Illinois

Illinois Town is High and Dry
Since the settlement of this small town in Southern Illinois, flooding problems have presented a hazard to residents and businesses.  Located on the crossroads of two important highways, Marion, Illinois, was constantly dealing with water levels as high as five feet during storms that produced as little as two or three inches of rain.  This spring however, Marion experienced a 100 plus-year storm and a record rainfall of approximately 11.2 inches in 36 hours. 

Washington

If you build it…
Last year, Washington State NRCS kicked off an award-winning public information campaign titled The Wonders of Wildlife to encourage landowners to develop or improve wildlife habitat on their land.  The campaign’s primary message is If you build it, they will come.
 

Wisconsin

Chief Lancaster Visits Historic Wisconsin Coon Creek Watershed
(from the Capitol Times) Chief Lancaster recently visited Wisconsin's historic Coon Creek Watershed -- the first large scale erosion control demonstration in the U.S.   Coon Creek is part of the Driftless Area -- a strategic partnership initiative focusing on conservation efforts in the unglaciated region of Wisconsin, Minnesota, Iowa, and Illinois.

Links...
(from the Capitol Times) More recent news about the Coon Creek watershed.

Correction: Last weeks Focus on the Field item titled, National Leadership Review for the Caribbean Area, described Puerto Rico's "five general soil types -- humid coastal plains, semiarid coastal plains, humid uplands, semiarid uplands, and humid upland valleys."  It should be noted that these are not soil types, but actually refer to major land resource areas.

From Earth Team Volunteer to NRCS Employee
Tania Nanna, originally from Curitiba, Southern Brazil, served as a Louisiana Earth Team Volunteer working at the NRCS State Office in Alexandria, Louisiana, from November 2005 until being hired as term employee in 2007.
 

AWCC Developing New Technology to Manage and Evaluate Wetland
The NRCS Agricultural Wildlife Conservation Center (AWCC) is currently working with the University of Tennessee and Mississippi State University to develop techniques to improve the evaluation and management techniques for wetland habitat.  T
 

NRCS Staff in Palmer, Alaska, September 12, 1958
(from left) Flavia Marcus, Wanda Somerville, Dupree Sanders (detailed from Texas), James DeMent (detailed from Louisiana), Allan Linn, Edna Wehking, Sam Rieger, and Cliff Marcus (NRCS image — 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.