Arkansas Conservation News -- Fall 2009

Conservation Corner

Kalven L. Trice
State Conservationist

Fiscal Year 2009 was a great year for NRCS and the Arkansas Conservation Partnership (ACP). With the passage of the 2008 Farm Bill, Arkansas benefitted greatly with additional financial resources.

Through the Environmental Quality Incentives Program (EQIP), the Wildlife Habitat Incentives Program (WHIP) and the Wetlands Reserve Program (WRP), we obligated more than $21.2 million of conservation projects on private lands. This funding was supplemented with money provided by landowners through cost-share.

Arkansas farmers and landowners consistently show they truly care about Arkansas’s natural resources. More than 860 landowners with Conservation Security Program (CSP) contracts were rewarded with more than $10.2 million for their stewardship ethic and hard work.

But, our work wasn’t just confined to Farm Bill programs. The NRCS staff provided technical assistance to thousands of landowners across the state. We wrote conservation plans for more than 300,000 acres and applied conservation practices on more than 642,000 acres. Educating our customers about no-till farming, animal waste management systems, prescribed grazing and efficient irrigation are just a few examples of how NRCS assists landusers in protecting the Natural State’s natural resources.

Our staff was also on the front lines when flooding, tornadoes and an ice storm devastated Arkansas. Through the Emergency Watershed Protection (EWP) program, we contracted $2.78 million worth of work to remove debris from stream channels and bridges and stabilize streambanks.

President Obama is committed to improving water quality, creating more dependable water supplies and decreasing soil erosion through the American Recovery and Reinvestment Act of 2009 (ARRA). Arkansas NRCS received more than $3 million for ARRA projects. This funding will make a big difference in the lives of the people who live in our rural communities by strengthening Arkansas’s infrastructure while also supporting local economic growth.

Nearly $1.5 million of ARRA money is being used to rehabilitate Poteau River Watershed Site Number 5 in Scott County. Arkansas also received $134,000 for repairs to the Upper Petit Jean Watershed Site No. 9 project in Logan County. We wouldn’t be able to do all the great work we do throughout the state if it wasn’t for the ACP and other conservation partners. I appreciate the ACP for their continued cooperation.

2010 will be another challenging year with the implementation of the 2008 Farm Bill. But, with the dedicated NRCS staff and assistance of our partners, I am confident we will continue to protect and enhance Arkansas natural resources.

Watersheds chosen for Mississippi River Basin Initiative

Agriculture Secretary Tom Vilsack announced Nov. 23 that 41 watersheds in 12 states, known as focus areas, will be part of a new initiative to improve water quality and the overall health of the Mississippi River Basin. In size, the selected watersheds exceed 42 million acres, or more than 5 percent of the Basin’s land area.

Watersheds selected in Arkansas include Lake Conway-Point Remove, L’Anguille, Cache, Lower St. Francis, Bayou Macon, Boeuf River and Little River Ditches watersheds.

"This initiative is designed to improve the health of the Mississippi River Basin by working with producers to help them voluntarily implement conservation practices which can avoid, control, and trap nutrient run off," said Kalven L. Trice, USDA/NRCS state conservationist in Arkansas. "We want to be able to restore and enhance wildlife habitat, maintain agricultural productivity and improve water quality particularly in these regions of Arkansas."

The Mississippi River Basin Healthy Watersheds Initiative (MRBI) will provide approximately $320 million in USDA financial assistance over the next four years for voluntary projects in priority watersheds in Arkansas, Kentucky, Illinois, Indiana, Iowa, Louisiana, Minnesota, Mississippi, Missouri, Ohio, Tennessee and Wisconsin. MRBI will help producers implement conservation and management practices that prevent, control and trap nutrient runoff from agricultural land.

"This initiative is going to help USDA, partner organizations, state and local agencies, and agricultural producers come together to improve water quality and the quality of life for the tens of millions of people who live in the Mississippi River Basin," Vilsack said. "I encourage as many people as possible to join in this major conservation effort."

NRCS manages the initiative and state conservationists from the 12 watershed states selected the watersheds with guidance from State Technical Committees and state water quality agencies.

Selections were based on the potential for managing nitrogen and phosphorus -- nutrients associated with water quality problems in the Basin -- while maintaining agricultural productivity and benefiting wildlife.

Next, smaller watershed projects will be selected through a competitive process under NRCS’s Cooperative Conservation Partnership Initiative (CCPI). NRCS assistance will be leveraged with contributions from partners, expanding the capacity available to improve water quality

Three requests for project proposals will be announced in the next several weeks, including one for CCPI. Funding for CCPI projects will come from NRCS’ Environmental Quality Incentives Program, Conservation Stewardship Program and Wildlife Habitat Incentives Program.

