Summer 2008 Issue

This new electronic publication will provide news and feature articles highlighting activities occurring across our state.
Conservation Footprints will be replacing the quarterly publication formerly known as Current Developments.
 

See what's happen' with employees around the state.
The following personnel changes for this quarter have been supplied by our state Human Resources department.

Shannon Strittmatter, Student Trainee (Civil Engineer), Mount Vernon, effective 3/1/08
Heather Rigdon-Simmons, RC&D Coordinator, Yakima, effective 3/30/08
Nancy Burnett, Budget Analyst, Spokane State Office, transferred from Forest Service, effective 5/11/08
Hanna Connett, Biological Science Aid (Plants), Pullman PMC, effective 5/11/08
Conor Richards, Biological Science Aid (Plants), Pullman PMC, effective 5/11/08
Pamela Scheinost, Agronomist, Pullman PMC, transferred from Idaho NRCS, effective 5/11/08
Naysa Poshusta, Biological Science Aid (Plants), Pullman PMC, effective 5/19/08
Paul Cooke, Student Trainee (Soil Conservationist), Okanogan, effective 5/25/08
Jacob Tribelhorn, Biological Science Aid (Plants), Pullman PMC, effective 6/8/08
Cynthia Burton, RC&D Coordinator, Montesano, transferred from Utah NRCS, effective 6/8/08

Amy Smith – For her role in promptly developing the FY 2008 RC&D agreements
Sarah Troutman – For outstanding effort in processing the Big Bend Team cultural resources workload
Marty Chaney – For contribution toward the successful implementation of EWP projects in FY08
Rachel Maggie – For contribution toward the successful implementation of EWP projects in FY08
Larry Cooke – For contribution toward the successful implementation of EWP projects in FY08
Kellie Green – For contribution toward the successful implementation of EWP projects in FY08
Clare Flanagan – For ongoing and prompt outreach activities to the small farms in King County
Patrice Beckwith – For outstanding effort to complete all 08 EQIP contracts ahead of schedule and completing all work related to the national audit of open obligations on schedule
Misty Seaboldt – For outstanding effort to complete all 08 EQIP contracts ahead of schedule and completing all work related to the national audit of open obligations on schedule
Mark Simpson – For outstanding effort to complete all 08 EQIP contracts ahead of schedule and completing all work related to the national audit of open obligations on schedule
Mike Blakeley – For workload management during program sign-up and open obligations reviews in the first half of FY08
Georgie Leinweber – For exceptional customer service in program outreach in the first half of FY08
David Welk – For leadership in Farm Bill contract management and support in Spokane County in the first half of FY08
Paul Majer – For willingness to support the Big Bend Team, quick turn-around on requests for assistance, and commitment to helping increase the JAA levels
Chris Johnson – For sustained assistance and cooperation in outreach and marketing communication efforts
Amanda Ettestad – For sustained assistance and cooperation in outreach and marketing communication efforts
Rick Beck – For sustained assistance and cooperation in outreach and marketing communication efforts
Corey Bonsen – For sustained assistance and cooperation in outreach and marketing communication efforts
Pete Bautista – For providing leadership and continuity as Acting Assistant State Conservationist for Operations
Randy Kelley – For providing leadership and continuity as Acting State Resource Conservationist
Chas Scripter – For improving the efficiency of the organization by identifying the adverse impact of IT Virus Scanning and developing a protocol to improve the process
John Kendig – For superior effort as Acting West Area Conservationist
Linda Appel – For excellent quality of technical assistance, customer service, and conservation planning through the first two quarters of FY08
Justin Mount – For extra effort given during term as Acting District Conservationist for the North Central Team
Ron Nichols – For creativity and significant contributions to the development and successful launch of the NRCS national campaign “Conservation…Our Purpose. Our Passion.”

