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The Natural Resources Conservation Service — Helping People Help the Land.

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Alaska

Brett Nelson inspects willow stakings planted in April 2006 (NRCS photo -- click to enlarge)Willow Staking — Lessons Learned in Juneau
Monitoring the outcome of a project is something of a luxury for many resource professionals.  Recently however, district conservationist Samia Savell got to see how her willow staking project had paid off.


 
Iowa

Drew DeLang and Ivan Keller with wild riceOld Wild Rice Now a New Crop   Adobe Acrobat Document (Requires Adobe Acrobat.)
For the first time in his 49-year farming career, Ivan Keller is growing wild rice on his land in Louisa County, Iowa.  Primarily a corn and soybean farmer, Keller is now growing wild rice through a cooperative research program, because he feels it will benefit wildlife and because he is just plain curious about the plant.

 
Mississippi

First Lady Laura Bush at a recent ceremony dedicating the J.L. Scott Marine Education Center’s Gulf Coast Research Laboratory in Ocean Springs, MississippiFirst Lady  Dedicates Mississippi Marine Education Center
At a recent ceremony dedicating the J. L. Scott Marine Education Center’s Gulf Coast Research Laboratory in Ocean Springs, Mississippi, First Lady Laura Bush told marine educators, conservationists, and other attendees that America needs to fight the pollution of oceans and waterways. “Healthy oceans and waterways provide the food we eat and often the water we drink,” the First Lady said. “I’ve seen what humans can do to devastate marine life.”


 

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NRCS 2007 American Indian Heritage Month Poster is entitled, "We are One Family Dedicated to Protecting Mother Earth” (NRCS image -- click to enlarge)November is American Indian Heritage Month
In 1986, President Reagan designated November 23-30 as "American Indian Week."  Four years later, President Bush proclaimed the first National American Indian Heritage Month. Each year since, U.S. Presidents have proclaimed November as "American Indian Heritage Month."

The NRCS 2007 American Indian Heritage Month Poster is entitled, We are One Family Dedicated to Protecting Mother Earth.  The artist captures the image of a Care Taker who represents American Indians and all populations as the stewards of the land.  The message is clear; we are all Care Takers who are in charge of protecting and preserving the gifts of Mother Earth — water, air, wildlife, and land.  The artist is LaDon Smith, a member of the Choctaw Nation, Boswell, Oklahoma.

Links...
 Read the President's 2007 National American Indian Heritage Month Proclamation.

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highly accurate slope data derived from LiDARAdvantages of Light Detection and Ranging (LiDAR) vs. Conventional Elevation Models
LiDAR is the technology of using pulses of laser light striking the surfaces of the earth and measuring the time of pulse return. The LiDAR laser scanner is mounted photogrammetrically in the bottom of an airplane (similar to an aerial camera) along with an inertial measuring unit and airborne GPS.  Robust data storage is required to process the return time for each pulse returned back to the sensor and calculate the variable distances from the sensor, or changes in terrain/land cover surfaces.


 

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photo is from a December 1943 Soil Conservation magazine article Soil Conservationists at War Soil Conservationists at War
This photo is from a December 1943 Soil Conservation magazine article Soil Conservationists at War by Soil Conservation Service Personnel Management Division Chief William R. Van Dersal and Personnel Management  Division Assistant Chief Verna C. Mohagen (NRCS 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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