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NRCS This Week

Friday, July 21, 2000 Washington, DC.

"What is life? It is the flash of a firefly in the night. It is the breath of the buffalo in the wintertime. It is the little shadow which runs across the grass and loses itself in the sunset."

-- Crowfoot's last words (1821-1890)

Focus on the Field
Kentucky -- Chief Reed Honored
Hawaii -- Watershed Project Celebrated in Hawaii, Honored by Inouye
West Virginia -- Watershed Project Construction Begins, Byrd Obtained Funds
Oklahoma -- EWP Project Points Out It Pays To Have Partners
New Mexico -- NRCS Offers At-Home Advice in Burn Areas, Free Grass Seed
Kansas -- International Scientists See Great Conservation, Visit No-till "Champion"
Wyoming -- GIS More Affordable Thanks to Partners
 
Award Deadline Approaching!
Deadline Next Week for CF Industries' National Watershed Award
 
What's Up In Washington
NRCS Home Pages Winners with Info Seekers

USDA/NRCS 'NetNewsLinks:
Using Sodium Carbonate To Prevent Pathogens in Cattle Manure
NRCS National Water and Climate Center Snow-Precipitation Update for the West
NRCS Legislative Summaries

Also on the 'Net:
AGRICOLA: USDA's AGRICultural Online Access
NACD's "District Leader
"Voices from the Dust Bowl" Library of Congress' American Memory Collection
Backyard "Bio-blitz" in Connecticut
 
Conference & Training Connection!
See the alphabetical-by-subject list of upcoming events.


FOCUS ON THE FIELD

Chief Reed Honored - The Kentucky Association of Conservation Districts honored Chief Pearlie Reed with its Distinguished Service Award July 17, at the Association's fifty-seventh annual meeting in Bowling Green. Chief Reed was the keynote speaker at the meeting. He emphasized that developments relating to the 2002 Farm Bill during the next 9-18 months will be crucial to NRCS and its partners. Your contact is Lois Jackson, State Public Affairs Specialist, at (859) 224-7372 or ljackson@ky.nrcs.usda.gov

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Watershed Project Celebrated in Hawaii, Honored by Inouye - After many years of planning and community action, farmers, ranchers, and residents celebrated the start of the Lower Hamakua Ditch Watershed Project and establishment of the State operated irrigation district on Hawaii's Big Island. Guests included Senator Daniel Inouye who was instrumental in obtaining Federal assistance for the distressed community when Hamakua Sugar Company announced closed in 1993. Senator Inouye congratulated the audience for persevering, hanging on to hope, and working together to complete the project. Festivities were held at Honoka`a School. Your contact is Lynn Howell, State Public Affairs Specialist, on (808) 541-2600, ext. 118.

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Watershed Project Construction Begins in WV, Byrd Obtained Funds - Construction of the North Fork Hughes River Watershed Project's dam and water treatment plant is underway near Harrisville, West Virginia. A 305-acre impoundment will provide water, flood protection, and recreational areas. NRCS expects a nearly 90 percent reduction in the potential for flood damage to homes and businesses. Senator Robert C. Byrd obtained funding for the project through the Appalachian Regional Commission, a group established by Congress to support economic and social development. Sponsors are the towns of Cairo, Ellenboro, Harrisville, and Pennsboro, the Ritchie County Commission, Little Kanawha Soil Conservation District, and the State of West Virginia's Soil Conservation Agency and Division of Parks and Tourism. Your contact is Peg Reese, State Public Affairs Specialist, on (304) 284-7547.

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Oklahoma EWP Project Points Out It Pays To Have Partners - Heavy rains and high water flow eroded more than 15 feet of riverbank along a quarter mile stretch of Oklahoma's Salt Fork River in a heavily used camping area of the Salt Plains State Park. In response, NRCS, Wheatland RC&D, and an outstanding aggregate of partners performed restoration work through the Emergency Watershed Protection (EWP) program. The result of this partnership: a project completed at the right price and ahead of schedule. "The only reason this project was completed below budget and ahead of schedule was the strong partnerships and coordination among Federal and State agencies and legislative officials," said Carl Smith, Wheatland RC&D Coordinator. This tribute to the power of partnerships was recently dedicated by elected officials and partnership representatives. Your contact is Terri Daniel, Public Affairs, on (405) 742-1244 or terri.daniel@ok.usda.gov