Ann Swannack, promotion to District Conservationist, Davenport Field Office, effective 3/2/08
Deborah Penner-Fortner, temporary promotion to Resource Conservationist, Dayton Field Office, effective 4/13/08
Lorna Winona, Administrative Assistant, Ephrata Area Office, career promotion effective 4/27/08
Paul Gleason, Soil Conservationist, Ephrata Field Office, career promotion effective 5/11/08
Pete Bautista, Promoted to Assistant State Conservationist (Operations), Spokane State Office, effective 5/25/08
Tracy Hanger, Agronomist, Ephrata Field Office, career promotion effective 5/11/08

Greg Schlenz, Resource Conservationist, Dayton Field Office, reassigned to the Overseas Deployment Office, effective 2/7/08
Molly Smith, Civil Engineer, Chehalis Field Office, reassigned to the Olympia Area Office, effective 3/16/08
Tracy Hanger, Agronomist, Ephrata, detailed to the Dayton Field Office, effective 4/20/08

Kimberly Galland, Soil Conservationist, Ritzville Field Office, resigned effective 3/28/08
Linda Appel, Rangeland Management Specialist, Okanogan Field Office, transferred/promoted to BLM effective 4/26/08
Ashley Bouck, Student Trainee (Soil Conservationist), Renton, separated, effective 5/16/08

  
Highlights of conservation activities in Washington

	Creating Cottonwood Groves: A Primer Submitted By Tim Dring, Wildlife Biologist; Gary Kuhn, Plant Materials Specialist;and Mark Stannard, Pullman Plant Materials Center Manager “Ya just can’t stick a tree in the ground.”  If establishing a cottonwood grove is identified as addressing a resource concern; then a great deal of preparation must be planned and applied before the first tree is ever planted.  Read more...
	Old Fashioned Technical Assistance Provides Hope for State Endangered Species Submitted by Rachel Maggi, West Area Biologist Sixty turtles! This was all that Washington Department of Wildlife (WDFW) could find during a survey of the Columbia Gorge Western Pond Turtle population in 1990. Read more...
	Volunteer’s contributions continue to grow upon the landscape. Submitted by Jim Shawley, NRCS Civil Engineering Technician Jim Manring has transformed his knowledge of plants and his love for the land into deeds that will continue to grow upon the landscape in southeastern Washington for generations to come. Read more...
	Community Wildfire Protection Plan serves as an important resource in southeast Washington Submitted by Jim Shawley, Civil Engineering Technician, Pomeroy Three counties in southeast Washington have been greatly affected by wildfires in the last few years.  Over 150,000 acres have burned in two major fires.  In March 2007, Community Wildfire Protection Plan (CWPP) committees were formed in Asotin, Garfield, and Columbia Counties. Read more...
	Lincoln County Celebrates Asian/Pacific Heritage Month and Welcomes New Employees. Submitted by Jerry Robeson, Soil Conservation Technician, Davenport The Lincoln County Farm Services Agency (FSA) was the host for a luncheon held in honor of Asian/Pacific Heritage Month.  FSA, NRCS and Lincoln County Conservation District employees brought in Asian/Pacific dishes to celebrate the event. Read more...
	WHIP Protects Wetlands Submitted by Rich Riehle, Resource Conservationist, Colfax Upper Palouse River Farms, operated by J Read Smith, working with the Palouse-Rock Lake Conservation District and NRCS, has recently fenced off several wetland areas for wildlife habitat in Whitman County.  This was done working with the Wildlife Habitat Incentive Program (WHIP).  Dedicating a portion of the farm for wildlife habitat is not new for the Smith farm.  Wildlife friendly practices have always been a part of farming for Read. Read more...
	Tribal Environmental Quality Incentives Program opens Lone Tree Creek to pocket estuary for salmon Submitted by Kathy Kilcoyne, Forester, Mount Vernon Pocket estuaries are special places for juvenile salmon and for people.  The Lone Tree pocket estuary is one of several areas in the Skagit River delta where juvenile salmon congregate at a crucial stage in their growth. Read more...
	Tanwax Creek Riparian Planting Plan Gains Interest Submitted by Rob Ryan, Agronomist, Renton James Tucker wished to restore the riparian habitat on his property, so he signed up for a Wildlife Habitat Incentives Program (WHIP) contract.  In summer of 2007, Tucker planned to mow the Reed Canary Grass and spray it.  His next course of action was to hire planters to install the plants that winter. Read more...
Asian American Pacific Islander Lunch Talk on Hmong Agriculture Outreach in Washington Submitted by Peter Bautista, Asian American/Pacific Islander SEPM On May 7, in celebration of Asian American/Pacific Islander Month, Mr. Bee Cha was a guest speaker at a lunch held in the Spokane State office.  Mr. Cha is with the Washington State University (WSU) Agricultural Extension.  Currently he is working as the Hmong Program Coordinator to provide agricultural extension assistance through the Small Farms Center for Sustaining Agriculture and Natural Resources.  Mr. Cha’s presentation focused primarily on outreach activities that he and others have been involved in with Hmong producers in the state. Read more...

