 I A S W C D B l o g |
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The Association has started a blog to share stories, announcements, and ideas relevant to SWCDs and the larger community.
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| W e ' r e S o c i a l! |
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| Conservation at the Science Fair |
For the past several years, SWCDs from northeastern Indiana have cooperated in recognizing outstanding science fair projects dealing with natural resources conservation at the Tri-State Regional Science Fair held at Trine University in Angola, Indiana.
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The Conservation Awards for 2012 were given as follows: the Elementary Division award was won by second-grader Henney Harper with her project entitled "Will Grass Grow in Polluted Soil." The Junior Division winner was 7th grader Kendall Perkins with his project entitled "Absent Anions-How Nitrogen Moves through the Soil". Senior Heather Blickenstaff won the Senior Division award with her project entitled "Optimizing Soil Bacteria with Nutritional Supplements." Martin Franke from LaPorte SWCD presented the awards.
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| I W F Y o u t h C o n t e s t |
The Indiana Wildlife Federation is proud to bring the What's in Your Wild Backyard contest to Indiana's youth. The contest will launch at the beginning of the National Wildlife Federation's National Wildlife Week (March 19-25). Entries will close on April 22nd, the 42nd anniversary of Earth Day. We will announce the winners on April 28th at this year's Earth Day Indiana festival hosted by White River State Park.
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| E v e n t s C a l e n d a r |
Visit our Google Calendar for details about upcoming events!
You can submit events via
March 29: Retirement Party for Dona Hunter
March 29: Cover Crop Workshop
March 29: Project WILD - Indiana!
April 3: Increase Crop Production with Cover Crops
April 4: Cover Crop Field Day
April 5: NestWatch Citizen Science
April 11 & 16: Project Learning Tree
April 13: Wabash Sampling Blitz
April 21: Unity Gardens Growing Summit
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| Q u i c k L i n k s | |
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I A S W C D L e a d e r s h i p
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Officers
President: Ray McCormick
Secretary: Paul Cummings
Treasurer: Jamie Scott
Region Directors
Board Roster / Region Map
South-NW: Mike Starkey, Hendricks Co.
North-NE: Tom Crowe, Allen Co.
South-NE: Bobby Hettmansperger, Wabash Co.
North-SW: Les Zimmerman, Vermillion Co.
South-SW: Jim Droege, Posey Co.
North-SE: Mike Schwab, Franklin Co.
South-SE: Brad Ponsler, Jennings Co.
IASWCD Staff
Executive Director: Jennifer Boyle Warner, 317.692.7519
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A Report from the Executive Director
Best Wishes & Happy Retirement
The IASWCD extends best wishes to Bonnie Bittner, Vanderburgh County, and Dona Hunter, LaGrange County SWCDs. These great ladies both retired this week after wonderful careers with their respective Soil and Water Conservation Districts. We wish them the very best and will miss them!
IDEM hosts 2012 MS4 annual meeting
The Indiana Department of Environmental Management will be hosting the 2012 MS4 Annual Meeting on May 17. The meeting will be held at the Marriott Indianapolis East. Cost to attend the Annual Meeting is $50. This includes parking and lunch. The meeting will start at 9 a.m. and end at 3:30 p.m. Rooms have been blocked at the hotel. Continuing education credits Wastewater (4 general hours + 1 technical hour) and Water (4 general hours). Anyone seeking continuing education credits will be required to sign in at the beginning of the Annual Meeting and sign-out after the meeting has concluded. A certificate will be provided at that time.
Midwest Cover Crop Guides Available
Purdue Extension is pleased to announce a valuable new resource: The Midwest Cover Crops Field Guide, developed by Purdue Extension and the Midwest Cover Crops Council. Single copies cost $5 each; boxes of 25 cost $112.50 - a 10 percent discount. They are small enough to keep in one's pocket and can be ordered online.
Thank-You from the Clark County SWCD
The Clark County SWCD would like to thank all those who have offered their support following the recent tornadoes of March 2, 2012 that devastated portions of Clark County and our neighboring counties. The first phone call the office received following the disaster was from NACD President Gene Schmidt, who called to check on our staff and supervisors and offer assistance on behalf of himself and NACD. Thanks to the many individuals, groups, and Soil and Water Conservation Districts who have sent supplies, manpower or their thoughts and prayers to those who were affected by the storms. We appreciate your concern and your aid during this time.
