National Association of Conservation Districts

National Association of Conservation Districts

NACD's mission is to serve conservation districts by providing national leadership and a unified voice for natural resource conservation.

2008 Conservation Expo

NACD 2008 Annual Meeting • February 10 - 13, 2008 • Reno, NV

The U.S. Forest Service, Open Space Conservation
www.fs.fed.us/openspace
The Forest Service will share the agency’s Open Space Conservation Strategy—the first of its kind from a federal agency.  The Strategy’s priorities and action items will shape Forest Service involvement in strategic conservation across the United States and will be implemented through partnerships with local, state, and federal partners.  Please visit Open Space Conservation website for more details

Traux Company, Inc.
www.truaxcomp.com
Traux Company, located in New Hope, Minnesota, has been in business since 1974 manufacturing and marketing equipment for drilled or full width seeding native grass species, forbs introduced grass and legume species and cover crops for all conservation projects. Traux equipment is designed and built for precision in seeding metering, seed delivery and seed placement. They specialize in planting the hard to seed fluffy, chaffy seeds as well as the large and small flowable seeds. The FLEXII Series Grass Drills, the Rangeland Drill and the Trillion Series are built durable to withstand difficult site conditions. Contact them by email at traux@pclink.com, by phone at (763) 537-6639 or by fax at (763) 537-8353.

North American Association for Environmental Education
www.naaee.org
NAAEE is the professional association for environmental education. Our members promote professional excellence in non-formal organizations, K-12 classrooms, universities (both instructors and students), government agencies, and corporate settings throughout North America and in over 55 other countries. Since 1971, the Association has created opportunities for its members to improve their skills in creating and delivering programs and services that teach people how to think, not what to think.

The National Project for Excellence in Environmental Education, initiated by NAAEE in 1993, has developed a series of Guidelines that set the standards for high-quality environmental education. Each of these publications was developed by a diverse team of professionals, and each has gone through a substantive review by thousands of professionals prior to its publication.

Through the National Project for Excellence in Environmental Education, NAAEE is taking the lead in establishing guidelines for the development of balanced, scientifically accurate, and comprehensive environmental education programs. Quality environmental education programs help develop an environmentally literate citizenry that can compete in our global economy; has the skills, knowledge, and inclinations to make well-informed choices; and exercises the rights and responsibilities of members of a community.

NACD Stewardship and Education
http://www.nacdnet.org/stewardship&education/
Stop by and see the new products for 2008 Stewardship program, themed “Water is Life.” Limited supply of free sample packets of Stewardship materials will be available. The Stewardship theme can be celebrated not only during the traditional Stewardship week—April 27 to May 4, 2008—but also throughout the year in local schools and communities. NACD 2007 Poster and Photo Contest winners will also be on display at the NACD Stewardship and Education booth.

Canon Envirothon
www.envirothon.org
Sponsored in your state by your local conservation District, the Envirothon program advances natural resources education awareness across North America and offers the opportunity to achieve assistance for academic scholarships.  The program introduces high school-age students of all ethnic backgrounds and socio-economic status to environmental education through hands-on activities guided by resource professionals, traditional and non-traditional educators and volunteers. It prepares them to compete with other students to test their knowledge and problem-solving abilities. This educational opportunity is conducted in the traditional as well as non-traditional school settings throughout the school year and summer months. The objectives of the program focus on the introduction of natural resource conservation ideas and choices and how to apply this knowledge to problem analysis and solution. The opportunity to compete on the local, state, provincial and North American level for post high school scholarship dollars for continued study builds character and self-worth. The North American contest is held in different ecosystems each summer to expose students to new and unique environments and their challenges.

Mini-Envirothon (on-going session)
Conference attendees can also participate in a mini-Envirothon and win fabulous prizes!! Experience soils/land use, aquatic ecology, forestry and wildlife stations as well as being quizzed on presentations during the Reno conference. Find out how Districts are utilizing this outreach program and helping students win scholarship money for college.

Grazing Lands Conservation Initiative
www.glci.org
The Grazing Lands Conservation Initiative (GLCI) was founded to provide high quality technical assistance on privately owned grazing lands on a voluntary basis and to increase the awareness of the importance of grazing land resources.

Established in 1991, GLCI is carried out through coalitions of individuals and organizations functioning at the local, state, regional and national levels. The coalitions include livestock producer organizations, scientific and professional grazing resource organizations, conservation and environmental groups, and state and federal natural resource and agriculture agencies.

