United States Department of Agriculture
Natural Resources Conservation Service		 Go to Accessibility Information
Skip to Page Content





 

Illinois farm out structure in winterNRCS This Week mast head

The Natural Resources Conservation Service — Helping People Help the Land.

Subscribe to NRCS This Week | NRCS This Week Archives | Contact Us |
Where to Get Information | eNotes from NACD |

focus on the field header bar
 
Louisiana

(from left) Louisiana NRCS office automation clerk Adlel Swearingen and Louisiana NRCS public affairs specialist Stuart Lee staff the NRCS booth. (NRCS image -- click to enlarge)(Note: This story ran last week, but due to MSFrontPage formatting issues, many could not view all of the images and captions.  Please check the story again to view all images and captions).  Strengthening the Partnership -- NRCS and NACD Meet in New Orleans NRCS and National Association of Conservation Districts (NACD) leadership recently gathered in New Orleans, Louisiana, for the NACD 2009 Annual Meeting. 

 

 

Maine

completed project (NRCS image -- click to enlarge)Public Land WHIP Fish Passage Project in Maine Completed
With snow on the ground and freezing temperatures, winters in Maine produce far from ideal conditions to undertake a construction project; but the recently completed Mill Brook Fish Passage in Cumberland, Maine, proved that it can be done.  Originally scheduled for late fall 2008, the flow conditions were too high for construction, so the project was delayed until January 2009.


 

South Carolina

The following requires Windows Media Player.
 South Carolina Hispanic Family Farm Gets Help From NRCS
Thanks to NRCS special efforts to reach out to Hispanic farmers, a Hispanic farm family in South Carolina is getting help installing conservation practices on their farm.  NRCS wants to make sure these farmers understand that there are programs available to help them protect the environment.
 

 

 

accolades header bar

NRCS professional engineer Larry Caldwell (right) poses with Acting Chief Dave WhiteNRCS Federal Engineer of the Year Award Winner Announced
NRCS professional engineer Larry Caldwell is the 2009 NRCS winner of the Federal Engineer of the Year Award (FEYA) competition for his leadership over many years in establishing and carrying out the agency’s dam rehabilitation work.
 

 

Word from Washington header bar

Secretary Tom Vilsack “braking pavement” on the inaugural USDA The People’s GardenSecretary Vilsack Establishes the People’s Garden Project on Lincoln’s Bicentennial Birthday
Secretary Tom Vilsack recently “broke pavement” on the inaugural USDA People’s Garden during a ceremony on the grounds of the USDA Whitten Building in Washington D.C.  Commemorating the 200th birthday of Abraham Lincoln, the Secretary declared the stretch of pavement permanently closed and returned back to green and encouraged other Administration officials and the general public to join in to protect the Chesapeake watershed.
 

 

 

2009 National Egineers Week logoNational Engineer's Week
NRCS engineers took part in celebrating National Engineer's Week with presentations, special project displays, and information distribution nationwide.  The NHQ NRCS Conservation Engineering Division held an open-house with a poster display, recognized 2009 NRCS Engineer of the Year recipient Larry Caldwell, and set up a booth at the 2009 Discover Engineering Family Day at the National Building Museum. 
 

 

 

 

NRCS Black History Month Poster "The Quest for Citizenship in the Americas"February 2009 Is Black History Month
This year's theme for Black History Month is "The Quest for Citizenship in the Americas."

The Origins of National Black History Month
Black History Month had its origins in the United States and was the idea of African American Scholar and educator Dr. Carter G. Woodson.  Dr. Woodson was one of the first Black Americans to receive a Ph.D. from Harvard University.

 

technology news header bar

Pilot Workshop Developed for Fluvial System Restoration
During the first week in May 2009, a new workshop, Restoration of Fluvial Systems, will be held in Michigan.  The workshop was developed jointly by NRCS National Design, Construction, Soil Mechanics Center (NDCSMC) stream mechanics civil engineer Jon Fripp, NDCSMC landscape architect Gary Wells, NRCS Central National Technology Support Center (CNTSC) fisheries biologist Romy Myzska, and CNTC wetland hydraulic engineer Rich Weber.

 

earth team header bar

Mendota Students -- Illinois NRCS Earth Team VolunteersMendota Students -- Illinois NRCS Earth Team Volunteers
Over a hundred adults and Mendota school students volunteered their time and talents to assist the Little Vermilion River Watershed Committee by affixing approximately 800 medallions (informing the public that whatever enters the storm drains goes to rivers and streams) to the storm water sewer drains in Mendota, Illinois.  The Watershed Committee is a committee of the LaSalle County Soil & Water Conservation District and an NRCS Earth Team volunteer group.

 

 

 

NRCS Photo Album header bar

 

 

Homes Burns Pleasant Soil and Water Conservation DistrictHomes Burns Pleasant Soil and Water Conservation District
This early photo is of a meeting of the Homes Burns Pleasant Soil and Water Conservation District (townships in Winona County) – the first governing body of the first soil conservation district organized in Minnesota in 1938.  The SCS project manger and county agent were present at this meeting.  It is interesting to note, that the first soil conservation districts were established by watershed boundaries or township boundaries but the districts established later included the entire area of respective counties (NRCS image -- click to enlarge).

Thanks to Minnesota NRCS public affairs specialist Julie MacSwain for sharing this photo with NRCS This Week!

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. 
 

 

The U.S. Department of Agriculture (USDA) prohibits discrimination in all its programs and activities on the basis of race, color, national origin, age, disability, and where applicable, sex, marital status, familial status, parental status, religion, sexual orientation, genetic information, political beliefs, reprisal, or because all or a part of an individual's income is derived from any public assistance program. (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 to USDA, Director, Office of Civil Rights, 1400 Independence Avenue, S.W., Washington, D.C. 20250-9410 or call (800) 795-3272 (voice) or (202) 720-6382 (TDD). USDA is an equal opportunity provider and employer.