NACD Home

May 8, 2007
index to previous eNotes

1. Stewardship Week Helps Nation Focus on Conservation’s Power
2. Sims Testifies Before Senate Ag Committee
3. NACD Summer Meeting Heats Up
4. EPA Proposes Extensions of Animal Feeding Operation Water Deadlines
5. Conservation Partnership Leaders Meet to Discuss Timely Issues
6. Conservation Districts Represented in Missouri River Recovery Efforts
7. Region Meetings Around the Corner
8. New EPA Tools Help Users Improve Resource Management
9. Pollinator Stamp Series to be Issued during Pollinator Week
10. Districts on the Web

1. Stewardship Week Helps Nation Focus on Conservation’s Power
Today is the day to be a part of conservation’s power. This was evident across the country last week during national Stewardship Week as conservation districts and state associations distributed conservation education materials to schools and churches, held proclamation signings and hosted an array of field days for local students.

Many of last week’s events followed the theme of “Conservation’s Power” and carried a message of renewable energy. NACD President Olin Sims and his local district hosted one hundred elementary students from neighboring schools on the Sims ranch to teach them about wind power, biomass and solar power.

NACD Stewardship and Education Committee Chair Gene Schmidt joined members of the Indiana Conservation Partnership on Senator Richard Lugar’s (R-IN) farm to receive a signed proclamation from Governor Mitch Daniels recognizing the week as India Stewardship Week.

The NACD leaders’ activities were just a few of many Stewardship related activities carried out by districts across the country. Be sure to send a short overview of your stewardship efforts to http://nacdnet.org/stewardship/.

Visit the Stewardship Marketplace http://nacdnet.org/stewardship/ to order materials for your local county fair, conservation field days or other events.

2. Sims Testifies Before Senate Ag Committee
While in Washington last week, NACD President Olin Sims had the opportunity to testify before the Senate Agriculture Committee regarding the Conservation Title of the 2007 Farm Bill. The Agriculture Committees are drafting the new Farm Bill, and will be working over the next month on their proposals for conservation and the rest of the Farm Bill. Sims’ testimony focused on NACD’s program recommendations and the importance of the locally-led delivery system and technical assistance in working with landowners to prepare for their participation on conservation programs, as well as adoption of specific conservation practices. The testimony is available on NACD’s website at http://nacdnet.org/policy/input/testimony/farmbill_05-01-07.html.

To view the entire hearing visit http://agriculture.senate.gov/.  

As a follow up to Sims’ testimony last week, NACD is pleased to kick off a new member service. America’s Voice for natural resource conservation will feature a monthly audio clip by a conservation district leader. We hope you find that it’s a new way to stay up-to-date on the activities of your national association. You can even play it at your local district board meeting! Click here to hear NACD President Olin Sims addressing his busy week last week in Washington D.C.

3. NACD Summer Meeting Heats Up
Warmer days and longer evenings means summer is fast approaching, and with it comes NACD’s Summer Board Meeting and Legislative Conference!

This year’s meeting is already promising to be action-packed with a full schedule of meetings, speakers and tours. Already, NACD has received tentative confirmations from several high-profile speakers in Washington, D.C., including Senate Agriculture Committee Chairman Tom Harkin (D-IA), House Agriculture Committee Chairman Collin Peterson (D-MN) and the new U.S. Forest Service Chief, Gail Kimbell.

4. EPA Proposes Extensions of Animal Feeding Operation Water Deadlines
The U.S. Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) is opening for a 30-day public comment period a proposal for extension of certain compliance deadlines for concentrated animal feeding operations (CAFOs).

One extension applies to water permit application deadlines for facilities that EPA defined as CAFOs for the first time in 2003. The other extension applies to certain CAFOs that have to develop and implement nutrient management plans. EPA is proposing to extend the dates for deadlines from July 31, 2007 to Feb. 27, 2009.

The proposed extensions would allow EPA to respond adequately to an array of public comments on issues raised in the Waterkeeper Alliance court decision. The extensions would also provide time for the agricultural community to adjust to the new requirements once they are finalized. Additionally, EPA is encouraging states and its regional offices to continue to implement their existing regulatory programs in preparation for the final rule.

For further information, visit EPA's Animal Feeding Operations Web page:
http://www.epa.gov/npdes/caforulechanges

5. Conservation Partnership Leaders Meet to Discuss Timely Issues
Members of the Conservation Partnership met last week to discuss issues of importance to their members and customers. Attendees included NRCS Chief Arlen Lancaster, National Association of Resource Conservation & Development Councils President Sharon Ruggi, National Association of State Conservation Agencies President Pete Jahraus, National Conservation District Employees Association President Cindy Moon and NACD President Olin Sims plus staff from all five partner organizations. The partner leaders addressed ongoing and new initiatives of the partnership, including market based conservation, training, follow up to recovery efforts in Louisiana, Alabama, Texas and Mississippi, USDA office closures, human capital strategies and a brief review of status on the action plan associated with the partner statement signed last November.

