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

Drought Information From Our Partners

Fifty (50) Indiana counties are now USDA-designated primary disaster areas - up from last week's declaration of thirty-six (36) counties. The updated list is available here.

Says State Conservationist Jane Hardisty, ""We know farmers around the state have been hard hit by the drought.  We have not seen conditions like this since 1988 and according to some the prolonged and extreme heat temperatures coupled with lack of rain is creating situations in some areas comparable to the dust bowl."

The drought may force some farmers to make critical changes to their
operation. NRCS is encouraging farmers under contract with the agency or who need advice to contact their district conservationist at the county field office.

The Indiana NRCS, the Indiana State Department of Agriculture, the Purdue Extension, and the Farm Service Agency have published webpages chock-full of information about the drought, including resources on where producers can find disaster assistance.

• IASWCD
• ISDA 
• NRCS
• Purdue Extension
• FSA

Great Lakes Advisory Board Nominations

The U.S. EPA is seeking nominations from a diverse range of qualified candidates to be considered for appointment as members of its Great Lakes Advisory Board (GLAB). The GLAB will provide advice and recommendations to the EPA Administrator, in her capacity as Chair of the Great Lakes Interagency Task Force, on matters pertaining to Great Lakes restoration and protection. Vacancies are expected to be filled by September 2012. Submit nominations electronically with the subject line ''GLAB Nomination 2012'' to cestaric.rita@epa.gov. More information is available here.

Pathway to Water Quality Volunteer Positions Still Available

There are still opportunities to volunteer at at the Pathway to Water Quality Exhibit this year. I hope you will take the opportunity to sign up for a shift! Thank you to everyone from the Indiana Conservation Partnership who has signed up so far! Volunteer sign-up and
position descriptions are available here. Watch a video tour of Pathway on YouTube or on IDEM's website. Remember, those who work a weekend shift receive two Indiana State Fair admission tickets! 

Thank You, Districts!

Thanks to the 79 Districts who have paid their 2012 dues. View this list of SWCDs on our website.

Watershed Moment

By Janice Bullman, Conservation Development Specialist

I am happy to pass along this information on upcoming webinars from the Indiana Watershed Leadership Academy designed to strengthen watershed management in Indiana. They are online and allow you to hear the latest information without leaving your office. You save money, time, and resources. All you need is a good internet connection, and computer speakers or headphones to listen. Upcoming dates are below. You may pre-register for any of the workshops, or review the entire schedule.

• July 24 9:30-10:30 a.m.: How Agencies Use Monitoring Data and Why it is Important
• August 1: Trends in Data Collections and Conservation Effects, and Assessment Project: Lessons Learned From 10 Years of Water Quality Monitoring

Conservation News Digest 

Emergency Grazing of CRP Lands

Indiana Farm Service Agency (FSA) State Executive Director Julia A. Wickard announced on July 13 that 22 counties are authorized for emergency grazing of the Conservation Reserve Program (CRP). The CRP emergency grazing authorization for 2012 is effective immediately and currently ends on September 30, 2012. More information and a list of affected counties is available here. 

Indiana NRCS Civil Rights Award 

The Indiana NRCS Civil Rights Award is designed to honor individuals or groups for achievements in the planning and execution of equal employment opportunity (EEO) and Civil Rights activities within the agency and the community. Outstanding achievements can be defined many ways. Some examples are:

• Targeting and working with groups or individuals with limited resources
• Working with groups or individuals in special emphasis groups (i.e., Hispanics, Blacks, Women, Disability, Veterans, American Indian/Alaska Natives, Asian Pacific Islanders or GLBT)
• Putting forth the extra effort to work with persons with disabilities on an individual basis
• Conducting outreach activities targeting minority groups or individuals

The nomination form is available here. It should be emailed to Bill Lambert at Bill.lambert@in.usda.gov by August 30, 2012. Please contact any of the Civil Rights Advisory Committee Members for more information.

The Missouri & Mississippi Divide Resource Conservation & Development Inc. has produced four short (less than four-minute) videos in a series it calls "Nabbing Nitrates Before They Leave the Farm." Their production was made possible by a Conservation Innovation Grant (CIG) from NRCS. They are available in English and Spanish and can be viewed on the M&M Divide RC&D's page. 

SWCD Outreach

Chanda Hiatt (right), Madison County SWCD Watershed Coordinator, was busy Tuesday evening greeting visitors at their county fair in Alexandria, north of Anderson. The informational booth promoted many projects and initiatives the District offers to landowners in the county.