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For the Week of July 21-25, 2008
In This Week’s Edition . . .
A Report from the Executive Director, Jennifer Boyle
NACD Summer Legislative Conference. Your IASWCD board delegates to NACD (Gene Weaver and Ray McCormick) along with Jim Droege, Paula Baldwin, Jane Hardisty, and me just returned from Washington, DC. Gene and Ray attended two days of NACD board meetings and then on Monday we had the opportunity to hear from USDA Secretary of Agriculture Ed Schafer along with congressional staff, and your very own Indiana NRCS State Conservationist Jane Hardisty.
Jane gave a great presentation to the audience on what happens from a state perspective in regards to NRCS appropriations. She highlighted what a difficult year it’s been and how entering into agreements with SWCDs has been delayed due to all the continuing resolutions and the long delay in passing the 2007/2008 Farm Bill. On Tuesday, Ray, Jim, Paula and I headed onto the hill and visited with congressional staff in each of the Congressional districts. We emphasized the need to fully fund the Farm Bill as it goes into appropriations; support increased funding for the 319 Nonpoint Source program; and support increased funding for conservation technical assistance. We also had the opportunity to spend about 20 minutes talking to USDA Deputy Secretary Chuck Conner, an Indiana native. All in all, it was a great visit to Washington, D.C.!
Natural Resources Leadership Development Institute. The deadline is approaching to apply for this year’s NRLDI program. This is an excellent program to participate in. Click here for the brochure. The application is available here.
Reminder on Resolutions. Daviess County has submitted a resolution to be considered for 2009. A resolution on the disbursement of funds between scheduled SWCD meetings has been suggested. The complete resolution can be found here. Please review the submission and get back to Toni Allison before Aug. 1 if your District is interested in being a co-sponsor of the resolution. Your District chair will need to sign a copy of the resolution so that all signatures can be forwarded to the IASWCD office by the Resolution submittal deadline of September 5. Contact Toni at dcswcd@rtccom.net for more information or any questions.
Don't Forget About SWCD Training for Supervisors and Staff. Many participants at the recent Leadership Institute's Leadership in Change workshop held at Purdue commented that supervisors would like for the rest of their board members to go through this important training. There are a two upcoming opportunities to do just that. This workshop will be repeated in Clarksville on Aug. 1-2 and in Muncie Aug. 22 -23. If you would like your full board to participate in your next level of training this fall, register for either of these Level 1 trainings by visiting http://inleaguercd.org/events.php. Deadlines for registration and hotel discounts are quickly approaching. We would highly encourage those interested to register within the next few days. Click here to view a photo slide show from the Purdue seminar.
And finally, 2008 IASWCD Dues. Each week new Districts are added to the list as we say thanks to SWCDs who support our Association with payment of their 2008 dues: Adams, Allen, Bartholomew, Blackford, Benton, Boone, Brown, Carroll, Cass, Clark, Clinton, Crawford, Dearborn, Decatur, Delaware, DeKalb, Dubois, Elkhart, Fayette, Floyd, Fountain, Franklin, Fulton, Gibson, Grant, Green, Hamilton, Harrison, Hendricks, Henry, Howard, Huntington, Jasper, Jay, Jennings, Kosciusko, Knox, LaGrange, Lake, LaPorte, Lawrence, Madison, Marion, Marshall, Martin, Miami, Monroe, Montgomery, Morgan, Newton, Noble, Orange, Owen, Parke, Perry, Porter, Posey, Pulaski, Putnam, Randolph, Ripley, Scott, Spencer, St. Joseph, Switzerland, Tippecanoe, Tipton, Vanderburgh, Vermillion, Vigo, Wabash, Warren, Warrick, Washington, Wayne, White and Whitley. Please take the time to read over the important information in the dues brochure on how your dues support SWCD activities in the state.
Have a good week,
Jennifer
Watershed Moment
Elizabeth Trybula
LEED Facility Highlighted in this week’s Indy Star on Watershed Networking Tour
 The Indiana Watershed Networking Sessions will take place this August in Michigan City (August 14) and Indianapolis (August 20). Each session will focus on Best Management Practices in an urban setting, including LEED (Leadership in Energy and Environmental Design) implementation and greenway development.
On the Indianapolis tour, session participants will have a chance to meet with Keep Indianapolis Beautiful (KIB) president and tour the recently renovated Brownfield facility. The building was featured in this week’s Indianapolis Star, which is available online here>> and nicely highlights some of the practices to be discussed.
For complete information on the upcoming sessions including the online registration form, visit the Networking Session Site here >>
DNR announces over $1 million in grants for 26 Lake and River Enhancement projects in 26 counties
More than $1 million in grants will go toward care of 26 of Indiana's waterways this year through the DNR's Lake and River Enhancement (LARE) program, part of the DNR's Division of Fish and Wildlife.