Scheib Drainage Products
www.scheibdrainage.com
Scheib Drainage Products will exhibit a ¼” high-density polyethylene plastic anti-seep collar that comes pre-cut and drilled with stainless steel bolts and bands.The collars are user friendly and can be installed during new pipe installation or around an existing pipe. Two small wrenches and a screwdriver are all that are needed to assemble the collar.

Collars can be built in three basic sizes:  4’ x 4’, 5’ x 5’, and 6’ x 6’ for pipe from 4” to 36”. They can be made to fit any type of pipe from corrugated plastic, PVC or steel. Collars can also be built for ½”, ¾”, 1”, 1 ½”, 2”, and 3” diameter pipes with a PVC compression coupler welded in the center.

Sierra Environmental Monitoring, Inc.
www.sem-analytical.com
Sierra Environmental Monitoring (SEM) provides high quality environmental testing services to Municipalities, Industrial Accounts, Mining Industry, Government Entities, Agricultural Clients and Homeowners. SEM is California and Nevada certified for testing of Waters (SDWA), Wastewater (NPDES), Hazardous Waste (RCRA), Soil, Plan and Food.

Southern Nevada Water Authority
www.snwa.com
The Southern Nevada Water Authority will be highlighting Water Smart Innovations: World Water Efficiency Conference and Exposition, which will be held in Las Vegas, Nev., Oct. 8-10, 2008. The conference will showcase water-efficiency technology, conservation programs and water use policies to a global audience. Participants can share information about successful conservation initiatives and build and strengthen effective, long-term business relationships.

USDA, National Agricultural Statistic Service (NASS)
www.nass.usda.gov
The National Agricultural Statistic Service (NASS) administers the United States Department of Agriculture’s program for collecting and publishing timely agricultural statistics which includes more than 450 statistical reports each year.  In addition, NASS conducts the U.S. Census of Agriculture—the Nation’s largest information gathering project for agriculture—every 5 years.  The agricultural census is the most comprehensive source of data portraying our Nation’s agriculture and is the only source of uniform data on agricultural production and operator characteristics for each county, state and the United States.  The next census of agriculture is coming in January 2008.

Farm Safety 4 Just Kids
www.fs4jk.org
Farm Safety 4 Just Kids (FS4JK) located in Urbandale, Iowa is an organization dedicated to the prevention of injuries to children who live, work and play on the farm. One hundred and thirty-seven FS4JK chapters across the United States and Canada deliver programs at the local level using material developed by FS4JK.

A variety of topics are addressed within FS4JK’s programs and resources. Many resources will be on display giving ideas about program delivery on topics such as ATV, chemical, livestock, and machinery safety. Issues such as parental supervision, setting limitations, providing protective equipment, and providing training for youth are addressed within chapter programs. Ideas about getting involved and making a difference in the lives of children in your area will be shown.

Handouts at the booth will include samples of educational and promotional items used by staff and community leaders to deliver interactive programs for children, youth, and their parents.

Wyoming Small Acreage Outreach Project
www.barnyardsandandbackyards.com
Drop by to learn about the Wyoming Small Acreage Outreach Project!  This innovative project uses multiple educational tactics, including the nationally acclaimed Barnyards & Backyards magazine to reach the growing small acreage sector in Wyoming.  The project is a state-wide multi-organizational effort involving Wyoming Conservation and Natural Resource Districts, UW Cooperative Extension Service, NRCS, RC&Ds, Wyoming State Forestry Division, Audubon Wyoming, Wyoming Livestock Board, Wyoming Weed & Pest and others.  Please stop by to chat about the project, small acreage issues in the west, new research providing insight to this growing sector and regional collaboration opportunities.

Project WET
www.projectwet.org
Project WET (Water Education for Teachers) is an award-winning, nonprofit water education program and publisher. The program facilitates and promotes awareness, appreciation, knowledge, and stewardship of water resources through the dissemination of classroom-ready teaching aids and the establishment of internationally sponsored Project WET programs.

Project WET Is:

Project WET Core Beliefs:

OregonRyegrass Growers Seed Commission
www.ryegrass.com
Annual Ryegrass has many benefits as a cover crop and the number of acres planted each year in the Midwest continues to grow. 

Annual Ryegrass is sometimes confused with Cereal Rye. They are very distinct from one another. Cereal Rye is a grain (related closer to wheat) and annual ryegrass is a cool season annual grass.

Annual ryegrass (Lolium multiflorum) has traditionally been used as a forage crop for livestock in the South.  In the past decade, however, annual ryegrass has grown in popularity as a cover crop in the Midwest.  It is planted in the fall and burned down in early spring.  Annual ryegrass is being used after manure to keep nutrients in the soil profile and by no-till farmers to increase corn and soybean rooting depth.     

