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| Friday, June 25, 1999 Washington, DC |
FOCUS ON THE FIELD
Frazer Park Flood Prevention Project Brings Sigh of Relief - A recently completed flood prevention project has people throughout the predominantly minority community of Frazer Park in Chester County, South Carolina, breathing easier. The project, which includes NRCS engineering design, construction expertise, and financial assistance, addresses flood prevention and recreation in a 4,350-acre watershed. The $150,000 project is designed to reduce threats to lives and property by 90 percent, prevent flooding on public roads, improve public safety, and increase recreational opportunities. Sponsors were the City of Chester, Chester County, the Chester Soil and Water Conservation District, and the South Carolina Department of Natural Resources.
NRCS, Native Villages Cooperate on Snow Course Effort - NRCS Alaska reports that its Homer Field Office is assisting the native villages of Port Graham and Nanwalek with establishing and measuring snow courses above two rural reservoirs that provide water to those communities. Villagers and their councils are enthusiastic and supportive of the effort. They provide logistical support and transportation to the sites, and have chosen council representatives to learn sampling techniques at NRCS' West-Wide Snow Survey School. The villages, which are located in a remote area on the southern Kenai Peninsula, have no access roads and can only be reached by boat and airplane. For more information about this project, please contact: Mark Kinney, District Conservationist at mkinney@ak.nrcs.usda.gov
RC&D Project Good for Growers, Students, Global Climate - Western North Carolina's Blue Ridge Resource Conservation and Development (RC&D) Council recently kicked off a project that will put to good use methane released by a landfill used by Yancey and Mitchell counties. Through the project, the methane will be converted to a fuel that will heat four greenhouses and a glass blowing and ceramics studio, and have the same effect on global climate change as taking 20,000 cars off the Nation's roads. Major partners include: HandMade In America (an Asheville-based non-profit craft organization), Mayland Community College, and Penland School of Crafts. For more information, contact Becky Wallace, Outreach Coordinator, Blue Ridge RC&D, at: blueridgercd@skybest.com
NRCS Hawaii, District Take Home "Telly" Award - Congratulations to NRCS Hawaii and the Puna Soil and Water Conservation District for winning a bronze "Telly," an award that recognizes outstanding non-network and cable TV commercials. Participating in the production of the victorious video, "Applying for a Soil and Water Conservation Plan in Hawaii," were NRCS employees Matthew Wung, Harry Toki, Wayne Subica, Lester Suehiro, Georgiann Kealoha-Jose, and Noel Ide, and district personnel George Mikami, Jennifer Botelho, and Ronelle Salvador. The video was produced in English, Korean, and Ilocano.
NRCS, Partners Fill the Bill at Ducks Unlimited Fest - NRCS Tennessee reports that more than 100,000 visitors flocked to this year's Ducks Unlimited Great Outdoors Festival. Agency employees, with personnel from the Shelby County Soil Conservation District and Earth Team volunteers, took every opportunity to spread the word about the agency's programs. The event was held at AgriCenter International in Memphis.
Soil Pit a Hit! - NRCS Soil Scientist Donald Parizek's exhibit was an underground sensation for inner city kids at the annual Springside Farm Festival held in New Haven, Connecticut. Donald's soil pit was a big hit, along with aerial photographs, clay dogs, make-your-own soil profiles, and auger demonstration. Hundreds of visitors stopped by to look, smell, and touch the soil samples. Springside Farm is located in the heart of New Haven and gives inner city kids a place to go to learn about raising plants and animals. For more information, contact Donald at Donald.Parizek@CT.usda.gov
Fourth Graders "Charge" Groundwater Festival - Nearly 2,600 fourth graders participated in a Groundwater Festival sponsored by conservation partners and held at the University of Alabama's Huntsville Campus. Keeping the kids informed were 150 Earth Team volunteers who served as presenters and guides. Special thanks go out to Earth Team volunteers who stepped in to replace volunteers who had to cancel at the last minute.
Southern Region SARE Seeks Preproposals for Funding - The Southern Region Sustainable Agriculture Research and Education (SARE) program is seeking preproposals for funding in 2000. Approximately $1.8 million is expected to be granted. Preproposals are due August 31. Successful candidates will be notified in November. A copy of the call and details about the Southern SARE program can be obtained at: www.griffin.peachnet.edu/sare/2000RECALL/20RE.html Southern SARE includes Alabama, Arkansas, Florida, Georgia, Kentucky, Louisiana, Mississippi, North Carolina, Oklahoma, South Carolina, Tennessee, Texas, Virginia, Puerto Rico, and the U.S. Virgin Islands.
WHAT'S UP IN WASHINGTON, D.C.
August 6 Deadline for Attendance Requests - Requests to attend the upcoming meetings of the American Society of Agronomy, Soil Science Society of America, and the Crop Science Society of America should be faxed to National Agronomist Dave Schertz no later than August 6, 1999. Requests to attend should include name, title, duty station, and reason for attending. Travel expenses are the responsibility of each state or other administrative office. The meetings will be held October 31-November 4, 1999, in Salt Lake City. Dave's fax number is (202) 720-2646.
Happenings on the Hill... - On Tuesday, the Water Resources and Environment Subcommittee of the House Transportation and Infrastructure Committee held a hearing on clean water infrastructure and the importance of Clean Water Act funding. The hearing also looked at weather flows and discussed related legislation.
On Thursday, the National Parks and Public Lands Subcommittee of House Resources Committee held a hearing on noxious weeds and invasive plants. The hearing focused on problems associated with noxious weeds on public and private lands.
SPECIAL EVENTS
QUOTE OF THE WEEK"
It seems to me that we all look at Nature too much, and live with it too little.
-- Oscar Wilde, Irish playwright
SPECIAL NOTE TO NRCS PERSONNEL
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The U.S. Department of Agriculture (USDA) prohibits discrimination in all its programs and activities on the basis of race, color, national origin, gender, religion, age, disability, political beliefs, sexual orientation, and 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 or TDD). USDA is an equal opportunity provider and employer.
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