NRCS Hydrologist Shows Snows to Nationwide News Audience - Snowpacks measuring more than 200 percent of average -- some 30-feet deep -- are making big news in the Northwest, and to find out more about it, news organizations, including CNN, have been turning to NRCS hydrologist Stan Fox. Stan gets regular print, radio, and television coverage when he measures snowpack at the Mount Hood SNOTEL site. These appearances give him excellent opportunities to keep people apprised of snow conditions and also to demonstrate the effectiveness and importance of the agency's snow measuring technology. Stan serves as Leader for Inventory and Assessment in the Oregon State Office and has been with the agency for 21 years.

Conservation Presentation Fascinates Inner-City Youth - At-risk youth from St. Gabriel's School near Philadelphia recently heard what NRCS Pennsylvania hopes will be a life-changing presentation on conservation. The presentation, made by a NRCS district conservationist, piqued the students' interests in conservation, careers in conservation, soil health, and pollution. St. Gabriel's School provides to its students land, animals, and crops, and education and life-building skills.

NRCS Effort To Protect Species, Habitat in Caribbean Area - A nearly 1,300-acre area of the biologically diverse Cabo Rojo Salt Flats will soon be enrolled in the NRCS-led Wetlands Reserve Program. No fewer than 118 avian species have been reported in the area. It harbors six species of birds, one species of reptile, and four species of plants that have been designated as endangered by the Commonwealth of Puerto Rico or the Federal government. During their migratory cycle, more than 20 species of shorebirds depend on the salt flats.

Nevada's Governor Commemorates Soil Survey Centennial - Nevada Governor Kenny C. Guinn signed two proclamations honoring the 100th anniversary of the National Cooperative Soil Survey Program. One proclamation marks April as "Nevada Cooperative Soil Survey Partnership Month." The other notes 100 years of service by the Nevada Cooperative Soil Survey Partnership.

THE WORD FROM WASHINGTON

Locally Led Conservation Fact Sheet Now Available - NRCS' Conservation Operations Division announced the release of a locally led conservation fact sheet. The fact sheet gives a concise description of the locally led process and describes the importance of resource management planning. To receive a copy of the fact sheet, contact Roger Rayburn on (202) 720-5742, or Ron Lauster on (202) 720-1841. The fact sheet will soon be available on the agency's web site. Notice of its release on the Web will be given in NRCS This Week.

Former Chief Talks Sustainable Agriculture in Leopold Letter - Former NRCS Chief Paul Johnson offers ideas on sustainable agriculture in the latest issue of the Leopold Letter. He discusses nutrient management, tillage and pesticides, and urban sprawl. Look for the article, "Sustainable Ag: A Look Back, A Look Ahead," on the Web at: www.leopold.iastate.edu/centers/leopold/spring99leoletterindex.html

SPECIAL EVENTS

National Volunteer Week

April 18-24

Don't forget to thank all of your Earth Team members for the exceptional work they do!

Ag-Earth Day

National Mall, Washington, D.C.

April 22-23

Visit the Ag-Earth website at: http://www.nasda-hq.org/nasda/earth/events1/index.html

 

"Restoring Louisiana's Wetland Heritage" Celebration

Monroe, Louisiana

May 1

Contact: NRCS State Public Affairs Specialist Herb Bourque at 318-473-7762; or e-mail:

hbourque@laso2.la.nrcs.usda.gov

 

"Asian Pacific American Heritage Month" Celebration

USDA, Jamie Whitten Building

Washington, D.C.

May 6, 10 a.m. to 3 p.m.

"QUOTE OF THE WEEK"

One of the best, and certainly the most promising, of the devices yet invented for dealing democratically and effectively with maladjustment in land use, as well as for carrying forward positive programs of desirable conservation, and for maintaining the work, is the soil conservation district.

-- Hugh Hammond Bennett, from The Hugh Bennett Lectures, 1959

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