6. Conservation Districts Represented in Missouri River Recovery Efforts
A Federal Working Group, composed of federal agencies with activities in the Missouri River basin, is convening a broadly representative Planning Group process to develop a recommended initial Charter for the Missouri River Recovery Implementation Committee (MRRIC). MRRIC will be a multi-stakeholder group that will serve in an advisory capacity to federal agencies on the ecosystem restoration activities for endangered species recovery.

The Planning Group effort is expected to take place over a nine-month period, with formal establishment of MRRIC in early 2008. Representing districts in various capacities are: Jim Becic, NE; Richard Iverson, MT; Jack Majeres, SD; Vick Marquis, MT; Buzz Mattelin, MT; and David Schwarz, MT. These individuals will reach out for district input throughout the process through the NACD Missouri River Team, a group of district officials and employees from the states in the Basin. For more information, contact Debra Bogar at deb-bogar@nacdnet.org.

7. Region Meetings Around the Corner
Region Meetings are right around the corner so be sure to mark your calendar and get registered. New program and hotel reservation information has recently been posted on NACD’s website for the Northeast and Southeast meetings.

Here is a quick reminder of the dates for the regions meetings: the Northern Plains Region Leaders meeting will take place June 10-12 at the Hilton Garden Inn in Bozeman, Mont. The South Central Region meeting on July 27-29 will be in Catoosa/Tulsa Okla. The Northeast Region meeting will be on August 5-8 at the Hilton Mystic in Mystic, Conn. The Southeast Region meeting on August 26-28 will be at the Williamsburg Lodge in Williamsburg, Va. The Southwest and Pacific Regions meeting will take place on Sept. 9-11 at the Park City Marriott in Park City, Utah.

See NACD’s website for more information about the region meetings and registration.

8. New EPA Tools Help Users Improve Resource Management
The U.S. Environmental Protection Agency has released a number of tools recently that are helpful in stewardship and natural resource management efforts. Check out what’s new in the EPA toolbox!

1. Nonpoint Source Outreach Toolbox
   The Nonpoint Source Outreach Toolbox is a comprehensive set of web-based resources designed to assist communities in conducting effective stormwater and watershed education and outreach activities. It includes a searchable catalog of nearly 800 print, radio, and TV ads and outreach materials. Explore the NPS Toolbox online at www.epa.gov/nps/toolbox
2. New website on Stewardship Programs
   EPA’s new website on stewardship programs can help business, government and private citizens make intelligent choices on sustainable environmental benefits. The website provides guidance on simple everyday decisions by organizations and individuals on such issues as recycling, reuse or choice of fuel support pollution prevention and environmental stewardship. See the Environmental Stewardship website at http://www.epa.gov/stewardship.
3. AirCompare Air Quality Tool
   EPA’s newly released AirCompare air quality tool provides local air quality information to help people make informed decisions about moving, vacationing or living in different areas of the country. AirCompare uses EPA's popular Air Quality Index (AQI) to explain air quality from a health perspective. Check it out at http://www.epa.gov/aircompare/.
4. Water Quality Modeling Tool
   EPA has updated its watershed management program making it easier to use and more readily available. Better Assessment Science Integrating Point and Nonpoint Sources (BASINS) is a multipurpose system that integrates environmental data, analytical tools, and modeling programs. BASINS 4.0 is a valuable tool for watershed and water quality-based analyses, including developing total maximum daily load (TMDL) allocations. More information about BASINS 4.0 is available at http://www.epa.gov/waterscience/basins.

9. Pollinator Stamp Series to be Issued during Pollinator Week
A bold plan to publicize the importance and plight of pollinators in the U.S. is hoping to literally take root on a small farm in Kansas. To draw attention to the importance of pollinators in ecosystems, agriculture, and biodiversity, a continent-wide campaign to protect pollinators, the North American Pollinator Protection Campaign (NAPPC), plans to partner with world-renowned Kansas-based crop artist Stan Herd to build a 50-foot butterfly out of natural materials.

The crop art will coincide with National Pollinator Week, designated by the U.S. Senate and the U.S. Department of Agriculture to help publicize the vulnerability of pollinators and to call on the public to create pollinator-friendly habitats in their own landscapes. Pollinator Week will be held June 24-30.

The U.S. Postal Service block of four Pollination stamps, to be issued during Pollinator Week, will feature Morrison’s bumble bee, the calliope hummingbird, and the lesser long-nosed bat, in addition to the Southern dogface butterfly that crop artist Herd plans to create in flowers.

For more information, go to www.pollinator.org.

10. Districts on the Web
Below are the latest districts to publish websites. Most of them are hosted on our NACD server. As more districts are recognizing the value of a website as a way to better communicate with their customers, we are happy to assist them by registering domain names and providing server space. Go to http://nacdnet.org/resources/webhosting/ for information about NACD’s web hosting services or send an email to linda-campbell@email.nacdnet.org.

For queries about this newsletter or to subscribe, contact editor Lisa Lerwick, NACD Director of Communications, at Lisa-Lerwick@nacdnet.org or 202-547-6223.