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| Friday, November 23, 2001 Washington, DC. |
"In our way of life…with every decision we make, we always keep in mind the Seventh Generation of children to come…When we walk upon Mother Earth, we always plant our feet carefully because we know that the faces of future generations are looking up at us from beneath the ground. We never forget them."
–- - from a 1993 Earth Day Pledge by Oren Lyons, Faith Keeper, Onondaga Nation
ACCOLADES
International Programs Recognizes Northern Plains Region -
This year's NRCS International Programs Division award was presented to the Northern Plains Regional Office (NPRO) for their unselfish contributions which made it possible for NRCS to successfully participate in technical assistance efforts in Central America and around the world. NPRO supervisors and managers willingly released employees from their regular duties to take part in international assignments demonstrating a positive attitude toward international conservation which contributed to the image of NRCS as a world leader in conservation assistance. The agency's international accomplishments and success are, to a large degree, the result of this type of team spirit within NRCS. Each year, the NRCS International Programs Division recognizes a State, region, center, or institute for their support of NRCS's international program. Your contact is Jerry Hammond, Director, NRCS International Programs Division, at 202-720-5337
Streamwalk Volunteers Honored -
Connecticut project coordinator Kathleen Johnson and the Pomperaug River watershed coalition held a volunteer appreciation day at the Bent of the River Audubon Center in Southbury, Connecticut. Earth Team volunteers were honored for their efforts on the Pomperaug and Nonnewaug Rivers streamwalk project. They were given a guided hike through the Audubon preserve, refreshments, and Earth Team T-shirts. Over the summer, volunteers conducted surveys and collected data on the conditions of the rivers. This information will be used to develop a priority list of sites to be restored by the coalition and its partners. For more information contact Carol Donzella, NRCS Community Planner, at 203-922-9350.
Honoring The Past -
The Jimmy Carter Plant Materials Center in Americus, Georgia, is assisting the Georgia Tribe of the Eastern Cherokee with the re-establishment of Trail of Tears corn and beans. Tribal members will grow the traditional corn and beans to feed their families and to honor Cherokee People from Georgia, North Carolina, and Tennessee who carried these plant seeds during the long Trail of Tears relocation march. An estimated 4,000 Cherokees died - mostly children and the elderly - and endured extreme hardships during the relocation that occurred in 1836-38. Your contact is Larry J. Coburn, NRCS American Indian Special Emphasis Program Manager in Georgia and American Indian/Alaskan Native Employee Association Southeast Regional Representative, at 706-485-2341 ext. 3.
Stroud Water Research Center Helps with NRCS Training -
During a recent training session, 26 NRCS employees from East Region recently learned about stream ecology and morphology, stream biotic community, and the importance of forested riparian buffers from Dr. Bernard Sweeney of the Stroud Water Research Center near Avondale, Pennsylvania. The group also participated in a stream walk around the center grounds to observe the effects of native and non-native woody vegetation on stream ecology. They also learned that micro-invertebrates depend on the leaves from forested riparian buffers next to the stream for food to survive. Most attendees agreed that the sessions were excellent and rated the training among the best they had experienced during their NRCS careers. Dr. Sweeney recently traveled to Washington to give a very successful presentation to Larry Clark, NRCS Deputy Chief for Science and Technology, and other headquarters staff. Dr. Sweeney is scheduled to give NRCS regional training this spring. Your contact is Stacy Mitchell, NRCS Public Affairs Specialist, at 717-237-2208 or smitchell@pa.nrcs.usda.gov
Remarks by Mark Rey, Under Secretary for Natural Resources and Environment -
The following are excerpts from a recent Washington, DC, metropolitan area NRCS all-employee meeting.
This is my first opportunity to meet you as a group and let you know a bit about where conservation is headed in this administration. First, let me say how proud I am to be your Under Secretary. It will be a pleasure to work with so many talented, dedicated, and hard working people on a mission of such importance to American agriculture. Let me assure you that the clear message from the White House, the Secretary, and the Congress is that conservation is an important part of our nation’s agriculture policy. The various versions of the Farm Bill all place great emphasis on the role of conservation. The agriculture appropriations bill – which is still in process – looks likely to include additional support for conservation. And there are other indications that conservation continues to be an important part of our agriculture policy.
