Making the selections for the annual District Showcase awards was difficult this year for the judging committee, because there were many excellent applications. In the end, four awards were given:
Dubois County
Owen County
Spencer County
Wabash/Miami/Kosciusko Counties
These districts will have the chance to give ICP leaders a tour of their district and project this fall, and in January at the annual Awards Luncheon, you'll hear more about their projects in the District Showcase video. For now, take a minute to congratulate them on a job well done!
Annual Conference
Online Registration Now Open
Online registration is now available for the Annual Conference of Indiana SWCDs, to be held January 14-15, 2016 at the downtown Indianapolis Marriott. Visit the IASWCD website to download a copy of the conference brochure, find the registration link, and more.
Booths Available for Trade Show
There are still booths available for exhibitors at the Annual Conference Trade Show. Last year, new exhibitors brought value to SWCDs and got a lot out of the conference themselves. Rockford Map Publishers was referred to the conference by an SWCD, and as a result of being at conference they worked with new SWCDs on updated plat books. Chances are, your district probably knows of an organization or company that could benefit from meeting other SWCDs at the Trade Show. We encourage you to share sign up information with them and invite them to join us this year!
Funding
Indiana NRCS Announces Projects to Advance Next Generation of Natural Resources Conservation
USDA-NRCS recently announced it is investing $20.5 million nationwide for 45 projects to develop and advance the conservation of natural resources. These projects include efforts to increase habitat for pollinators, develop new ways to attract private investment in natural resource conservation, give agricultural producers greater access to greenhouse gas markets, and help farmers make their operations more resilient to climate change.
Of the 45 grants announced, three are in Indiana:
Environmental Defense Fund proposes to build on its strong relationships to create a large scale pilot generating the first aggregated nutrient management greenhouse gas credit project. This project will demonstrate how growers implementing enhanced nitrogen management practices on both annual and perennial crops can participate in carbon markets, setting the stage for significant reductions in nitrogen fertilizer pollution. This is a four state project between Indiana, Illinois, Iowa and California.
Electric Power Research Institute proposes to develop and execute, for the first time, trades of "stacked" ecosystem services-both water quality and greenhouse gas emissions reduction credits. This is a tri-state project between Indiana, Kentucky and Ohio.
The Great Lakes Commission proposes to develop a framework for water quality trading in the Western Lake Erie basin (WLEB) to combat substantial water quality issues leading to harmful algal blooms each summer in Lake Erie. This is a tri-state project between Indiana, Michigan and Ohio.
NWTF Indiana 2016 Super Fund Applications
The National Wild Turkey Federation has begun to request applications from conservation partners in Indiana seeking assistance with upland habitat restoration projects.
Below you will find links to the NWTF 2016 Super Fund Application and Guidelines as well as a map of their Focal Landscapes. They are requesting that the applications be submitted by no later than February 26th, 2016.
Last week Congress passed a short-term continuing resolution (CR) to fund the government through December 11. Congressional leaders are working to begin moving packages of appropriations bills which will combine several spending measures into "minibus" bills. IASWCD will continue to follow any developments as Congress prepares to pass longer-term spending in the next few months.
NACD Marketplace Sale Reminder
Don't forget the NACD Marketplace has extended its end of summer clearance sale! "DIG IT! Secrets of Soil," "Conservation Habits = Healthy Habitats" and "Forests for People" are on sale for 60 to 75% off. Now is a great time to stock your shelves with these great education materials. Additionally, community outreach materials are also on clearance. These deals have been extended until Friday, November 13. Visit the NACD Marketplace to make the most of this end of summer sale.
Do you frequently make purchases on Amazon.com? You can help support conservation in Indiana by selected IASWCD as a recipient of AmazonSmile contributions when you shop on Amazon.com. Amazon will donate a portion of their profits to IASWCD at no additional cost to you. It's a simple way to support conservation in your day to day life!
Job Openings
Please email job descriptions, instructions for applying, and a deadline in a single PDF file to emily-neitzel@iaswcd.org to be included.
