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In This Week’s Edition . . .
A Report from the Executive Director, Jennifer Boyle
Legislative Update: The state Senate passed their version of HB 1001 – the budget bill late yesterday. It still includes $500,000/yr in general fund appropriation for the Clean Water Indiana program. Continue to contact your state legislators asking for their support to include this as part of the final budget bill. >>Click here to find out who your legislator is and their contact information. Your email or letter should stress how Clean Water Indiana funds are utilized by SWCDs for critical on the ground conservation.
Job Positions Available.
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Conservation Development Specialist. Newly posted as of 4-15-09: The Conservation Development Specialist (CDS) assists local organizations (primarily Indiana Watershed Initiatives and Soil and Water Conservation Districts) with growth and organizational development. Specifically, the CDS will infuse the Indiana conservation delivery system with information and expertise related to proper, creative leveraging of local/state/federal funds, fundraising, private donor relationships, capacity building, and grants development. >>Click here for the complete job description.
- Indiana Conservation Cropping Systems Initiative. Click here to read about two positions the Indiana Association of Soil and Water Conservation Districts is seeking: one (1) full time Technical Coordinator and one (1) part time Program Coordinator or the equivalent in contractual services to carry out the Indiana Conservation Cropping Systems Initiative (CCSI).
SWCDs Sought for Promotion Opportunity at PWQ. We’ve been asking for volunteers previously in Weekly Updates for SWCD volunteers to showcase interactive outreach activities / presentations during the 2009 Indiana State Fair in the education area of the exhibit. This is still a request from the Pathway to Water Quality Steering Committee and Susan Schultz, PWQ Committee and NACD’s Stewardship and Education Coordinator. The Indiana State Fair runs from August 7 – 23, 2009: 17 days this year. Topics and or activities your District might cover are: Soil profiles – soil survey, GIS-GPS, Rain Gardens, Backyard Conservation, Water, Well capping, Forestry, Tree Planting, Septic systems, Pervious concrete, Stormwater, River Clean ups and other conservation related topics. >>Click here to view dates and times available. If your SWCD is interested in this opportunity, email Susan at sms@hrtc.net.
Volunteer Groups would provide staffing of the activity cart and supplies needed. The time you will need to be at the Pathway is 10 a.m. to 5 p.m. Groups can decide shift times of their volunteers during 10 a.m. to 5 p.m. time frame. Groups can start earlier or stay later during their volunteer day if they wish. Pathway will provide the cart for the activity and assistance loading and unloading.
Healthy Forests and EQIP. Click here for a new Indiana Publication titled Healthy Forests & EQIP. This publication, along with other Indiana Farm Bill publications, can be found on the Indiana NRCS Web site.
Reminder: Join Us April 27 to Celebrate Stewardship Week. The IASWCD is pleased to invite you to join us as we celebrate conservation stewardship here at the state headquarters on Monday, April 27! Our celebration starts at 9:15 a.m. (EDT) outside in the grassy area south of the Indiana Farm Bureau building off of Louisiana Street (rain location is Hall D on the first floor of the building).
We will dedicate a tree in memory of Olin Sims, a past NACD president who died unexpectedly in December 2007. As a living legacy to Olin, the National Association of Conservation Districts (NACD) initiated a program to plant trees honoring his memory and legacy. We are honored to do so here in Indianapolis since the Association hosted him and the NACD board in July 2007 just six months before he died. Join us and representatives from the Indiana Conservation Partnership on Monday, April 27, at 9:15 a.m. EDT.
Reminder: River Friendly Farmer 2009. As a Soil and Water Conservation District, you may nominate up to two farmers from your county for the 2009 River Friendly Farmer Award. Nominations are due to our office by June 16, 2009. River Friendly Farmer Award winners will be honored at the Indiana State Fair in a statewide ceremony on August 19.
Have a good week,
Jennifer
Watershed Moment
Indiana Watershed Networking Sessions: Integrating Watershed Planning and Implementation at the Local Level
Click here to see an AGENDA.
Don't miss this opportunity to gain valuable, relevant tools for integrating watershed planning and implementation at the Local Level. Learn how to go beyond your basic watershed plan and move into strategic action resulting in change. Jill Hoffman, from Empower Results, will cover topics such as getting membership active, connecting with other organizations to increase impact, getting your message to the community, and much more.
When and Where
May 12 - Delaware County Fairgrounds, Muncie
May 13 - Rensselaer Public Library, Rensselaer
May 14 - Ellettsville Fire Department Station #7, Ellettsville
Sessions will be from 10 a.m. to 3 p.m. with registration starting at 9:30 a.m.
REGISTER TODAY - Click here to REGISTER NOW
Registration will close at 5pm on Monday May 4. The registration fee is $15 and includes lunch and snacks.
Networking sessions are a product of a partnership between IASWCD, IDEM and CTIC.
NRCS Earth Team Volunteers Answer the Call to Serve
Would you like to answer the call to serve by working on natural resources projects that beautify your community, helping farmers protect their natural resources, or writing articles on natural resource topics for your local media? If you would, the USDA Natural Resources Conservation Service’s (NRCS) Earth Team Volunteer Program in Indiana offers these and many other opportunities to you. Nationwide, volunteers are being honored April 19-25 during National Volunteer Week, and this year’s Earth Team Volunteer theme is “Answer the Call to Serve.”
“If you choose to become involved in your community by volunteering, the Earth Team in Indiana offers so much for you, whether you are an outdoor enthusiast, office worker, environmentalist, or student,” said NRCS State Conservationist Jane Hardisty. “If you have skills and experience that you want to use in new ways, you can explore opportunities offered with the Earth Team.”