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Have a good day,
Jennifer
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Telling the District (and RC&D) Story Tour Features Projects That Improve Water Quality and Soil Health in Mississippi River Basin
by Chris Remley, President, Greater Wabash RC&D, and Leah Harden, Vice President
The Greater Wabash River Resource Conservation and Development Council, Inc. (RC&D) recently hosted a congressional tour of the Wild Cat Creek Watershed. The focus was to highlight water quality projects in Tippecanoe County to promote their work on the Mississippi River Basin Initiative (MRBI) projects in five north central Indiana counties.
The RC&D, Soil and Water Conservation Districts and many other partners are working to improve soil and water quality of the Mississippi River Basin and ultimately, the hypoxia issue in the Gulf of Mexico. Funding comes from the USDA Natural Resources Conservation Service and the Walton Family Foundation. The project involves agricultural land in the watershed in Carroll, Clinton, Howard, Tippecanoe and Tipton counties. These farmers are taking advantage of unique opportunities to improve soil health, a direct link to enhanced water quality and wildlife habitat!
Under the MRBI, these producers are working to implement conservation practices that avoid, control and trap nutrient runoff. At the same time, farmers are maintaining and improving agricultural productivity. Read the full story here.
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NRCS Programs Digest
LincPass Update for SWCDs
The USDA has acquired a Light Credentialing System which replaces the GSA Credentialing Center we had prior. This system is for ALL USDA employees who are in need of an enrollment, update or activation of their LincPass cards. Any questions on sponsorship, name changes, agency changes or card status should be addressed to your agency HR or security officer. The contacts for LincPass System are: Pauletta Dusterberg, Registrar 317-295-5901; and Sharon Pace, Registrar 317-295-5832. The hours of service are Thursdays between 8:30 a.m. to 4 p.m. Contact Sharon Pace for Thursday scheduling. For alternate dates, schedule with the registrar.
The LincPass system is mobile and can be brought to large groups that need to be updated or enrolled. Contact your supervisor to set up the system at a time convenient for your group. USDA will take into consideration the travel cost when scheduling these remote appointments, but will work to meet the needs of the agency in the most fiscally responsible way.
Points to remember: Bring your card with you for updates; If you forget your PIN and need to have it reset, please lock the card (6 attempts to log in); If you are enrolling, remember to bring two forms of identification. See the website for approved documentation.
EQIP Dollars Available for Northeast Indiana
Farmers in Western Lake Erie Basin Watershed can save soil, money and time.
The NRCS has allocated $280,000 from the Environmental Quality Incentive Program for assisting farmers who want to use conservation practices in the Indiana portion of the Western Lake Erie Basin priority area. The area includes parts of Adams, Allen, DeKalb, Noble, Steuben, and Wells counties. These will help farmers apply conservation practices that will help prevent nutrients and sediment from their land from entering Lake Erie.
To learn more about the financial and technical assistance available to save soil, keep phosphorus on the field and out of Lake Erie, and ultimately improve agricultural productivity, visit the local NRCS office (click on Programs). A listing of NRCS offices in Indiana can also be found online. Work with an NRCS District Conservationist to apply for the Western Lake Erie Basin Environmental Quality Incentives Program. We're accepting applications until Friday, April 27, 2012.
ISDA Agriculture Photo Contest
Attention all shutterbugs! The 2012 Indiana State Department of Agriculture Photo Contest is underway! Contest winners will have their winning photographs framed and featured in the Offices of the Lt. Governor's Family of Business in Indianapolis as well as the 2013 Hoosier Ag Today calendar.
For this reason, we encourage participants to submit photos that are reflective of our changing seasons. In addition, contest winners will be the special guests of ISDA at this year's Indiana State Fair, where they will be recognized at the Celebration of Agriculture event. We encourage both horizontal and vertical photos that capture a wide variety of all agriculture sectors, including but not limited to livestock, specialty crops, cover crops and renewable fuels. Learn more ISDA's website.