"Boaters make these grants possible through the Lake Enhancement Fee paid when they register their boats," said DNR director Robert E. Carter, Jr. in announcing the awards. "These funds, in turn, provide money for projects targeted to protect and enhance the very resources used in aquatic recreational pursuits, including fishing and boating." Read the complete release & find the list of 26 awarded projects here >>
319 Grant Application Reminder
If your District is considering applying for a Section 319 Nonpoint Source Grant from IDEM, now is the time to prepare and develop the grant application. Applications for the Federal Fiscal Year 2009 Section 319 Grant Solicitation are due September 1, 2008. Reviewing program guidance for more details and contacting your regional IDEM Watershed Specialists are critical steps to producing a competitive application. Remember, all projects must include a matching contribution from non-federal funds of 40% of the total project cost. Complete information is available on IDEM’s Web site here >>
Indiana NRCS flood update
 The affects of the June flood events continue to be our top priority at NRCS, and for our partner agencies. Click here for the latest update on the conditions in Indiana. As you'll see in the update and in pictures, the power of the June floods created a new 1,700-acre island along the Wabash in Posey County. Just another testament to the scale of this event.
Our staff is moving from the exigency or urgent Emergency Watershed Program (EWP) requests, to the longer term projects. Damage Survey Teams are now shifting their attention to these projects, as the exigency work is winding up. We will also begin using EQIP funds to help affected landowners, as Indiana received $9 million in additional EQIP funds, of which $1 million will be available to repair existing EQIP practices damaged by the floods.
We are up to 48 Presidentially declared disaster counties, with four more counties being added last week (Benton, Fountain, Jay and Montgomery). Farm Service Agency's Emergency Conservation Program (ECP) has extended their sign-up date from July 11 to August 1.
Weekly NRCS flood disaster updates are available on the Indiana NRCS Web site.
DNR Has Many Activities Planned for the 2008 Indiana State Fair
There will be a lot going on at the Department of Natural Resources building during the Indiana State Fair which runs from August 6 through August 17. An old DNR favorite, the snake show “Snakes Alive!” returns again this year. Interpretive naturalists from state properties all over Indiana will bring in snakes, all of which Hoosiers might find in their own backyards. Rather than keeping the reptiles out all day and exposing them to the heat, a show will take place at 10 a.m. only, every day at the DNR amphitheater, excluding Aug. 15. For the true snake enthusiast, O’Bannon Woods State Park interpreters will give visitors an inside look behind “Snakes Alive!” by having some Indiana snakes on display from noon to 5 p.m. on Aug. 14 and 17 from noon to 7 p.m.
The Youth Fishing Pond returns for its third year. Parents should register their children between the ages of 5 and 16 for this opportunity when they enter the fair to reserve a fun fishing experience at this highly popular attraction later in the day. The fishing pond will be open from 9 a.m. to noon and from 4 to 7 p.m., excluding Aug. 6 and Aug. 9, which will not have morning sessions. The fishing pond is free but registra-tion is required. For more advanced anglers, volunteers at the new Angler’s Legacy Booth will be recruiting adults to pledge to take someone new fishing every year. The booth will be incorporated with the nearby Arts & Crafts table.
The Roving Naturalist makes rounds in the DNR building this year with information about topics such as the mystery of coal, butterfly crafts, arachnids and wood identification. Visitors should be sure to stop in to learn some interesting facts about all of these any day from 11 a.m. to 2 p.m. These fun and educational opportunities are just a few of those available to the public in the DNR building at this year’s fair. All DNR activities are free. Gate admission to the fair is $8 for adults and free for children age 5 and younger.
Eminent Domain Seminar
Indiana Farm Bureau is offering a new seminar, Eminent Domain 101: Knowing Your Rights in the Condemnation Process, on Sept. 9 from 9:15 a.m. to 3 p.m. at the Indiana Farm Bureau building in downtown Indianapolis.
“The right to own and use property is one of the constitutional rights that landowners consider fundamental,” said Mark Thornburg, director of IFB’s legal team. “This program is aimed at educating landowners about the extents and limits governmental bodies and other entities to condemn or take property interests under the power of eminent domain.”
Sessions include the history of eminent domain; the impact on Indiana residents of Kelo v. New London, a landmark Supreme Court eminent domain case out of Connecticut; appraisals; and attorney fees, among others. A special lunch program will feature Steven Anderson, director of the Arlington, Virginia-based Institute for Justice Castle Coalition, speaking on the national effects of the Kelo case.
The program is open to anyone: landowners, public officials, attorneys and other interested members of the public are encouraged to attend. The registration fee is $20 and includes all program materials and lunch. A detailed agenda and online registration are available at http://www.infarmbureau.org/. The registration form and fee must be received by IFB no later than Aug. 20. A paper registration form and more information are available by contacting Maria Spellman at 317.692.7840.
Indiana Association of Soil and Water Conservation Districts
OFFICERS:
 President: Jim Droege, Posey Co.
Vice President: Paula Baldwin, Marion Co.
Secretary: Ray McCormick: Knox Co.
Treasurer: Jeff Meinders, Ripley Co.
REGION DIRECTORS:
Board Roster / Region Map
North-Northwest: Larry Strole, Newton Co.
South-Northwest: Kenny Cain, Montgomery Co.
North-Northeast: Tom Crowe, Allen Co.
South-Northeast: Bobby Hettmansperger, Wabash Co.
North-Southwest: Bob Weaver, Johnson Co.
South-Southwest: Ray Chattin, Knox Co.
North-Southeast: Brad Dawson, Dearborn Co.
South-Southeast: Brad Ponsler, Jennings Co.
IASWCD STAFF:
Executive Director: Jennifer Boyle, 317.692.7519
Watershed Information Specialist: Elizabeth Trybula, 317.692.7514
Communications Manager: DeeDee Sigler, 317.692.7374
Project Assistant: Jaclyn Casale, 317.692.7325
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