July 10, 2007
index to previous eNotes
- 2007 Legislative Conference-Last Day to Register!
- NACD Questions Proposed House Language
- NACD Joins Joint Forestry Team
- NACD Submits Testimony on Wildfires to House Committee on Natural Resources
- New Energy Report Available from NACD
- New Development Handbook Available
- 15th National Nonpoint Source Monitoring Workshop Scheduled
- Website Offers Wildfire Planning Assistance
1. 2007 Legislative Conference-Last Day to Register!
Today is the final day of pre-registration for NACD’s 2007 Legislative Conference, scheduled for July 22-24 in Washington, D.C. If you haven’t already registered, be sure to do so today. Don’t forget, the state with the most people registered by the end of today receives four tickets to the Washington Nationals game, compliments of NACD CEO Krysta Harden!
2. NACD Questions Proposed House Language
Yesterday NACD President Olin Sims sent a letter to House Agriculture Committee Chairman Collin Peterson (D-MN) asking the committee to remove proposed 2007 Farm Bill language that would switch administration of all Farm Bill Conservation Programs from NRCS to the Farm Service Agency. Sims’ letter stated that such a change would threaten the locally-led process and further complicate producer participation. He also stressed the need for more thorough review and an opportunity for public input before making such a significant change.
NACD has been pushing from the start of the debate for a Farm Bill that streamlines and consolidates the programs and processes to make it easier for America’s landowners to participate in conservation programs and implement effective practices. We will continue to work toward that goal.
For more information, please see the full text of the letter to Chairman Peterson and NACD’s Press Release and Action Alert.
3. NACD Joins Joint Forestry Team
NACD recently began participating in an ongoing forum with the U.S. Forest Service, NRCS and the National Association of State Foresters. The forum was established to share information about the delivery of forestry and related conservation services on working farms, forests and ranch lands. The team will explore ways to improve program and technical coordination; outreach and education; marketing of ecosystem services and energy; and watershed assessments and planning. Three NACD board members are serving on the team—Charles Holmes from Alabama; Johnny Sundstrom from Oregon and Orval Gigstad from Nebraska.
4. NACD Submits Testimony on Wildfires to House Committee on Natural Resources
NACD provided comment to the House Natural Resources Subcommittee on National Parks, Forests and Public Lands in a recent hearing on wildfires.
The testimony focused on conservation districts’ role in preventing wildfire through strategies such as reduction of hazardous fuels buildup, development of new and innovative technologies to use woody biomass and education of the public about proper forest management. The testimony also included support for more collaborative efforts of the Interior and Agriculture Departments in conducting fuel reduction treatments in the urban wildland interface on federal lands that are at risk from wildfire.
NACD’s comments to the Natural Resources Committee come at a critical time in the current wildfire season, with dozens of wildfires currently burning in Western states. While considerable wildfire activity occurs in the West, the testimony also pointed out the threat of wildfire to the viability of forests of all types across the nation.
The full testimony can be found on NACD’s website at http://nacdnet.org/policy/input/testimony/.
5. New Energy Report Available from NACD
Seldom in history have America’s farmers and ranchers been asked to do so much. In addition to providing food and fiber for a growing population at home and abroad, 21st century producers are growing energy crops needed to feed the rising demand for domestic, renewable energy. They are also being asked to be leaders in conserving energy in their own operations.
NACD recently released a report titled “Energy Conservation Opportunities in Agriculture.” The report provides examples of energy conservation and renewable energy generation activities on America’s farms and ranches. The report finds that conservation districts and their partners are stepping up to the challenge in the energy realm, providing technical assistance, education, cost-sharing and other support. The report is intended to help districts across the country learn from one another as America moves toward a new, renewable energy future.
The report is available on NACD’s website. The primary sources of information for the report came from state and local conservation partners and farmers and ranchers across the country. Thanks to our partners for their generous donation of time, talent and energy in helping gather information!
6. New Development Handbook Available
Conservation districts working with communities to help address the natural resource issues of growth may be interested in a new tool from the Center for Watershed Protection (CWP). The Better Site Design Handbook outlines 22 guidelines for more environmentally-friendly development: changes to subdivision and land development and zoning regulations that will better manage stormwater, preserve and enhance existing natural areas, and reduce pollution in local streams. It provides detailed rationale for each principle, everything from basic engineering principles to actual versus perceived barriers to implementing Better Site Design; examines practices in local communities; details the economic and environmental benefits of Better Site Design; and presents case studies from across the country. This and other free resources can be downloaded from CWP’s Better Site Design at www.cwp.org/PublicationStore/bsd.htm.
7. 15th National Nonpoint Source Monitoring Workshop Scheduled
The 15th National Nonpoint Source Monitoring Workshop will be held in Austin, Texas, on August 26-30, 2007. This year’s event will feature symposia, workshops and field trips addressing “Monitoring for Decision Making.” More than 50 speakers will provide information on topics such as watershed management, best management practices and pollution control strategies, long-term impacts of 319 projects and much more. Registration forms and full conference details are available at www.rivers.txstate.edu/NPS07. The 15th National NPS Monitoring Workshop is sponsored by the U.S. Environmental Protection Agency and hosted by the Texas Commission on Environmental Quality and the River Systems Institute.
8. Website Offers Wildfire Planning Assistance
The U.S. Forest Service, Southern Research Station, in cooperation with Louisiana State University, recently developed a new information section in the National Database of State and Local Wildfire Hazard Mitigation Programs website. The section assists community leaders and fire officials to develop community wildfire protection plans (CWPPs) and provides a central location to review key features of existing CWPPs. The user-friendly website features a searchable format that allows stakeholders to review existing CWPPs as they formulate strategies to address wildfire vulnerability in their communities.
Check it out today at www.wildfireprograms.usda.gov.