Two other requests for proposals will fund projects through the Wetlands Reserve Enhancement Program and Conservation Innovation Grants. For information about these programs, visit www.nrcs.usda.gov/programs.

For information about the Mississippi River Basin Healthy Watersheds Initiative, including eligibility requirements, please visit the MRBI web page at http://www.nrcs.usda.gov/programs/mrbi/mrbi_overview.html or your USDA Service Center. A map of the project area is available at http://www.nrcs.usda.gov/programs/mrbi/mrbi_watersheds_maps_and_list_page.html.
 

Lawmakers tour projects designed to alleviate groundwater shortage

State lawmakers and legislative aides from the state’s Congressional delegation toured several sites around Arkansas in September to learn about the groundwater shortage in eastern Arkansas and some of the conservation programs being used to alleviate the problem.

Participants visited a water diversion site operated by Chesapeake Energy in White County; Natural Resources Conservation Service’s Plum Bayou Irrigation and Drainage Project in England; the University of Arkansas-Pine Bluff’s Lonoke Farm; and a minnow farm in Lonoke.

Officials from NRCS, Farm Service Agency, the Arkansas Natural Resources Commission, University of Arkansas Division of Agriculture, Arkansas Game and Fish Commission, U.S. Geological Survey, Arkansas Forestry Commission, Chesapeake Energy and other federal and state agencies provided information to the participants on what their agencies are doing to help ease the declining groundwater problem.

Several counties in the Grand Prairie region of eastern Arkansas and in south Arkansas are designated as critical groundwater regions because of a nearly depleted underground aquifer, which is their source of water for both drinking and industry.

Declining groundwater levels and water quality related to nutrients, sediment and pesticides are a concern in eastern Arkansas.
 

Mississippi district directors tour Carroll County

The Berryville Field Service Center hosted more than 40 district directors during the 2009 Mississippi Association of Conservation Districts annual tour in October.

Amanda Mathis, Carroll County district conservationist, and the Carroll County Conservation District staff organized a tour of conservation practices throughout the county.

The group visited the Berryville office where Mathis discussed agriculture production and the conservation practices commonly used in the county.

Tour participants visited the Brent Fry Farm to learn about his management intensive grazing system and turkey operation.

At Dripping Springs Garden, a certified organic farm that implements many conservation practices including no-till/reduced tillage and integrated pest management, the group learned about organic flower, vegetable and mushroom production.

"This was a wonderful opportunity for producers across state lines to interact and learn from one another," Mathis said. "It was interesting learning that we share many of the same challenges. Hearing how they are addressing issues was a great way to broaden our knowledge base."
 

2009 Arkansas Earth Team Volunteer Award Winners

Arkansas has a lot to celebrate when it comes to volunteers! During fiscal year 2009, more than 566 volunteers contributed 12,036 hours to Arkansas NRCS.

To recognize those who helped make the Earth Team such a success in Arkansas, NRCS employees nominated colleagues and volunteers for the Arkansas Earth Team awards. Winning nominations are as follows:

Individual Volunteer Award – Jerry L. McGary, nominated by Neal Martin, Fort Smith NRCS Field Office.

McGary gave 217 hours of his time and talents to the development and promotion of conservation education programs such as outdoor classrooms, master gardeners, Arkansas Envirothon, Booneville FFA Field Day, Nature Area at the Learning Fields, Sebastian County Conservation District’s teacher training program, and partnered with schools in Sebastian, Franklin, Johnson, Logan, Crawford and Yell counties.

Group Volunteer Award – Marshall FFA Chapter, nominated by Wendy Hendrix, Marshall NRCS Field Office.

The Marshall FFA planted Ozark Chinquapin nuts for tree production. Neal Mays, the Marshall FFA advisor, and the chapter worked over 100 hours planting, watering and caring for the Chinquapin plants. The trees that survived the blight were planted around the community by FFA members.

Arkansas Association of Conservation Districts/Natural Resources Conservation Service Partnership Award – Buffalo Conservation District, nominated by Brent Clark, Marshall NRCS Field Office.

Six volunteers donated more than 100 hours to construct 230 Eastern Bluebird boxes. The boxes were distributed to the public where volunteers worked about 1,900 hours to read the Eastern Bluebird fact sheet, locate a site for the nesting box, install and maintain it. The success of the program is due to the dynamic partnership between NRCS and the Buffalo Conservation District.

Resource Conservation and Development Council/Natural Resources Conservation Service Partnership Award – Central Arkansas RC&D Council, Inc., nominated by Cindy Neal, coordinator, Central Arkansas RC&D Council, Inc.