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NRCS Offers At-Home Advice in Burn Areas, Free Grass Seed - Throughout the Los Alamos burn area, personnel from NRCS New Mexico visited homeowners to recommend measures to restore vegetation, prevent erosion, and control flooding in areas burned by the Cerro Grande Fire. Grass seed mix for temporary vegetative cover and a list of native grasses and grass-wildflower and lawn mixes recommended for permanent cover were provided free of charge. Get connected to NRCS recovery efforts in Los Alamos at http://www.nm.nrcs.usda.gov/ewp/rehabilitation.htm Your contact is Betty Joubert, State Public Affairs Specialist, on (505) 761-4406.

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International Scientists See Great Conservation, Visit No-till "Champion" - More than 20 scientists from 15 Nations saw excellence in conservation farming while on a tour of Kansas. The scientists, all members of the International Soil Tillage Research Organization (ISTRO), visited Thompson Family Farms in Osage County, an operation that conservationists throughout the State refer to as a "champion of conservation" because of its outstanding examples of no-till farming. The visitors also toured NRCS' plant materials center in Manhattan. The ISTRO is a nonprofit scientific and education corporation that promotes research in soil tillage. Your contact is Mary Shaffer, State Public Affairs Specialist, on (785) 823-4571.

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GIS More Affordable in Wyoming, Thanks to Partners - NRCS Wyoming, local conservation districts, and Wyoming Resource Conservation and Development (RC&D) Association are bringing the benefits of Geographic Information Systems (GIS) to businesses and organizations that otherwise could not afford to use the technology. The partners have brought together user groups to reduce costs. Wyoming RC&D sponsors an initiative that brings people together to address natural resource issues, create more livable communities, and build partnerships. NRCS provides technical support. Your contact is Nancy Atkinson, State Public Affairs Specialist, on (307) 261-6482.

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WHAT'S UP IN WASHINGTON

NRCS Home Pages Winners with Info Seekers - A survey of popular Web sites compiled by Internet search engine Links2Go shows that several NRCS sites were among the most-visited in the engine's Earth Science and Consumer categories. NRCS' Backyard Conservation, State of the Land, Buffer Strips: Common Sense Conservation, and main Web page appeared on Links2Go's list. The Woburn, Massachusetts-based search engine links its users to tens of millions of Web pages. Your contact is Chris Lozos, Visual Information Specialist, NHQ, on (202) 720-4244).

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AWARD DEADLINE APPROACHING!

Deadline Next Week for CF Industries' National Watershed Award - Your deadline is July 28 to apply for CF Industries' National Watershed Award, which annually recognizes three communities and one corporation for excellence in watershed protection. Emphasis is on innovative, voluntary, non-regulatory approaches to solving watershed problems. Winners will be honored this fall in Washington, D.C. Travel will be paid for the person accepting for each community winner, and cash awards will be given to each winning community program. Eligibility and evaluation criteria, along with application information, are available from the Conservation Fund at http://www.conservationfund.org Questions? Contact Beth Koonse on (304) 876-2815, or by e-mail at b.koonse@freshwaterinstitute.org If you have an interest or know of a watershed group or organization that might qualify for this award, please contact Dan Van Tassel, Director, Corporate Communications, CF Industries, at dvantassel@cfindustries.com

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CONFERENCE & TRAINING CONNECTION

July 21, 2000

As a service to NRCS personnel and the agency's partners, "NRCS This Week" offers the following by-subject list of conferences and training sessions. To add an event, please send an e-mail message to fred.jacobs@usda.gov

Agroforestry/Forestry
Air Quality
Alternative Agriculture
Animal Residuals Management
Bioengineering
Carbon Sequestration
Dam Safety
Economics
Environmental Education
Grazing Land & Grassland
Land Use
Mining & the Environment
Partnerships
Resource Conservation & Development
Rivers
Soils & Soil Surveys
Water Quality
Watersheds
Wetlands
 