Oregon's Willamette Valley produces more than 90% of the annual ryegrass seed grown in the USA and is the primary source of quality annual ryegrass seed being used for cover crops in the Midwest.

NACD Marketplace
www.nacdstore.org
Stop by and view the new products available through NACD's new online store.  Many of the clearance items from the old store will be available for sale.  Bring your checkbook or cash to pick up some real bargains.  The NACD Marketplace will continue to grow and offer special order items throughout the year.  Give NACD your ideas on products your district would be interested in.

LaMotte Company
www.lamotte.com
LaMotte Science Education Products provide you with easy-to-use student and teacher tested kits, publications, and curricula to reinforce water and soil conservation themes. Their field kits are used throughout the world to analyze soil and water quality for drinking recreational, fishing, waste water, educational, agricultural, and aquaculture uses.

Their products are used by the sponsors for the following international and U.S. events:

Let them show you how we can help you prepare for “Water is Life” Stewardship Week with our supplemental outreach materials. Their hands-on inquiry-based activities and lesson plans can help you achieve your strategic goal to “reach out to communities and schools to teach the value of natural resources and encourage conservation efforts.”

Natural Resources Conservation Service
www.nrcs.usda.gov
Find the Passion! On February 12th, NRCS will launch a national campaign that involves you. Come by this booth to see how you "fit in the picture," and how NRCS can help you spread your passion for conservation. Prior to February 12th, their booth will be draped, but we will be on site to distribute literature, discuss the conservation partnership, Landcare Publications Distribution Service, the Earth Team volunteer program, the Walk a Mile in my Boots program and other exciting offerings.

StormwaterOutreach.com
www.stormwateroutreach.com
Creator and distributor of unique “stormwater outreach” products that help engage, educate, and equip the general public, raising awareness and providing solutions for reducing non-point source pollution at home.  Their creative products are used by municipalities, non-profit, and private organizations all across the country with great success.  Stop by to see samples of products which promote:

Agri Drain Corporation
www.agridrain.com
For over 30 years, Agri Drain Corporation has been America’s most complete supplier of products for drainage water management, wetlands, ponds, lakes, erosion control, and land improvement. For more information, please visit our website or call (800) 232-4742.

The US Forest Service, State and Private Forestry
www.fs.fed.us/spf/
Preserving the Family forest legacy—tools to help plan transfer to the next generation of Stewards.

Our nation is on the verge of the largest inter-generational transfer of land in history. With more than 44% of family forest land owned by people over 65 years of age, and the heirs of those owners less connected to the land than their parents, unlikely to live on the land in the future, and lacking prior involvement in management decisions, the likelihood of increased forest fragmentation from sale or conversion, and resulting loss of ecosystem benefits and services, is too strong to ignore. The US forest Service and partners have developed an educational initiative to raise awareness around this topic, and train the trainers in options and tools available to help facilitate the sometimes difficult family discussions on this topic that need to occur. This booth provides some of these materials.

In-Situ®, Inc.
www.in-situ.com
In-Situ, Inc. designs, manufactures, sells and rents environmental water level and water quality monitoring equipment. In-Situ products include the Level TROLL® product family for water level and temperature monitoring, the TROLL 9500 multi-parameter water quality sonde, the Aqua TROLL 200 for water level, temperature and conductivity monitoring and TROLL Link telemetry systems for cost effective remote monitoring. Stop by the In-Situ booth to see the New Level TROLL 100. The Level TROLL 100 is an absolute (non-vented) instrument for monitoring and recording changes in water level, pressure, and temperature at an economical price.

Restoration Resources
www.restoration-resources.net
Restoration Resources has been designing, constructing, maintaining and monitoring fish and wildlife habitat restoration, erosion control and mitigation projects since 1990. They have consistently worked to shift restoration policy within regulatory agencies and government bodies from individual species to complete ecosystems. Their own restoration and land management plans embody this approach and use the best available information in natural history and ecology to guide the specific design elements and recommendations. They are also guided by their own extensive practical experience in the implementation of restoration and management projects. This experience continues to provide virtual first-hand knowledge of constraints to the translation of plans into actions, and of strategies to work with such constraints.

Their staff includes wildlife biologists, restoration ecologists, habitat designers, native plant nursery specialists, certified pest control applicators, survey and CAD/GIS professionals, equipment operators, and skilled field technicians. They have successfully completed habitat restoration projects in California’s Central Valley from Fresno county north to Tehama County, and in the coastal region from Santa Clara county to Sonoma County.

