Notebook: Conservation News You Can Use

Feb 28, 07:04 AM

Current Headlines: By Anonymous

"Conservation is the foresighted utilization, preservation and/ or renewal of forests, waters, lands and minerals, for the greatest good of the greatest number for the longest time." - Gifford Pinchot

New course for U.S. water policy

The biennial report, Tlie World's Water, was released in November and outlines a new course for U.S. water policy. This fifth edition is touted as the most up-to-date source of information and analysis on freshwater resources and the political, economic, scientific, and technological issues associated with them. The World's Water 2006- 2007 provides an updated chronology of conflicts associated with water, as well as an assessment of recent water conferences, including the 4th World Water Forum in Mexico City. The volume also offers a brief review of issues surrounding the use of bottled water addressing water and terrorism, business risks of water, water and ecosystems, floods and droughts, desalination, and environmental justice and water.

USDA and DOD sign conservation partnership agreement

The U.S. Department of Agriculture Natural Resources Conservation Service and the U.S. Department of Defense in November signed a partnership agreement to strengthen conservation efforts near military bases around the nation.The need for this agreement stems from the trend in recent years of urban development encroaching on military bases, their training facilities, and surrounding areas.

As part of the Department of Defense's efforts to address urban sprawl concerns, it has created the Readiness and Environmental Protection Initiative and other programs to work with partners to promote buffers and conservation planning around military bases.The two government agencies are striving to share technical information and services necessary to continue conservation efforts.

Prime bird breeding area Is saved

More than 10,300 acres of South Dakota native prairie grasslands and wetlands have been permanendy protected with nearly $3 million. A broad coalition of conservation partners purchased easements on native prairie grassland and wetland complexes that supply critical breeding habitat for a diversity of grassland birds including waterfowl, shorebirds, raptors, and songbirds.

The land in Hand County have long been recognized as a prime breeding area for a diversity of bird species, but unfortunately, these populations are increasingly threatened by conversion of the grassland to cropland.

NRDC creates new science center

In mid-November, the Natural Resources Defense Council announced the plans of a new Science Center to bolster its technical capabilities and environmental advocacy efforts across a range of priority issues, from cutting global warming to the extinction of endangered species. The center will be led by Dr. Gabriela Chavarria who has extensive experience in conservation biology and ecology.

The Natural Resources Defense Council is a national, nonprofit organization of scientists, lawyers, and environmental specialists dedicated to protecting public health and the environment.

No fish to fry

To sustain present levels of seafood consumption, the world would need over 2.5 times the Earth's global oceans according to The Fishprint of Nations 2006, a new study by Redefining Progress, The Ocean Project, and the Center for Sustainable Economy. The Fishprint measures the amount of ocean area needed to sustain the consumption patterns of individual nations and the world as a whole.

The report estimates that we are over-fishing by roughly 157 percent and that 91 countries, including the United States, overfished their biological capacity in 2003. Tfte Fishprint of Nations 2006 report, which incorporates marine ecosystems into the popular Footprint framework, is released on the heels of another disturbing study published in Science magazine in early November. That study, authored by some of the world's top fishery scientists, suggested that by 2048, nearly every major commercial fish species would collapse if current practices continue.

While the Fishprint adds compelling new data about the level of over-fishing, its usefulness goes well beyond this function. By presenting data comparing the ecological impact caused by fishing fleets of a particular country with estimates of sustainable yield, the Fishprint may be a tool for helping nations to meet their obligations under an United Nations law requiring countries to monitor their catch in relation to both economic and environmental sustained yields.

Sound technology used In sediment research

You've heard the expression "putting your ear to the ground." But, putting your ear to the water? That's what technology is helping Agricultural Research Service (ARS} scientists in Oxford, Mississippi do.

Hydraulic engineers Roger Kuhnle and Daniel Wren of the ARS National Sedimentation Laboratory and collaborators are using acoustics and automated sampling to assess how sediment impacts waterways and dams.

They're applying acoustic science to measuring the rate at which sand and gravel are transported in streams. The resulting data can give insight about upstream erosion and-with help from computer modeling-fortify predictions about sediment's impacts on water bodies and related structures.

This research is part of work by scientists in Oxford and at other ARS locations that's aimed at helping agriculture and waterways coexist in a cost-effective, environmentally friendly fashion. At the ARS National Sedimentation Laboratory, one research area focuses on how erosion, soil runoff, and urban and industrial activities affect water quality.

As part of this work, Wren and other collaborators are improving use of a core-drilling technique, called "vibracoring," for gauging sediment's impact on aging reservoirs. They're particularly interested in how vibracoring helps detect rates and patterns of sediment collection that affect reservoirs'holding capacities.

Meanwhile, data collected from the Mississippi Delta region's waterways is helping National Sedimentation Laboratory scientists improve computer programs and models used to evaluate how different management practices can affect entire watersheds.

Agricultural engineer Ron Bingner is working with waterquality- prediction technology known as AnnAGNPS (for Annualized Agricultural Nonpoint Source) to simulate environmental processes and evaluate their impact on downstream and adjacent watershed elements. And hydraulic engineer Eddy Langendoen is using field studies and a computer modeling technique he created called "CONCEPTS" (for Conservational Channel Evolution and Pollutant Transport System) to assess the stability of specific channel reaches.