Agroforestry/Forestry
 
Fragmentation 2000-A Conference on Sustaining Private Forests in the 21st Century
September 17-20
Annapolis, Maryland
An examination of the forces that are fragmenting American working lands and forests. Contact: Lester DeCoster on (703) 860-2513, and at lesdecoster@worldnet.att.net To submit papers, contact: Terri Bates at 3325 Rose Lane, Falls Church, Virginia 22042. Her telephone number: (703) 538-1134, and at Bates-Stasny@erols.com To get updates, articles, and registration material (coming soon), click on http://www.sampsongroup.com/FragCon/frag_conf.htm
International Poplar Commission 2000 Conference
Sept. 24-30
Portland, Oregon
Will include scientists and practitioners from more than 32 countries. The theme: "Poplar and Willow Culture: Meeting the Needs of Society and the Environment." Papers will be presented in working group sessions, including Poplar and Willow Breeding, Diseases, Insects and Other Animal Pests, Production and Environmental Systems, and Logging and Utilization. The Web site is http://www.ncfes.umn.edu/IPC2000/
 
Forest Utilization Conference
May 1-3, 2001
Wagoner OK
The Ouachita Mountains Resource Conservation and Development, Inc. will sponsor its 6th annual Forest Utilization Conference and Equipment Exposition at the Western Hills Guest Resort in Sequoyah State Park on the shores of Lake Fort Gibson. For information, contact Gary Garman, Coordinator for Ouachita Mountains RC&D Council, at (918)-423-2479, fax 918-423-0793, email omrcandd@icok.net or visit the web site http://www.icok.net/~omrcandd
 
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Air Quality
 
Future Directions in Air Quality Research
February 12-15, 2001
Research Triangle Park, North Carolina
Conference topics will focus on ecological, atmospheric, regulatory/policy and educational issues. The conference is sponsored by the Air Resources Research Consortium. For more information contact Sherrie Knott at (919) 515-2261 or visit the conference website at http://www2.ncsu.edu/cpe/airqualconf.html
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Alternative Agriculture
 
Alternative Ag Expo
August 28-29
Sioux City, Nebraska
Will feature locally grown food systems, nutrition, concurrent sessions for farmers, non-farmers, and urban residents. For more information, contact the Nebraska Loess Hills, RC&D Council on (402) 494-3701.
 
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Animal Residuals Management
 
Animal Residuals Management Conference--Issues and Solutions
November 12-14
Kansas City, Missouri
The conference will feature three session tracks: issues and environmental assessments, solutions and technology, and policy. Topics include: applied solutions for animal manure use and disposal, nutrient management in watersheds, public health risks associated with agricultural use of animal manure, and case studies on the beneficial use of animal manure. Deadline for submittal of abstracts is June 23. For details, contact: Water Environment Federation, 601 Wythe Street, Alexandria, Virginia, 22314-1994. Phone: (703) 684-2438. NRCS co-sponsors.
 
The 2000 National Poultry Waste Management Symposium
October 16-18
Sheraton Fontainebleau Hotel, Ocean City, Maryland
The 2000 National Poultry Waste Management Symposium will communicate the latest technology and information regarding poultry waste management. The symposium is targeted to meet current and future needs of the poultry industry when responsibly dealing with environmental issues. The program begins with a general session covering broad topics related to poultry by-products and social issues, followed by concurrent sessions addressing specific issues such as air and water quality, utilization and marketing alternatives and regulation. For more information, contact Richard Reynnells National Program Leader, Animal Production Systems at (202) 401-5352, fax: (202) 401-5179 e-mail: rreynnells@reeusda.gov
 
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Bioengineering
 
Bioengineering Workshop
August 26
Sand Point, Idaho
The Bonner Soil and Water Conservation District is sponsoring a bioengineering workshop for interested landowners/landusers and agency personnel. Chris Hoag, wetland plant ecologist with the NRCS, has written or co-authored many of the bioengineering guides and will be the featured presenter at the workshop. The site will be on the Pack River north of Sandpoint, ID. For more information, contact Jeff Stewart on (208) 263-5310 or jeff.stewart@id.usda.gov
 
