IASCD Executive Director Position

The Idaho Association of Soil Conservation Districts is currently accepting resumes for the position of Executive Director.  Information regarding the position and application process can be found on IASCD's website.

IASCD Annual Conference

The 68th Annual Conference of the Idaho Association of Soil Conservation Districts is scheduled for November 17-20 in Burley, Idaho.  Additional information pertaining to the conference is located on IDEA's website.

Poster Contest Opportunity - Passed on to us by Lyla Dettmer, Franklin SWCD

Subject: NACD Poster Contest Display

Aloha, More Conference news...Here is an opportunity for everyone to take part in the NACD Pacific and SW Conference this September, even those who aren't able to make it here.

We want to display posters from both regions that were entered into local Poster Contests. They can be posters with this year's theme, Conservation Habits = Healthy Habitats or any previous year. We want to recognize those districts that have been able to organize this contest and hope that you can give the rest of us pointers on how to set a contest up.

If you want to participate the best thing to do would to mail me your poster to the address below. You can also email me a picture of it. I'm confident I can figure out a way to print a picture of a poster at such a size (probably 11x17) that it would be appropriate for the display. You can also bring your poster but let me know that's what you are doing so that I can make contact with you ASAP after your arrival at the hotel so that it can be included in the display.

This was not my idea but I've been talking to so many people lately I don't know who to give the credit to. Suffice it to say, everyone's ideas and help are greatly appreciated, so send those posters, or pictures of posters my way.

Aloha,

Mary Robblee
Conservation Assistant
Kona Soil and Water Conservation District
81-948 Waena'Oihana Loop #101
Kealakekua, HI 96750
808-322-2484 ext. 100
Fax 808-322-3735

Remember: Quarantine plant material brought onto your property and test for the Little Fire Ant.

Friend in Conservation

Dear IDEA members,'

I am sad to say we have lost yet another friend in conservation this week. At the close of the IASCD meeting on Saturday, Wayne Newbill has resigned his position as the IASCD Executive Director with the IASCD effective Saturday. I am pleased that he will continue on One Plan but I think we have lost a very, very good friend and partner. Wayne has alwasy been in our corner.

Wayne came to us with very, very big shoes to fill from Kent Foster. He has done this very well. I for one have called him for a resource when there was no where else to turn for assistance. He has kept us moving and informed over the past year.

I wish Wayne all the luck in the world on his future work and I did let him know he will be sorely missed by Districts and District Employees. This has been a year of great loss of our friends and partners that have been with us for many, many years. And as much as I will miss Wayne and the other partners that have left the organization this year, I hope district employees will take this opportunity to pause and decide how to take full responsibility for the very, very important work we do. This is just one more set back and we need to take it in stride and keep up the good work.

I personally would like to thank Wayne for his efforts and hope if you have a way to do this that you also send Wayne a note of thanks! His stength, honesty and support of Districts has been a asset to us all!

More than ever, we need to work together as District and District Employees. WE CAN DO IT. It just takes a lot of determination. You already have the knowledge! We need to work together to a common goal. To strengthen Districts!

I will be sending out a report of the IASCD meeting as soon as I have the time to compile it. Take care! and keep up the good work!

Karma Bragg

Steelhead, Chinook, and Thermal Hopscotch

 
The University of Idaho College of Natural Resources recently completed a report entitled, "Temperature regimes during upstream migration and the use of thermal refugia by adult salmon and steelhead in the Columbia River basin."

Additional information about the report can be found in a Columbia Basin Bulletin article.  The article begins, "Remember when you were a child running barefoot--how you would run quickly over a hot sidewalk, rest in a shaded spot, and let your feet cool down before braving the hot surface again?"

The two above links reveal how adult steelhead and chinook salmon in the Columbia basin are participating in this game of "temperature hopscotch," but more as a matter of survival.

Payette SWCD Educational Programs

"Sixth Grade Field Days" is a time of adventure, learning, and excitement, and it happens all at once.  It's always an adventure when you put several hundred sixth graders together.  Each year the Payette SWCD puts on a field day for sixth graders of Payette County and Huntington, Oregon.  The students move around eight stations learning about water quality, cultural resources, soil, wildlife, trees, fire management, entomology, and Oregon Trail history.

Each station is a mixture of lecture and hands on activities.  Students are encouraged to ask questions and try new experiences from learning to throw an atlatl (an ancient hunting weapon) to building a soil profile or touching the animals (all are stuffed) at the Fish and Game trailer.  The subject is different at each station but the message is the same: natural resources are to be protected, preserved, and conserved, and each person has a responsibility towards this goal.

Another program the district has become involved with is the Oregon State Park Rangers Program.  In the evenings at the state parks, the rangers present a program on a variety of subjects.  This year I presented a combination of the "Liquid Treasures" and the "Incredible Edible Aquifer" to about 30 people ranging from grade school age to grandparents.  It was so much fun talking about the role that water plays in our lives and  how it affects the decisions we make.  As the ranger mentioned in his opening remarks, "a good camping spot has always been a good camping spot."  This is just one example of how water influences our decisions.  Participants tried to find water using the "water witching" wands, and they made an aquifer learning that what they put on the ground will come back to them when they drink the water or as they use it in their everyday life.

Submitted by Charlene Wimpy, Payette SWCD.

Conservation Rewards Farmers-Ranchers

Kaylin Dennis from Camas SCD asked that I share this with you. It is a great informational article. Thanks Kaylin for sharing with us.

http://beefmagazine.com/green/0427-conservation-rewards-farmers-ranchers/


Also, Custer SWCD just completed their annual Natural Resource Awareness Day at the Challis Elementary which included Stanley Elementary School as well. To see some of the photos visit the following link on our web-site:

http://www.custerswcd.org/natural_resource_awareness_day_2010.htm

Enjoy!