During fiscal year 2008, about 240 Earth Team volunteers contributed 2,809 hours in Indiana valued at approximately $56,180 for various conservation activities. Nationally, more than 30,000 volunteers contributed more than 800,000 hours valued at about $15 million to further the NRCS mission of helping people help the land.
“NRCS in Indiana is proud of the dedicated volunteers who have committed their time and talents to conserving and protecting soil, water, and wildlife in their communities across the state,” said Hardisty. “Volunteers play a vital role in achieving our conservation goals, and we have seen a significant increase in our conservation achievements because of their contributions.”
The NRCS Earth Team Volunteer Program, created in 1985, offers numerous opportunities for individuals 14 years of age or older. With ever-increasing workloads and a declining workforce, volunteers are essential to helping NRCS carry out its mission. They assist NRCS conservationists with diverse activities from providing conservation technical assistance to teaching and generating awareness about conservation through community projects by working on the land, in schools, with organizations, and in offices. Volunteers help with natural resource projects that improve water quality, beautify communities and reduce erosion. They also contribute their clerical, computer and writing skills in NRCS and conservation district offices across the nation.
Earth Team Volunteer Spotlight
There are many very valuable projects being completed by groups and individuals throughout Indiana. The John M. Craddock Wetland Nature Preserve located in Muncie stands out as a shining example because of the many Earth Team volunteers and local community organizations involved. This project has been boosted by a grant from the Ball Brothers Foundation, but the ‘on the ground’ work is being completed by local Ball State students and neighborhood schoolchildren who are signed up as Earth Team volunteers. This dedicated group consists of more than 30 students who have spent approximately 1,444 hours tearing out invasive plants, planting native wetland plants, and designing a boardwalk and trail system. Once finished, the community will utilize this wetland preserve for recreation and education, and will have the benefit of cleaner water from the wetland. Projects like this and many others throughout the state would not be possible with out the Earth Team volunteers.
Additional information on the Earth Team Volunteer Program is available online or by calling 1-888-LANDCARE.
Indiana Dunes State Park Field Trip Grants Available
Grants are available from the Indiana Dunes State Park for school field trips during the 2009-2010 school year. Funds are distributed through the Dunes Conservation Field Trip Grant Program.
The grant program is designed to distribute funds to public, private, parochial or home-school educators interested in taking students on field trips to Indiana Dunes State Park. The program is funded by Friends of Indiana Dunes, Inc. Field trips may help engage students in learning about the importance of conservation while studying the flora, fauna and natural habitats of Indiana Dunes State Park.
Applications are due by July 15, 2009. They may be downloaded from www.in.gov/dnr/parklake or www.friendsofindianadunes.org. Applications are available for pickup at the Indiana Dunes State Park Office and Nature Center.
Tree and Rain Barrel Sale- Order by May 1, 2009!
The Marion County SWCD is sponsoring its Tree and Shrub Sale. See the Tree and Shrub Sale Brochure with all the species, details and order blank. The District also is continuing their Larger Tree Cost Share Program and initiating a new Rain Barrel Sale Program. See the Tree Cost Share Brochure and the Rain Barrel Sale order forms for all the details.
FSA Notice Clarifies Farm Bill Section 1619
Last week, the USDA-Farm Services Agency (FSA) issued a notice reinforcing the statement of the USDA Office of Inspector General that "data may continue to be shared with other agencies within USDA and with USDA contractors who are bound to comply with Section 1619." Attached to the notice was the certification form the USDA-Natural Resources Conservation Service currently uses with producers seeking technical assistance. Producers must sign the form to authorize access to information in their personal files for the purposes of providing technical assistance.
Previously there had been confusion in some areas regarding whether conservation Districts were to have access to producers’ files. The FSA notice indicates the agency’s interest in maintaining a partnership approach to providing effective and efficient technical service delivery. In order to access producer files, District employees must complete the "Certification of NRCS Conservation Cooperator" form, which states they will not release producer information to the public.
NRCS and FSA are currently exploring a national memorandum of understanding that will satisfy the requirements of Section 1619 of the Farm Bill and no longer necessitate individual certifications. However, until that document has final approval, individual certifications will still need to be signed. NACD will continue to inform conservation districts of any developments regarding this issue. >>Click here to view the FSA notice.
Capacity Building Grants for Forest Management Projects
This week’s GrantStation Insider eNewsletter highlights a grant opportunity from the National Forest Foundation. The foundation was established by Congress to support the USDA Forest Service in its management of the nation's forests and grasslands. The Foundation's Mid-Capacity Assistance Program promotes the creation of locally-based forest partnerships seeking to resolve natural resource issues through a collaborative, dialogue-based process. The program provides capacity building support to organizations that intend to proactively engage local stakeholders in the community in forest management and conservation issues on and around National Forests and Grasslands.
The purpose of the program is to support relatively young nonprofit organizations as they leverage their initial project successes, while strengthening their operating infrastructure. Grants of $35,000 per year for up to two years are provided and require an annual match of $10,000. Proposals must be received by June 12, 2009. Visit the Foundation's Web site to download the RFP.
Identify Agricultural Producers Who Exceed at Nutrient Management
The Conservation Technology Information Center (CTIC) has recently launched a national information campaign called Upstream Heroes – Nutrient Management Success Stories from America’s Farms. They are inviting state associations and local conservation districts to nominate producers who exceeds at nutrient management and have nutrient management success stories to share.
In this national campaign, CTIC will highlight the good work that producers do to manage nutrients in their operations and protect local – and downstream – water quality. CTIC will showcase these success stories in its online magazine, Partners, as well as the CTIC web site, national ag and general media sources and through CTIC’s extensive member network.
>>Click here to nominate a nutrient management success story. This four-question online nomination form is short and should take less than four minutes to complete. CTIC also welcomes links, pdfs and other resources about nutrient management that you can provide. They will put these informational materials on the Upstream Heroes web site that is being developed.
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