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Carbon Sequestration
 
Carbon: Exploring the Benefits to Farmers and Society
August 29-31
Des Moines, Iowa
Ag perspectives on emerging policies and technologies involving carbon management and sequestration and other greenhouse gases. Focus on the impacts and benefits of carbon sequestration affecting ag producers, society and the environment. Hear ideas from a cross-section of policy, science, and industry perspectives. Poster abstracts due March 13. Contact Alice Vinsand, conference coordinator, at (515) 225-1051 or email
avinsand@aol.com Complete abstract details and other conference information are available at http://www.cvrcd.org/carbon.htm
 
Advances in Terrestrial Ecosystem Carbon Inventory, Measurements and Monitoring.
October 3-5, 2000
Raleigh, North Carolina
The conference will cover forest, agriculture, rangeland, wetland, and urban landscapes in the U.S. Focus is on terrestrial ecosystem carbon measurements, monitoring, and mitigation strategies. Objectives: Evaluate current methodologies and identify knowledge gaps in terrestrial ecosystem carbon measurement and monitoring; propose priorities and standardization for terrestrial carbon monitoring, and data collection; and evaluate current and propose new experimental designs and outputs for increasing carbon storage. For more information visit http://www.sgcp.ncsu.edu/conference/ or contact Steven McNulty, conference chair, at (919) 515-9489 email: steve_mcnulty@ncsu.edu
 
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Dam Safety
 
Dam Safety 2000
September 26-29
Providence, Rhode Island
ASDSO's 17th Annual Conference.
For meeting information, see http://www.damsafety.org/confer_train.html
 
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Economics
 
2000 Annual Meeting of the American Association of Agricultural Economists
July 30-August 2
Tampa, Florida
For meeting information, see http://www.aaea.org/meetings/m2000
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Environmental Education
 
North American Association for Environmental Education National Conference
October 17-21
South Padre Island, Texas
The conference theme is "Spanning Cultural and Ecological Diversity through Environmental Education." Learn more about the conference, at http://www.naaee.org
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Grazing Land & Grassland
 
First National Conference on Grazing Lands
December 5-8
Las Vegas, Nevada
Economic and environmental effects of proper grazing lands management. Sponsored by NACD, Grazing Lands and Public Lands Committee, the Grazing Lands Conservation Initiative (GLCI), and others. Abstracts for oral and poster papers accepted until April 1. Contact John W. Peterson, NCGL Program Manager, by phone on (703) 455-4387, or fax at (703) 455-6886, or by e-mail on jwpeterson@erols.com
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Land Use
 
Land Conservation Summit 2000
July 28-29
St. Paul, Minnesota
The conference will advance the debate about private land conservation and the use of conservation easements in the new millennium. For more information visit the website at http://www.environment.harvard.edu/lists/archives/envconfs-l/msg01088.html
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Mining & the Environment
 
Conference on Tailings and Mine Waste
January 15-18, 2001
Fort Collins, Colorado
A forum for members of the mining community, engineers, and scientists concerned with environmental issues related to tailings and mine waste management. Abstracts due by June 2. To submit an abstract or for more information, contact Linda Hinshaw, Department of Civil Engineering, Colorado State Univeristy, (970) 491-6081, or at lhinshaw@engr.colostate.edu
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Partnerships
 
South Central Regional Meeting--National Association of Conservation Districts
July 30-August 1
Springdale, Arkansas
Contact Robert Raschke on (303) 988-1810.
 
Northeastern Regional Meeting--National Association of Conservation Districts
August 6-9
South Portland, Maine
Contact Robert Raschke on (303) 988-1810.
 
Southeastern Regional Meeting--National Association of Conservation Districts
August 13-15
Knoxville, Tennessee
Contact Robert Raschke on (303) 988-1810.
 
Southwestern and Pacific Regional Meetings--National Association of Conservation Districts
September 10-12
Reno, Nevada
Contact Robert Raschke on (303) 988-1810.
 
NASDA 2000
September 22-27
Columbus, Ohio
Meeting of the National Association of State Departments of Agriculture. Contact: Liana Lee, Ohio Department of Agriculture on (614) 466-2732.

Third Biennial Conference on Understanding Each Other and Working Together for a Better Future
October 24-25
Eugene, Oregon
Forum for agricultural interests, government, and environmentalists to discuss issues relevant to agriculture and water quality. Perspectives presented in a non-confrontational forum and others see and understand other points of view. For more information, see the conference's Web site at http://www.agwaterqualitynw.org
2001 National Association of Conservation Districts' Annual Meeting
February 4-8
Fort Worth, Texas
Contact Robert Raschke on (303) 988-1810.
 