Nine volunteers donated 2,440 hours to network for more local support enabling RC&D to carry out its projects and acquire resources to put RC&D projects on-the-ground, apply for grants for Volunteer fire departments, provide low-income housing assistance, save money by having volunteer engineers work on brick and mortar projects, find up to 80 people to work in the sweet potato storage facility during the season, provide mechanical help on equipment for the sweet potato storage facility project and perform contract administration and clerical assistance. The Central Arkansas RC&D Council partners with 24 groups and units of government.

Field Service Center of the Year – Salem Field Service Center, nominated by Kelly Shrable, Salem NRCS Field Office.

In 2009, the Salem Field Service Center utilized 42 volunteers who gave 498 hours of service. They worked at numerous outreach and informational meetings, helped set up displays, staff booths, and handed out educational and program brochures. They also worked at the 8th Annual Fulton County Fishing Derby for 178 kids who brought their moms and dads and advised 60 high school and college students on life decisions, careers in agriculture and opportunities with NRCS. More than 1,000 people were assisted during these events. Also, nine Master Gardeners worked 290 hours to landscape and plant the flower beds outside the USDA offices. This awardee received a $500 cash award.

NRCS Employee of the Year – Wendy Hendrix, Marshall NRCS Field Office, nominated by Brent Clark, Marshall NRCS Field Office.

Hendrix works well with volunteers who allow the Marshall NRCS field office to be more effective and continue in activities for which they would otherwise have no time. Wendy is great at recruiting and promoting the volunteer program, helping us achieve a high level of production. She excels in helping oversee and develop a partnership to assemble and distribute Eastern Bluebird nesting boxes resulting in about 2,000 volunteer hours for the Marshall office. This awardee received a $500 cash award.

Volunteer Coordinator of the Year – Amanda Mathis, Berryville NRCS Field Office, nominated by John Kluthe, Clarksville NRCS Field Office.

Mathis does an excellent job identifying the need for volunteerism. Her recruitment program and spoken publicity resulted in a talented student working for our program without financial reimbursement. Because the field office management had no computer available, the volunteer used her personal computer (without network connection) to write many documents related to her work. For internet connection, the volunteer utilized Wi-Fi connections at local establishments. Mathis’ work also improved relationships with many other professionals in the natural resources field. This awardee received a $500 cash award.

RC&D Coordinator of the Year – Cindy Neal, coordinator, Central Arkansas RC&D Council, Inc.

Cindy Neal is the coordinator of the Central Arkansas RC&D Council, Inc., where citizen input is sought, valued and acted upon. This organization provides local leadership for orderly and systematic conservation, development and utilization of natural and human resources through utilizing volunteers, thereby improving the economic opportunities of people in 10 counties. The Central Arkansas RC&D council’s success and popularity is largely due to volunteer’s local involvement, 24 partners and the organization’s abilities to perform tasks and activities. Nine Earth Team volunteers donated 2,440 hours of their time and talents in fiscal year 2009. This awardee received a $500 cash award.

South Area volunteer plants more than seed of knowledge at Hamburg High School

By Creston Shrum

Hamburg High School’s vocational agriculture instructor is doing more than planting the seed of knowledge in his students. He is helping them plant the whole tree.

David Streeter, an Earth Team volunteer, established an area on the school’s campus to plant native Arkansas trees. Eighteen students were given a specific tree to locate, dig up and re-locate to the campus. The Hamburg USDA Natural Resources Conservation Service Field Office staff signed the students up as Earth Team volunteers and assisted them in proper care and planting of the transplanted seedlings.

The school currently has 44 species of trees planted throughout the campus. Each year, Streeter has his forestry class identify all of the trees on the campus and make a list of what is not there based on 112 of the most common species native to Arkansas.

"Students that pass through the Hamburg school system can benefit from these located trees," Streeter said. "They’ll have a chance to see them grow and mature over the years."

The trees will serve as a year-round outdoor classroom. "Students and teachers can learn to identify these tree varieties during the seasonal changes. They also learn the scientific names, family and order the trees belong to and their related species," Streeter said. "Other educational benefits will include how these trees provide wildlife habitat and food, if the trees can be used for lumber or firewood, how they provide protection from wind and soil erosion, and other environmental enhancements."

The project won the South Area Earth Team Group Volunteer of the Year award for Streeter and his students. "Mr. Streeter uses innovative teaching techniques to encourage students to learn. The hands-on approach helps students realize the importance of conserving our natural resources," said Bryan Hollis, Ashley County district conservationist.