Smithsonian Soils Exhibit
www.soils.org/smithsonian
Be part of this historic, once-in-a-lifetime opportunity to showcase soils through supporting a 5,000 square foot exhibit, opening July 19 at the National Museum of Natural History in Washington, D.C. Stop by and learn more about “Dig It!  The Secrets of Soil,” which will run through 2009. Make a gift now to help the Soil Science Society of America (SSSA) and others tell the story of soil to more than six million visitors a year at the world’s most-visited natural history museum!

The National Academies endorses the project as, “Unquestionably, the most important opportunity that the field of Soil Science has ever had to educate the general public about soils and their role in food and fiber production, environmental quality at local and global scales, and in human health.”

More than $2.3 million has already been raised; major sponsors include NRCS, the Forest Service, ARS, Bureau of Land Management, LI-COR Biosciences, Syngenta, and others.  Your support will help the entire exhibit travel to 10 major venues across the country! Major corporate sponsors are welcome for this phase of the project and receive benefits directly from the Smithsonian. Contact Paul Kamps, SSSA Development Officer, at pkamps@soils.org or (608) 268-4975.

Trimble Navigation, Ltd.
www.trimble.com
Trimble Navigation will display the following products:

Spectra Precision® Lasers - The quality brand found on more job sites is also the easiest to use and has the strongest network of dealer support. With the widest portfolio of construction lasers, Spectra Precision Laser products help users increase their productivity. Well known for their innovative features and rugged dependability, Spectra Precision Lasers are used by more professionals around the world than any other brand.. Backed by the world's largest network of repair centers, Spectra Precision lasers are unmatched for service, support and dependability. For information and a tour of our Spectra Precision Laser product portfolio, please see us at booth 14.

Nikon Auto Levels and Total Stations- Nikons world-renowned optics and electronics allow users to work with more confidence and achieve greater accuracy. The Nikon total station line has outstanding battery life, a compact design and is built rugged for long life and dependable operation in the harshest environments.

Trimble GPS and total station solutions- From GNSS RTK solutions to Robotic total stations; Trimble is the recognized leader for advanced, high-productivity solutions.  To compliment the hardware sensors, Trimble has developed complimentary software solutions for the field and office. This provides a system solution for seamless workflows and data processing.

National Cattlemen’s Foundation
www.nationalcattlemensfoundation.org
For the past 35 years the National Cattlemen's Foundation has operated a diverse group of programs that include, bestowing several collegiate scholarships, promoting educational endeavors for consumers and producers, recognizing environmental efforts and further advancing the industry.  Come by the National Cattlemen's Foundation booth to learn more about our many programs, which include Walk a Mile in My Boots, the Environmental Stewardship Award and learn how you can get involved by registering your premises.

Nichols Consulting Engineers (NCE)
www.ncenet.com
Nichols Consulting Engineers (NCE) is a full-service civil and environmental engineering firm, offering turnkey solutions for conservation and infrastructure projects.  NCE’s services include:

Stop by our booth for more information or call (775) 588-2505, South Lake Tahoe / (775) 329-4955, Reno, NV / (916) 388-5655, Sacramento, CA.

Breedlove Adopt a Forest
www.breedloveguitars.com
Trees for the Future
Breedlove Adopt a Forest provides an easily accessible way for everyone to restore the land and to address greenhouse gas emissions—plant and grow trees.

There are many ways to save the planet. Breedlove Adopt a Forest is a simple, yet lasting and profound way to improve the quality of the environment that we all share.

For as little as $5, you can Adopt a Forest!

Breedlove Guitars has joined Adopt a Forest to further its goal to achieve environmental sustainability. For every guitar made and sold by Breedlove Guitars, Adopt a Forest will plant and grow a tree. Plus, for every 1000 trees adopted in the program Breedlove Guitars will donate a guitar or mandolin.

Every year every person in this country consumes in paper and other wood products, the equivalent of one old-growth tree. Each year millions of acres of forests are taken out of production, cut down by wild fire, disease, development, and global warming.

Breedlove Adopt a Forest allows every person every year a chance to reverse that destructive trend, promote land stewardship and conservation by adopting tree seedlings and growing them for a year. Trees are fed, watered, protected, and grow freely for a year to give them a better chance of survival - to eventually become an old-growth giant. 

Planting and growing trees, provides benefits that:

But the best thing about planting and growing trees is that the benefits continue and grow with the tree, for the generations that come after us.

Adopt a Forest is a project of Caprine Restoration Services, a non-profit organization dedicated to innovative community strategies to conserve and enhance the natural resources that sustain us all. Education and resource conservation groups can also participate and benefit as partners in the Adopt a Forest project. Contact Jeff Rola at (541) 410-6707 for information on the ways your organization can participate.