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| Conservation Events and Announcements
Hoosier Riverwatch Accepting Equipment Applications
Hoosier Riverwatch is now accepting equipment applications from Indiana schools, governmental agencies, and non-profit organizations. You do not need to be a 501(c)(3), but nonprofit groups must at least have Articles of Incorporation. Each water-monitoring equipment package provides equipment for participants in the statewide volunteer stream monitoring program. To receive an application please contact Lisa at riverwatch@dnr.in.gov. Prior equipment recipients can submit requests online.
The U.S. EPA recently released Identifying and Protecting Healthy Watersheds: Concepts, Assessments, and Management Approaches. This document provides state water quality and aquatic resource scientists and managers with an overview of the key concepts behind the Healthy Watersheds Initiative. The document provides examples of approaches for assessing components of healthy watersheds, integrated assessment options for identifying healthy watersheds, examples of management approaches and assessment tools and sources of data.
Indiana Expeditions: Forests at Work
Mark your calendar for Thursday, April 26 at 8 p.m. for the premiere of an hour-long special about forestry in Indiana. "Forests At Work" will air as part of WFYI's award-winning "Indiana Expeditions" series hosted by Rick Crosslin. The forestry show will examine many subjects including the research and science behind managing forestland, forest products and the economic impact of forestry, careers in forestry, the care and management of community and urban forest resources, insects and diseases affecting forests and much more. If you are unable to pick up WFYI, contact your local PBS affiliate and request that they air this program either when it debuts or at a later date. For more information, email Sam Carman, or call 317.232.4119.
Cover Crop Breakfast an Overwhelming Success
By Ann Ice, Gibson Co. SWCD
The Southwest Indiana Cover Crop Breakfast was held at Stoll's Country Inn recently. Soil slake tests and rainfall runoff simulator tests were conducted by Bill Norfleet, NRCS and Gary Seibert, ISDA Resource Specialist, explained how cover crops capture nitrates and recycle nutrients. Mark Cambron, NRCS, spoke on cost-share opportunities and cover crop programs. Attendees then headed to Kevin Rexing's farm for a field demonstration conducted by Seibert.
Thank you to the breakfast sponsors: Brodbeck Seeds, Daylight Farm Supply, Elberfeld State Bank, ProSoil Ag Solution & Wabash Valley Grain. Cost-share money for this program was provided by the Clean Water Indiana grant through the ISDA. Gibson County Soil & Water Conservation District (SWCD) also is offering cost-share grants for cover crops starting this fall ($15/acre for maximum 50 acres per landowner, limit 1 watershed.
Assn. of Fish & Wildlife Agencies Monthly Webinars
Join the Association of Fish & Wildlife Agencies (AFWA) on the fourth Wednesday of every month for a free, interactive webinar. The purpose is to learn about the many educational resources available from the AFWA. Registration links are posted on the CE Strategy's Facebook site, or go to AFWA's webinar page. Upcoming topics include: Field Investigations and STEM; Best Practices for Stewardship Education; Introduction to Conservation Education, K-12 Scope & Sequence.
Canvas Building for Sale: Huntington County
The Huntington County Solid Waste Management District Board of Directors has decided to put the district's canvas storage building up for sale. The building is currently listed for auction on eBay under the title Used Canvas Storage Building and will end at 3:00 p.m. on April 1st. The building was previously used to store recyclables, which are now sent to Recovery Recycling in Peru. Canvas buildings are great for many storage applications, including industrial and agricultural settings. The storage building is a 60x70 canvas enclosure. The winning bidder will have to remove the building from the site in 30 days. It can be viewed in person Monday-Friday 7:00 a.m. to 3:30 p.m. at the City Landfill 515 S 300 W.
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CTIC Seeks New Project Director
CTIC invites experienced project managers to consider joining the CTIC team. CTIC project directors lead grant-funded projects, manage budgets and assume responsibility for all project-related paperwork. He/she will follow an existing work plan and strive to achieve project goals within the defined timeframe. In addition, the project director provides important in-house technical expertise and helps to answer questions from members and partners. Check out CTIC's website for the job description.
Environmental Scientist: IDEM
Love Environmental Science? Then we've got the career for you! IDEM is looking for a new Environmental Scientist for the Southeast Regional Office located in Brownstown, Indiana. This position requires frequent travel and a valid driver's license is required. Go to www.in.gov/spd/2334.htm, advanced search, Job Opening ID: 578400 today!
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