For mare information, contact Agricultural Research Service Communications Specialist Lnis Puns at (301) 504-628 or luis.poits@ars. usda.gov.

New rule boosts protection of underground drinking water

More than 100 million Americans will enjoy greater protection of their drinking water under a new rule signed by the U.S. Environmental Protection Agency on October 11. The rule targets utilities that provide water from underground sources and requires greater vigilance tor potential contamination by disease-causing microorganisms.

"The Bush Administration's Groundwater Rule boosts drinking water purity and public health security," said Benjamin H. Grumbles, assistant administrator for water. "These 6rst-ever standards will help communities prevent, detect, and correct tainted groundwater problems so citizens continue to have clean and affordable drinking water."

The risk-targeting strategy incorporated in the rule provides for:

* regular sanitary surveys of public water systems to look for significant deficiencies in key operational areas triggered source- water monitoring when a system that does not sufficiently disinfect drinking water identifies a positive sample during its regular monitoring to comply with existing rules.

* implementation of corrective actions by groundwater systems with a significant deficiency or evidence of source water fecal contamination

* compliance monitoring for systems that are sufficiently treating drinking water to ensure effective removal of pathogens

A groundwater system is subject to triggered source-water monitoring if its treatment methods don't already remove 99.99 percent of viruses. Systems must begin to comply with the new requirements by December 1, 2009.

For more information about the groundwater rule and more information about drinking water: http://efa.gov/safeivater/ disinfection/gwr/

Farmers have antidotes to oil dependency

Developing ways to use crops and manure to displace petroleum- based fuels is the goal of Agricultural Research Service (ARS) scientists in the Renewable Energy and Manure Management Research Unit in Bushland, Texas.

In addition to studies there, the search for alternative fuels extends across the country, including places like the ARS North Central Soil Conservation Laboratory in Morris, Minnesota.

Nolan Clark, research leader at the Bushland unit, and colleagues plan to test various biodi\esel fuels. Their idea is that locally available materials, such as palm oil in Hawaii, are most economical to use. Inspired by Clark s presentation on biodiesel, one Arctic village uses fish oil biodiesel to fuel generators that provide the towns electricity.

The Texas scientists are also working with the Texas Agricultural Experiment Station in Amarillo on burning a manure-coal mix to heat buildings and to provide heat needed to produce ethanol.This is one of many possible alternative fuels being considered to cut costs in manufacturing ethanol.They're also researching potential uses for the manure-coal ash left after burning, such as for fertilizer or horticultural bedding material.

Abdullah Jaradat, research leader at the Morris lab, and colleagues are cooperating with the University of Minnesota at Morris to test the gasification of cornstalks, wood and other materials to heat and cool university buildings. They are analyzing the ash to see whether it is safe to use as fertilizer.

Gasification is a burning technique that turns cornstalks and other materials and their smoke into a gas that can be used for cooking or heating. The gas can also be converted into electricity and could even fuel vehicles in an extended petroleum shortage.

The Minnesota scientists are also researching whether hydrogen or a Cuphea-based biofuel might fuel the university's backup generators. Cuphea is a genus of herbaceous annuals that grow throughout the Western Hemisphere. Cuphea plants yield a unique seed oil that potentially could be used as biofuel without the chemical modification required of soybean oil. This oil also has potential for use as an industrial lubricant, displacing imported oil.

For more information, contact Agricultural Research Service Communications Specialist Don Conn's at (301) 504-1625 or donald.comis@ars.usda.gov.

Conservation - sustalnablllty professorship

The University of Idaho and Canon have created a faculty professorship designed to educate and develop future conservation scientists and leaders.

Gary Machlis, a forest resources professor at the university will hold the professorship. Machlis in 1997 helped establish the Canon National Parks Science Scholars Program that teaches students innovative research that significantly contributes to the management and preservation of national parks.

Ecological literacy In architecture education

The American Institute of Architects recently conducted a study of the sustainability in architecture education. It offers definitions of sustain ability, ecological literacy, and sustamable design. The report gives examples of U.S. architecture where ecological literacy has made a significant impact.

Co-author Kira Gould says," The goal of this report is to help architecture curriculum evolve to the point where all design teachings are sustainable in nature." Climate change, resource use, and building trends comprise an imperative for change for the profession for academia, and for sustaining human life and quality of life on earth.

To see the full report, go to www.aia.org/cote_tides.

Reverse auction saves wetlands

In early November, the Natural Resources Conservation Service's (NRCS) Chief Arlen Lancaster announced that 3,500 acres were being enrolled in the Wetlands Reserve Program through a reverse auction pilot program that reduces easement acquisition costs by 14 percent- saving nearly $820,000 in fiscaJ year 2006.

The purpose of the reverse auction signup is to test procedures in an effort to reduce NRCS technical assistance costs. It is an example of a market-based approach to conservation, which facilitates market-based opportunities that encourage private sector investment in conservation. Interested landowners voluntarily conducted an environmental self-assessment of the lands they wished to enroll in the Wetlands Reserve Program and submitted sealed bids.The reverse auction signup targets eligible land in selected states.