Karma

2010 Legislative Displays - Boise

http://www.iascd.org/iascd_legislative_information_pa.htm

Here is the link to the power point done by Canyon SCD on our day in the Capitol - Thanks Lori Kent for your work on this and thanks to all those who took time to haul everything to Boise and help tell the story of the conservation we help put in place in Idaho.

Summer Employment

The Nez Perce Soil and Water Conservation District has several summer positions and internships available. Details are available on their website.

Status of HB 576

Governor Otter signed House Bill 576 pertaining to soil conservation district law on April 8, 2010. It will become effective July 1, 2010. The bill text and history can be viewed here.

IDEA Workshops to Be Held Soon

Division V and VI will be holding their IDEA Workshop on Grant writting on April 15 in Idaho Falls. For more information go to the IDEA Website for an agenda or contact the Division Directors: Kathy Merrill for Division V and Lori Ringel for Division VI.

Division I will be holding a Project Management Workshop on April 22, in Coeur d' Alene. Please contact Division I Director, Sherry Klaus if you need more information. Agendas for both can be found on the website listed below.


http://idea.ncdea.org/Workshops.htm


If you need any aditional information please feel free to contact me as well. Good things continue to move forward through IDEA. Keep up the great work!

Karma

Kaylin Dennis of Camas Soil and Water Conservation District found some interesting and informative information on earth day she thought was worth sharing. Check it out, it has some great Ag information!

http://beefmagazine.com/earthday/

Thanks for sharing Kaylin!

Karma

Good Job

Outstanding job and I agree with Sherry the only way to learn is to jump in so I am jumping in. The Division 3 workshop was great Julie Scanlin did an outstanding job.

Thanks Kari!!

Yay!!!! Our blog is now live and ready for action. Thanks so much for Kari's perseverance on this project. I know that I have much to learn about this new and somewhat unfamiliar webtool but there is no way to learn but by doing. So I encourage all you directors to post something just once to try it out, see what you might need a little help with and let's make this an exciting tool to share information around our state - maybe even further!

House Bill 576

Here is a link to the status of House Bill 576.  The bill passed the Senate on 3/24 and the House on 3/29 and has been forwarded to the Governor.  http://www.legislature.idaho.gov/legislation/2010/H0576.htm

HB 576 and Soil Conservation District Law

Representative Ken Roberts presented draft legislation pertaining to Soil Conservation District law to the House Revenue and Taxation Committee on Wednesday, February 17.  The bill text was subsequently posted online as House Bill No. 576, along with a Statement of Purpose and Fiscal Note, and can be viewed here.

28th Annual Idaho State Forestry Contest

The Idaho State Forestry Contest will be held May 13, 2010 from 8:00 AM to 2:00 PM at the Delay Farm in Careywood, Idaho. Pre-registration is mandatory; forms will be available in March. There is no registration fee. A BBQ lunch will be provided.

Any student, grades 7-12, may compete. Teams consist of 4 members, but you do not have to be on a team to compete. Everyone will be scored individually. Sixth graders may compete in the Rookie Competition.

Additional information is available here.

Idaho AITC Tours and Workshops Scheduled

Idaho AITC workshops have been scheduled for the above dates.  Tours have been scheduled for July 13-16 (Boise to Twin Falls) and July 20-23 (Twin Falls Base Tour).  For complete information, please visit the Idaho Ag in the Classroom website.

Legislative Budget Book

The FY 2011 Idaho Legislative Budget Book can be viewed here. The budget recommendations for soil conservation districts and the Idaho Soil Conservation Commission can be found under the heading of Economic Development/Agriculture, Department of/Soil Conservation Commission.

Next ISCC Interim Committee Meeting Scheduled for January 5, 2010

Robert's Rules of Order

An easy-to-understand, one-page reference guide to Robert's Rules of Order is located at http://lakefrancis.org/agenda/RRquickref.pdf

North Central Idaho Grazing Conference

The 6th annual North Central Idaho Grazing Conference will be January 5, 2010 in Lewiston, Idaho, at the Lewis-Clark State College Williams Conference Center. The trade show opens at 8:00 AM. Registration begins at 8:30 AM. Registration includes lunch and is $20 if pre-paid by Dec. 22 or $25 at the door. Early registration for fulltime high school and college students is $12.

Presentations include:

• "Managing Dryland Pastures to Maximize Cattle Production," Dr. Kelly Crane, University of Idaho Rangeland Ecology & Management Specialist, Twin Falls, Idaho


• "Solar & Hydro: Renewable Energy for Farm & Ranch," Ben Henson, Renewable Energy Solutions, Enterprise, Oregon


• "Beef Production Systems on Western Rangelands," Dr. Tim DelCurto, Eastern Oregon Agricultural Research Center, Burns/Union, Oregon


• "Producer's Perspective," Rhod McIntosh, Colfax, Washington

For more information, please call (208) 983-1046 ext. 111.

This event is sponsored by the Idaho Association of Soil Conservation Districts Division II, University of Idaho Extension, Natural Resources Conservation Service, and the Idaho State Soil Conservation Commission.

Idaho Soil Conservation Commission Interim Committee

Information about the Idaho Soil Conservation Commission Interim Committee, including names of committee members, meeting agendas, meeting minutes, presentation materials, and the draft legislation can be found at http://www.legislature.idaho.gov/sessioninfo/2009/interim/soil.htm.