"David and I both graduated from Hamburg High School in the late 1980s. Our vo-ag teacher and FFA advisor, Charles Franklin, began planting native trees on the campus in the late 1960s and continued through the 1990s," said Hollis. "David is picking up where Mr. Franklin left off."

This isn’t the first project where NRCS and Streeter have worked together. "One semester we worked with the class on identifying drainage problems around the football field," Hollis said. "The students surveyed the area to locate high and low areas, placed stakes where fill material was needed and added the material to improve drainage. Once the area was level, soil amendments were added by the students to improve fertility. They also seeded the bare areas with appropriate vegetation to control erosion."

The NRCS staff also provided instruction on soils, survey, drainage, GPS, aerial photography and topography.

"These types of projects teach students to identify problems, assess solutions, design practices to solve the problems and install the necessary measures to eliminate the problems," Streeter said.

2009 Team Award Winners

Northeast Field Service Center

Piggott FSC -- Ray Sufczynski, district conservationist; Tommy Smart, soil conservationist; Chuck Minton, soil conservation technician; Daniel Gossett, program technician; and Sean Martin, flood technical assistant

Northwest Field Service Center

Ozark FSC -- David Tencleve, district conservationist; Tommy Haberer, water quality technician; Howard Moore, district technician; and Christine Simpson, district secretary

South Field Service Center

Nashville FSC -- Clint Ramsey, district conservationist; Gary Childress, soil conservationist; Mark Kilcrease, soil conservation technician; Becky Finigan, water quality technician; and Louise Morris, district manager

RC&D Council

Ozark Foothills RC&D Council, Inc. -- Lori Barker, coordinator; Ray Moseley, council president; and Pat Womack, administrative assistant

Resource Team of the Year

Team 2 -- (district conservationists) Margaret Lonadier, Brent Clark and Joe Massey; (soil conservation technicians) Pam Billingsley, Wendy Hendrix and Alan McGhee; (agricultural conservation enrollees/seniors) Jack Ayers, Buster Bodenhamer and Sid Lowrance; (water quality technicians) Stacey Clark, Edana Cole, Mike Parkinson and Lisa Widner; (conservation district coordinators) Karla Axel, Tina Horton and Shirley Jackson; and (conservation district technician) Alan Rhines

Technical Support Team

RC&D Team -- (coordinators) Lori Barker, Richard Drewry, Cindy Neal, Stephanie Priest, Fred Stringer, Alice Weeks, Charlie Williams and Robert Young. (executive director and administrative assistants) Jacqueline Dunn, Tara Robertson, Jo Stephens and Pat Womack
 

Calendar

December

• 7 -- Arkansas RC&D Annual Meeting, Inn of the Ozarks, Eureka Springs
• 8-9 -- Arkansas Association of Conservation Districts Annual Meeting, Inn of the Ozarks, Eureka Springs
• 13-16 -- Fourth National Conference Grazing Lands, Sparks, Nev.
• 25 -- HOLIDAY - Christmas

January

• 1 -- HOLIDAY - New Year’s Day

• 18 -- HOLIDAY - Martin Luther King Day

February

• 15 -- HOLIDAY - President’s Day

• 26 -- Rural Life Conference, University of Arkansas, Pine Bluff

Comings & Goings

• Barbara Acree transferred to the Department of Defense

• Roxanne Adeuya is the new district conservationist at Wynne

• Reggie Cunningham is the new district conservationist at Augusta

• Steven Davied transferred to NRCS Oklahoma

• Adam Eades is the new district conservationist at Pocahontas

• Darla Earnhart is the new program analyst at the Fort Smith TSC

• Kim Foster transferred to the Veterans Administration

• Lillian Glenn retired August 26

• Kay Graves transferred to Farm Service Agency

• Anthony Hadley is the new civil engineering technician at Monticello

• Derek Hall is the new civil engineering technician at Melbourne

• Daniel Johnson is the new soil scientist at Glenwood

• Tanner Johnston is the new civil engineering technician at Jonesboro

• Rich Joslin is the new resource conservationist at the State Office

• Keith Libben is the new civil engineering technician at Huntsville

• Edgar Mersiovsky is the new senior regional soil scientist at the State Office

• Donna Newton is the new civil engineering technician at Hope

• Marilyn Ott is the new realty specialist at the state office

• Marie Ross transferred to NRCS Nebraska

• Robert Smith is the new district conservationist at Hot Springs

• Alice Weeks is the new RC&D coordinator at Fort Smith

• Tiffany Williams is the new district conservationist at Danville

• Earniece Young is the new district conservationist at Monticello

Last Modified: 12/07/2009

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