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| Friday, November 19, 1999 Washington, DC |
Regional Conservationists, State Conservationists, State Public Affairs Specialists, Institute Directors, and NHQ Employees: the date for the NATIONAL SUMMIT ON PRIVATE LAND CONSERVATION HAS CHANGED! The Summit is now scheduled for TUESDAY, DECEMBER 7, 1999, in Ames, Iowa, at Iowa State University's Great Hall Memorial Union. PLEASE PLAN TO ATTEND!
BE SURE TO SHARE THIS INFORMATION WITH ALL NRCS EMPLOYEES, PARTNERS, AGRICULTURAL AND ENVIRONMENTAL ORGANIZATIONS, AND THE GENERAL PUBLIC!
This Summit follows a series of listening forums held across the country on private land conservation. It is intended to initiate a broad public and private dialogue on the policies and programs that are needed to effectively deliver conservation assistance to landowners. The Summit will convene at 9:00 a.m. with an introduction by Agriculture Deputy Secretary Richard Rominger. The opening session will feature a keynote address by Secretary Dan Glickman; the Secretary will participate in two roundtable discussions. AGAIN, PLEASE PLAN TO ATTEND! There is no charge to attend the Summit. The public is invited.
Newcomers the Focus of Iowa "Diversity Day" - NRCS and other USDA agencies, in partnership with Michael Foods of Minneapolis, Minnesota, hosted "A Diversity Awareness Day," a project to break down barriers faced by culturally diverse workers and their families when they move to rural communities. The event took place in Lenox, Iowa, a town of 1,300 people. "I thought it was an excellent beginning," said Paul Kelly of the Southern Iowa Resource Conservation and Development (RC&D) Area and member of the Iowa USDA Task Force. "We hope we can do this again in Lenox and in another one of our area communities where Hispanic families are settling." Festive and informative events included a presentation by NRCS District Conservationist and former Peace Corps volunteer Douglas Davenport who explained what it is like to move to a foreign country. Said NRCS Area Conservationist Jeff Zimprich, who drove his kids 50 miles to attend the event, "I hope we do this again." Your contact is Dennis Hilger, RC&D Coordinator, on (515) 782-7085.
Farm Safety Camp Teaches Kids How to Stay Out of Harm's Way - More than 175 Dallas County, Arkansas, school children converged on the Fordyce Civic Center to learn about farm safety. The Farm Safety for Kids Day Camp, cosponsored by the Dallas County Conservation District and "Progressive Farmer" magazine taught "young people to be aware of farm hazards," said Lynne Rodgers, District Conservationist for Dallas County. "We try to teach children through hands-on exhibits that safety and knowledge play key roles in preventing accidents." The camp covered fire, chemical, power tool, firearm, skidder, snake, bulldozer, and bushhog safety. "Although the children are too young to operate machines or drive the tractor, they can learn good safety habits that will stick with them once they're old enough," Rodgers said. "Many of the areas discussed pertain to everyday life--on and off the farm." More than 40 volunteers helped make the day a success. Your contact is Creston Shrum, Public Affairs Specialist, on (501) 301-3168.
"Ag On Wheels" Rolls Through Six California Counties - Urban students can experience the world of agriculture thanks to a unique educational vehicle from California's South Coast RC&D office in Riverside. A specially equipped recreational vehicle, packed with computers loaded with ag-based software, microscopes, stereoscopes, and a TV and VCR, takes ag information directly to students throughout Ventura, Los Angeles, Orange, San Diego, San Bernardino, and Riverside counties. The outside of the vehicle is delightfully decorated with a mural designed by Tina Vander Hoek, a NRCS Soil Conservationist who serves in Templeton. RC&D Coordinator Ed Umbach presented the RV at an "Ag in the Classroom" conference held in Ventura where 400 teachers toured the vehicle. The RV was purchased with grant money to the RC&D. Your contact is Jolene Lau, NRCS Public Affairs, on (831) 754-1595.
NRCS Rhode Island, Partners Celebrate Rural Land Coalition - Rhode Island State Conservationist Joe DelVecchio joined other Federal, and State officials in Warwick to celebrate the State's Rural Lands Coalition's accomplishments and honor the Coalition's outstanding supporters. Representatives Scott Rabideau, Kevin Breene, and Susan Sosnowski were honored for championing legislation to improve the valuation of farm, forest and open space lands. Dr. Robert Johnston was honored for research in current-use valuations and methodologies used by other States and their potential economic impacts on communities in Rhode Island. Don McRobert was honored for creating the highly praised Rural Lands Coalition brochure. Other accomplishments include a slide show suitable for public outreach and education. NRCS was instrumental in forming the coalition with NRCS Resource Conservationist Vicky O'Neal taking the lead. "Rhode Island NRCS has expanded its conservation efforts beyond curbing soil erosion," said O'Neal. "As employees, we are learning to "think out of the box," to stand back and look at the bigger picture focusing on statewide policies that affect conservation of rural lands versus only site-specific activities." Your contact is Nancy Wood on (401) 828-1300.