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Resource Conservation & Development
 
New England Association of RC&D Areas Annual Conference
October 26-29
Newport, Rhode Island
For more information call, please call Susan Arrants at (401) 949-4418.
 
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Rivers
 
International Conference on Wood in World Rivers
October 23-27
Corvallis, Oregon
Sessions on primary research of fluvial processes, synthesis of policies and science to guide management options for rivers, applied research, and conservation perspectives. Co-sponsored by the Wildlife Habitat Management Institute. For more information, see the conference's Web site at http://riverwood.orst.edu or contact the Institute's Kathryn Staley at Kathryn.Staley@orst.edu
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Soils & Soil Surveys
 
California Forest Soils Council Summer Field Trip
July 27-29
Butte County, California
Participate in an exchange of insights from an ongoing soil survey, private long-term forest management, and the results of research into soil and vegetation responses to treatments such as compaction, organic matter removal, thinning, and fertilization. All of these activities are occurring within a small area near Feather Falls and Challenge. The LTSP research is part of a coordinated North American research network. Contact: David W. Howell, Chair CFSC, at david.howell@ca.usda.gov, or on (707) 822-7133.
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Water Quality
 
Institute for Drinking Water Treatment Conference
July 31-August 2
Northampton, Massachusetts
A contact for this session is Jodi Ozdarski, Institute Secretary, Environmental Engineering Program, Department of Civil and Environmental Engineering, University of Massachusetts, Amherst, Massachusetts 01003-5205. Telephone (413) 545-0685, or fax (413) 545-2202.
7th Federal Interagency Sedimentation Conference
March 25-29, 2001
Reno, Nevada
Will provide Federal and non-Federal scientists and managers from various disciplines the opportunity to discuss recent accomplishments and progress in research and on technical developments in the physical, chemical, and biological aspects of sedimentation. Scheduled are tours, exhibitions, and presentations of papers.
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Watersheds
 
International Conference on Riparian Ecology and Management in Multi-Land Use Watersheds
August 27-31
Portland, Oregon
An event of the American Water Resources Association, and co-sponsored by NRCS, this conference will provide a forum for discussion of biological, physical, chemical, social, and economic aspects of riparian areas and stream corridors. For more information, visit http://www.awra.org/meetings/Portland/Portland.html or contact Bruce Newton at the National Water and Climate Center, at bnewton@wcc.nrcs.usda.gov
 
Seventh National Watershed Conference
May 20-23, 2001
Richmond, Virginia
The theme: "Small Watershed Programs: Past, Present, and Future." This conference will examine our Nation's rich history with upstream small watershed programs and will explore innovative ways of accomplishing watershed project objectives as traditional sources of assistance become harder to get. . For more information contact John W. Peterson, (703) 455-6886, fax (703) 455-6888;e-mail, jwpeterson@erols.com
 
Conasauga River Conservation Field Days - A Public-Private Partnership
August 18-19, 2000
Cohutta Springs Conference Center, Georgia
This multi-state event will highlight the conservation accomplishments on both private and public lands in the Conasauga River watershed. The eventwill also focus on the public/private partnerships that have made the projects so successful. There will be onsite guided tours of various conservation practices such as conservation buffers along streams, streamcrossings, and heavy use areas, a dairy operation, forest management practices, public recreation impacts, aquatic diversity, ecosystem management and prescribed burning For more information, contact Jeanne Eastham, NRCS Public Affairs Specialist, at 615-893-9136, x117 or Kent Evans, Conasauga River Coordinator at 706-632-3031.
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Wetlands
 
7th International Conference on Wetland Systems for Water Pollution Control
November 11-16
Lake Buena Vista, Florida
For information, see http://www.ifas.ufl.edu/~conferweb/wpc/
 
Izaak Walton League of America National Conference
May 16-18, 2001
Orlando, Florida
Topics include: wetland education, restoration, conservation, and international issues. To get on the mailing list for the conference, contact: awm@iwla.org or call (800) BUG-IWLA (284-4952)
 
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