty-three 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. Your contact is
Virginia C. Lewis, NRCS Acting Asian
American/Pacific Islanders National Program Manager, at 301-504-2194.
Tech Tip
What’s New at PLANTS
In response suggestions
from users, the Plant Profiles at the PLANTS database
now has thumbnail distribution maps, navigational aids, and a printer-friendly
mode that condenses the information on each profile.
Thumbnail maps.
Plant profiles have been integrated with thumbnail distribution maps for
subordinate taxa and links for higher ranking groups. Now users can move easily
between the profiles for closely related plants to compare their features and
help them narrow the possibilities geographically. For example, each genus will
display a thumbnail distribution map of all species within that genus and a link
to other genera in that plant family. Each species will show thumbnail maps for
its subspecies or varieties and links to genus and family. Clicking on a
thumbnail map will take users directly to the Plant Profile for that plant.
Users can also right-click on a thumbnail to save images to their computer. The
updated Plant Profile also provides quick access to all images of the relevant
genus that are in the Gallery. To see these new features, do a symbol
search using "PIAR" (all caps) in the Plants Name Search box and then click on
Pinus aristata (bristlecone pine).
Printer-Friendly Version.
Click on the "printer-friendly version" link in the lower left-hand corner of
the Plant Profile box for a condensed version of the profile. Your
contact is J. Scott Peterson, Director NRCS National Plant Data Center, at
225-775-6280 or scott.peterson@usda.gov.
TECH TIP
Global Biodiversity Information Facility Established - The Global Biodiversity Information Facility (GBIF) is the outcome of a collaboration of nations around the world through the Convention on Biological Diversity to make biological information globally accessible to decision-makers and the public. The GBIF is an interoperable network of biodiversity databases and information technology tools that are in various phases of development. Users will be able to navigate the worlds vast quantities of biodiversity information, which can be used for national economic, environmental, and social benefits. A GBIF subcommittee for the Electronic Catalogue of Names of Known Organisms (also known as the Catalogue of Life) has formed a Scientific and Technical Advisory Group (STAG). The STAG recently met in Sydney, Australia, to work on the Catalogue. Scott Peterson, National Plant Data Center Director, was a STAG participant. NRCS PLANTS http://plants.usda.gov and the Integrated Taxonomic Information System http://www.itis.usda.gov will function within this network. For more information, visit the GBIF Web site, at http://www.gbif.org/.
Your contact is Scott Peterson, Director, NRCS National Plant Data Center, at 225-775-6280 or scott.peterson@usda.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.
You can receive NRCSTW via e-mail by sending an e-mail to: listproc@nrcs.usda.gov (NHQ personnel should send their e-mail to: GW:"listproc@nrcs.usda.gov@i"). Do not use a subject line and put the following in the body of the message: subscribe NRCS-THIS-WEEK Firstname Lastname (example: subscribe NRCS-THIS-WEEK Rachel Carson). To get help with other commands that are available at the "listproc@nrcs.usda.gov" address, send a message with no subject and the word HELP on a line by itself in the body of the message. "NRCS This Week" is posted on the NRCS Homepage.
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.
The NRCS Mission: The Natural Resources Conservation Service provides leadership in a partnership effort to help people conserve, maintain, and improve our natural resources and environment.
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