NRCS Anchorage Marks American Indian Heritage Month - American Indian composer, singer, and drummer Paul Pike joined a gathering of NRCS employees and personnel from other Federal agencies to commemorate American Indian Heritage Month. Pike, a member of Medicine Dream and Newfoundland's Mi'kmaq Tribe, uses his talents as a path to healing those in trouble. Also commemorating the event was Lee Stefan, president of the Ekluma Village Corporation who shared his personal experiences as an Athabascan Alaska Native. Your contact is Thom Blackbird, District Conservationist, on (907) 271-2424.
TECH TIP: Restored Wetlands Improve Water Quality
Many studies have documented the abilities of natural wetlands to filter and trap pollutants. Unfortunately, many of these valuable wetlands are located in fertile stream and river corridors and through the years have been drained and converted to economically productive farmland. The long-term cost of these conversions is increased pollutant loading and damage to waterways and downstream areas. Recognition of these problems and their causes has led to the restoration or construction of wetlands to improve water quality.
The NRCS Wetland Science Institute (WLSI) has been working with a number of institutions to evaluate the use of restored and constructed wetlands for water quality improvement. In April, WLSI sent a comprehensive report on the nutrient retention and vegetation dynamics of restored Maryland freshwater wetlands to NRCS State offices, and, more recently, has produced a Technical Note titled "Pesticide Reduction in Constructed Wetlands for Agricultural Non-point Source Runoff Treatment." Both documents help confirm that restored and constructed wetlands can make a substantial contribution toward lowering pesticide and nutrient levels in public waters. The latter document also provides a model to determine the fate of selected pesticides in constructed wetlands. For additional information, please contact: Paul B. Rodrigue, Hydrologist, NRCS Wetland Science Institute at (601) 232-2973. His e-mail address is rodrigue@sedlab.olemiss.edu
HONORS AND ACCOLADES
NRCS MD Soil Scientists Recieves National Award - Dr. George Demas, a soil scientist in Worcester County, Maryland, was awarded the 1999 Emil Truog Award by the Soil Science Society of America. The award is presented to one Ph.D. student each year in the United States whose dissertation significantly advanced soil science. George received his award at the American Society of Agronomy's annual meeting.
George's research showed that soil-forming processes were active in shallow water sediments. With that research, he co-authored the new national definition of soil in "Soil Taxonomy"; the definition now includes subaqueous soils that support rooted submersed aquatic vegetation. He also developed a subaqueous soil mapping protocol for use in permanent underwater estuarine environments for the development of subaqueous soil surveys. Presently, George is applying his techniques for the development of a subaqueous soil survey of the Delaware Inland Bays and Maryland Coastal Bays. Earlier this year, George was recognized by Secretary Glickman with the USDA Honor Award for Scientific Research. Your contact is Carol Hollingsworth, NRCS State Public Affairs Specialist, on (410) 757-0861x313.
ON THE WEB
Drought Monitor Brings Indicators, Indices to Wide Audience - Enter http://enso.unl.edu/monitor/index.html to find the "Drought Monitor," an outstanding source for indices, outlooks, and news accounts on drought conditions in the U.S. Information comes from scientists from the Federal government and academia. Audiences include USDA agencies, National Weather Service, and State water agencies and other resource management institutions and organizations; the Weather Channel and other specialized and mainstream media; and the general public. "Drought Monitor" partners include the NRCS' National Water and Climate Center, U.S. Departments of Commerce and Interior, and the National Drought Mitigation Center (NDMC) at the University of Nebraska-Lincoln. For more information about reducing vulnerability to drought, check the NDMC's web site at http://enso.unl.edu/ndmc
The greatest use of life is to spend it on something that will outlast it.
-- – William James, American philosopher and psychologist
Please send correspondence and material for "NRCS This Week" to the editor by: e-mail to: brad.fisher@usda.gov; or by fax to: Editor, "NRCS This Week," 202-720-1564; or by mail to: Editor, "NRCS This Week," NRCS, P.O. Box 2890, Washington, D.C. 20013
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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.
Addresses and telephone numbers for NRCS' Civil Rights Staff are: NRCS Civil Rights Program Compliance Division, 5601 Sunnyside Avenue, Mail Stop 5471, Beltsville, MD 20705-5471; phone: (301) 504-2287. NRCS Civil Rights Employment Division, 5601 Sunnyside Avenue, Mail Stop 5472, Beltsville, MD 20705-5472; phone: (301) 504-2181.
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