Perhaps the clearest indication is in a document recently released by the Secretary called "Food and Agriculture Policy: Taking stock for the New Century." Chapter 5 of that document outlines the policy issues in the conservation area for the next several years.
You can read it on the USDA site on the Internet.
I’m looking forward to working with you, in delivering conservation programs, implementing the farm bill, and meeting the conservation challenges of the future.
Mark Rey's remarks can be found on the NRCS website at http://www.nhq.nrcs.usda.gov/CCS/reyremarx.html.
November is American Indian Heritage Month!In 1986, President Reagan designated November 23-30 as "American Indian Week." President Bush proclaimed the first National American Indian Heritage Month four years later. Since then, each U.S. President has proclaimed each November as "American Indian Heritage Month." Listed below are some websites that deal with American Indian history, knowledge, lifestyles, current events and tradition.
http://www.aianea.com/ American Indian/Alaskan Native Employees Association for the NRCS. Visit this website to become a member or view projects (NOTE: this site is temporarily out of service. Check back in a week or two).
http://www.aihec.org American Indian Higher Education Consortium. This educational organization represents 32 colleges in the U.S.A. and Canada.
http://www.aises.org American Indian Science and Engineering Society. This professional organization nurtures building of community by bridging science and technology with traditional Native values.
http://www.americanindian.net Look up dates in North American Indian history. Links to numerous other web sites dealing with Tribal Peoples.
http://www.americanindiantribe.com Gives you a head start in research on the historical background of many American Indian Tribes.
http://www.ammsa.com/windspeaker/ Canada's national aboriginal news source.
http://www.cherokee.org Official website for the Cherokee Nation of Oklahoma.
http://www.doi.gov/bia/oirm/faq.htm Answers to frequently asked questions about American Indians.
http://www.indiancountry.com Website of "Indian Country" magazine. Current news articles about tribes, laws and lifeways.
http://www.indiantrust.com Website on the Cobell verse Norton (DOI) lawsuit. <http://www.indianz.com> Headline news of current events affecting American Indians and mainstream USA.
http://www.iaiancad.org Institute of American Indian Arts. Established by the U.S. Department of the Interior's Bureau of Indian Affairs in 1962. In 1975 it became a 2-year college in Santa Fe, NM.
http://www.nativeamericanheritage.com A good way to begin to learn about Indian heritage.
http://www.nativepeoples.com The forum is packed with interesting topics.
http://www.nativeweb.org Resources for indigenous cultures around the world. 3,505 web listings available.
http://www.tribalfires.com Promotes the publishing of Native American creative writers.
Ground-Penetrating Radar (GPR) and Electromagnetic Induction (EMI) in Utah -
GPR and EMI are two noninvasive geophysical tools recently used by NRCS soil scientists working in the Grand Staircase Escalante National Monument in southern Utah. Jim Doolittle, NRCS Research Soil Scientist, and Dr. Janis Boettinger, Utah State University, provided valuable assistance and support to the NRCS soil scientists who identified the location and depth of lamellae, soft bedrock, or hard bedrock in a variety of locations using these methods. GPR and EMI were tested in a variety of geological materials for the purpose of identifying where they can be most appropriately used. NRCS uses these technologies to support soil, archaeological, agronomic, engineering, and geologic site assessments. GPR has also been used to estimate the taxonomic composition of soil map units, determine the depths to soil horizons, bedrock, water table, and geologic strata; and locate buried artifacts and natural hazards, as well as assess rates of sedimentation. Electromagnetic induction is used to chart the spatial variability of soil properties, locate buried artifacts, estimate areas of groundwater recharge or discharge, determine the presence and extent of seepage from animal waste holding ponds, and assist in selecting appropriate sites for the placement or sampling or monitoring devices. The new tools allow for more documentation of soils information in less time, improve quality control, and provide a more accurate concept of soil-landscape relationships in soil survey project work.
Your contact in Utah is Kent Sutcliffe, NRCS Soil Survey Project Leader, at 435-586-2429 ext.13 or kent.sutcliffe@utcedarcit.fsc.usda.gov. Your contact for information on GPR or EMI is Jim Doolittle, NRCS research soil scientist, at 610-557-4233 or jdoolittle@fs.fed.us.
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