Howard SWCD uses technical assistance funds to work with local landowners, protect streambanks 08/17/2018
By Hunter Slifka [caption id="attachment_27982" align="alignright" width="283"] Technicians survey a streambank after completion.[/caption] Streams have the power to meander, move sediment, power industries, and destruct shorelines. With increasing flooding in recent years due to large rain events in the Midwest, streambanks in the region have been affected greatly. Programs and practices like shoreline protection and…… Continue reading →
Nebraska’s Shell Creek Watershed Makes History for Successful Water Clean-Up Efforts 08/09/2018
By Erika Hill, public relations director, Nebraska’s Natural Resources Districts and Desirae TePoel, information and education specialist, Lower Platte North Natural Resources District Shell Creek in Nebraska covers almost 110 miles, running through five different counties, and drains approximately 304,873 acres of surrounding farmland. Over the years, Atrazine, a common carcinogenic herbicide used to kill weeds,…… Continue reading →
Conservation in the Caribbean: Emergency Watershed Protection 07/12/2018
By NACD Southeast Region Representative Phylis Vandevere and USDA-NRCS Caribbean Area Program Analyst Julie Wright Just days after Hurricanes Irma and Maria, a team of 16 Natural Resources Conservation Service (NRCS) employees from across the country traveled to the Caribbean to assess watershed damages and imminent threats to life and property. The storms were two…… Continue reading →
Sussex CD RCPP Project Tackles Watershed Restoration 07/10/2018
By NACD Intern Meghan Selip Sussex Conservation District (SCD), in Sussex County, Del., is a district with experience and great insight on carrying out Regional Conservation Partnership Program (RCPP) projects. SCD began working on projects quickly after the funding pool was awarded through the 2014 Farm Bill. SCD has worked on many successful RCPP projects…… Continue reading →
Wasco County’s White River Irrigation Efficiency and Stream Flow Restoration Project 07/09/2018
By NACD Intern Katrina Vaitkus In Oregon’s Wasco County, named after the Wascopam Indian tribe, water influences many aspects of life. Located within the White River Watershed, the county sits above many natural waterfalls. For the farmers there, traditional irrigation practices include flood irrigation and open ditch systems. These practices have caused many streams in…… Continue reading →
Conservation Districts and the Sustainability Puzzle 04/12/2018
Editor's note: This blog is the second part in a series. Click here to read the first installment. By Laura Demmel Agricultural sustainability could be defined as “natural resource stewardship practices that meet the needs of the present without compromising the ability of future generations to meet their own needs.1” Conservation districts work toward this goal…… Continue reading →
Waters of the United States and the 2015 Clean Water Rule 02/06/2018
By Chris Heck Discussion on the Clean Water Rule has been going on for years, with debate starting long before the 2015 Clean Water Rule was finalized. Before taking office, President Trump stated that his administration would review and rewrite the rule. Over the past several weeks, we’ve seen a flurry of activity related to…… Continue reading →
Forestry Notes Q&A: George Geissler, NASF President and Oklahoma State Forester 11/28/2017
By Mike Beacom George Geissler has been a forester for three decades. He has a Bachelor of Science degree in forestry from Louisiana State University and a Master of Business degree from Harvard University. Prior to joining Oklahoma Forestry Services, he was a wildland firefighter for the U.S. Forest Service and spent time working for…… Continue reading →
Conservation field day sparks stewardship in New York 11/21/2017
By Caitlin Stewart Earlier this fall, the Hamilton County Soil and Water Conservation District (HCSWCD) in upstate New York hosted its 38th annual Lynn Galusha Memorial Conservation Field Day to encourage fifth and sixth graders to become the future stewards of our natural resources. The event drew 72 area students from Lake Pleasant, Wells, Long…… Continue reading →
Conservationists in Washington state host 10th annual Wounded Veteran Duck Hunt 11/06/2017
On the afternoon of Wednesday, October 18, 2017, the Barker Ranch in West Richland, Washington, hosted its 10th Annual Wounded Veteran Duck Hunt to honor those that have served and sacrificed for their country. The Barker Ranch is a 2,000-acre private ranch and wildlife area that is best known for the volume of ducks and…… Continue reading →