  
Other items of interest along the way

Asian Pacific Islander Month luncheon was held at the Yakima Service Center featuring keynote speaker Lon Inaba.

Yakima Service Center Celebrates Asian Pacific Islander Month
Submitted by Chris Johnson, District Conservationist, Zillah

In celebration of Asian Pacific Islander Month, a luncheon was held at the Yakima Service Center.   The keynote speaker was Lon Inaba, a third generation Japanese American farmer.  Lon gave a power point presentation about the history of Japanese American farmers in the Yakima Valley.

Lon and his family are one of the biggest vegetable producers in the area and he is very active with NRCS programs.   His presentation really added a nice touch to the luncheon.

Safari In Tanzania
Submitted by Andrea L. Mann, Big Bend RC&D Coordinator

For three weeks in January 2008, I traveled with students and faculty from Trinity Lutheran College, Issaquah, to learn all we could about life in Tanzania, East Africa (homeland of Shiraz Vira).  Through the voices of the people and hands on work experiences with individuals, we learned of the joys and hardships of those we had come to work along side.

Sugar cane harvest near Kidatu Tanzania East Africa.

The night we arrived into Dar es Salaam (Shiraz’s hometown) I could smell the sea air and feel the cool breeze on my face.  My senses were awakened creating a new connection to the stories Shiraz told me over the years of fishing in the ocean and smelling the sea breeze.

We were greeted by a large sign depicting a giraffe on the Serengeti with the word “Karibuni”, Swahili for welcome everyone.  I did feel very welcome as I had a dear friend meet me at the airport and I could see his bright smile through the doors of customs.

Ezekiel Mwambungu served a year in Washington State as an intern pastor at my church in Wenatchee during 1990-91.  When Eze prepared to return to Tanzania, I vowed that I would come visit his family one day.  The day had come with great financial expense and a long plane ride.  But I was finally in Africa, my childhood place of dreams, the home of Noah’s ark and the animals I’d only seen in zoos or on Wild Kingdom.

The coast and southwest interior of Tanzania is very hot and humid.  We thanked God that it was overcast our first few days to help us acclimate.  Our first location was the city of Morogoro, the hub of truck, bus and train traffic carrying people and goods; the home of the Morogoro Agricultural College, Lutheran Seminary, and center of a large Maasai population who were the chief herdsmen of cattle and goats in the region.  I learned about the effects of AIDS on a community.

Morogoro is a city whose livelihood depends on the agricultural products grown all around and within it.  Grains such as rice, millet, corn, beans, greens called calliloo, pineapple, mangos, watermelon and coconut were only a few of the crops grown that I could recognize.

Ezekiel Mwambungu’s farm and hog confinement, Tanzania, East Africa.

Our next visit was to Arusha in northern Tanzania located in the shadow of the great mountain Kilimanjaro.  We visited a Heifer International Project farm and learned that not only were the farmers producing beef, but they also were producing biogas for use in their kitchens and homes.  We also spent time visiting schools and teaching English as well as spending a day in Ngorogoro crater viewing Noah’s creatures in their natural environment.

After the team went home I spent two weeks in southwestern Tanzania with my friend Eze and his family.  We visited schools, churches, farms and recorded their hopes and dreams for the future of the diocese in which he lives.  I learned about the use of solar power in hospitals off the power grid, I spoke to families who are using solar food driers to process and store food stuffs.  And I learned that these are strong people with wonderful ideas, a determination to make their lives better.  Happy people who greatly value relationships.

At the end of our two weeks, Eze and I presented a report to the diocese leadership identifying their assets and showing them how to work toward self sufficiency and sustainability within their diocese.  We identified projects, potential partners, opportunities for agri-tourism and eco-tourism.  We also identified needs in the diocese and addressed how those needs could be met.

In the months since my return the diocese has continued to flourish, implementing existing projects, developing proposals for new projects, and coordinating efforts in the diocese to use their resources more efficiently.  This is a new generation of leaders.  These leaders are young, well educated and very motivated to improve the lives of their people.  They are an inspiration to me.

Ahsante kwa leo  “Thank you for today”

We hope you have enjoyed our first issue of Conservation Footprints. If you would like to have your article published in an upcoming issue of Conservation Footprints, let me know.  Comments about the new look of this newsletter are also welcome.

For those interested in accessing past Current Development publications.

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