For more information, go to the NRCS website at www.nrcs.usda.gov/ programs/wrp.

World's worst polluted areas

A team of international environment and health experts have named the worlds 10 most polluted places. Sites in eight countries affecting a total of more than 10 million people were identified as the areas where environmental degradation presents the worst long- term health threats and, at the same time, target the opportunity to reverse the problems.

The team released a report, Blacksmith Institute's Worst Polluted Places, after developing criteria to rate a list of 35 highly polluted sites derived from more than 300 that were nominated for clean up help. Nominations came from local communities, nongovernmental organizations, as well as through discussions with a broad range of local, national, and international environmental authorities.

The top 10 locations on the list for worst polluted are:

* Unten, China

* Haina, Dominican Republic

* Ranipet, India

* Mailuu-Suu, Kyrgyzstan

* La Oroya, Peru

* Dzerzinsk, Russia

* Norilsk, Russia

* Rudnaya Pristan, Russia

* Chernobyl, Ukraine

* Kabwe, Zambia

Regreening Los Angeles

Los Angeles remains strong in its campaign to plant one million trees. The urban tree-canopy renewal projects in the last quarter of 2006 were in excess of 150 events. Some of the events will single handedly plant nearly 500 trees at a time. To set goals for the efforts, research was sought and remote sensing techniques were utilized. Organizers feel the extent and benefits of urban trees and forest is necessary and the remote sensing aids in this work.

Indianapolis is planning on planting 100,000 trees over the next 10 years. Baltimore announced last April a plan to double its tree canopy from 20 to 40 percent. Denver announced in July, a 20-year goal to plant one million new trees to triple its canopy from six to eight percent.

For more information, go to www.actrees.org.

Change expected for U.S. farm policy in 2007

Over 50 international and domestic farm leaders, agriculture policy experts, and economists discussed and debated new ideas to strengthen American agriculture and expand benefits of U.S. farm policy in 2007 at the third working session in a series. The Chicago Council on Global Affairs recommends that new policies end trade- distorting subsidies, redefine the farm safety net, transform the food stamp program, and reinvest in U.S. agriculture's future.

The work at the National Forum on U.S. Agricultural Policy and the 2007 Farm Bill: Conserving the Ecological Integrity and Economic Resilience of American Agriculture will generate background papers from the various forums and will be published in 2007.

USDA and EPA sign water quality credit trading agreement

On October 13, the U.S. Department of Agriculture Natural Resources and Environment Under secretary Mark Rey and Benjamin Grumbles, assistant administrator of the U.S. Environmental Protection Agency's Office of Water, signed a partnership agreement to establish and promote water quality credit trading markets through cooperative conservation. The agreement features a pilot project within the Chesapeake Bay basin to showcase the effectiveness of environmental markets.

"Trading for upgrading water quality is the wave of the future," says Grumbles. "We are committed to giving good stewards credit and partnering with agriculture to accelerate restoration and protection. This agreement is a big step forward." Water quality credit trading uses a market-based approach that offers incentives to farmers and ranchers who implement conservation practices that improve water quality. While reducing pollution, they can earn credits they can trade with industrial or municipal facilities that are required by the Clean Water Act and other laws to reduce the amounts of pollution in wastewater.

For more information about the Water Quality Trading Agreement and more information about water quality trading at http://www.epa. gov/owow/watershed/trading.htm

CEAP literature review out soon

The Soil and Water Conservation Society (SWCS), in an attempt to document the status of knowledge regarding the effect of agricultural conservation practices on environmental quality, has conducted a comprehensive literature review, and packaged it as a new book called, Environmental Benefits of Cropland Conservation. Due out in the first quarter of 2007, the book is a strong step toward constructing the scientific foundation for the USDA Conservation Effects Assessment Project (CEAP) by summarizing what is known and what is not known about the environmental effects of conservation practices.

This book is the first stage of a project the SWCS is undertaking to focus on the effects of conservation practices used in cropping systems on water quality, soil quality, water conservation, air quality, and fish and wildlife habitat. In succeeding stages, the project will address the effects of conservation systems applied to grazing land and other land uses.

The Society recruited lead authors to oversee the literature search, review, and synthesis for each chapter in the book. Each author addresses the environmental effects of one of the following five basic conservation systems: soil management, water management, nutrient management, pest and weed management, and landscape management.

For more information about the project, book, or to purchase the book, go to www.sws.org.

In April, Terry Fou rette will embark on a motorcycle ride along the rim of the United States to raise money and awareness about coastal restoration. Fourette will be donating any money collected to the America's WETLAND Foundation.

75 chapters

When you join SWCS, you join a chapter providing you with education and networking opportunities. Join one of the Society's (SWCS) 75 chapters across the United States and Canada. Get involved at the grassroots level of SWCS. Contact memberservices@swcs.org for information.

Soil and Water Conservation Society

945 SW Ankeny Road

Ankeny, IA 50023

515-2\89-2331

swcs@swcs.org

ON THE WEB:

http://academic.uprm.edu/abe/PRAGWATER

The PRAGWATER website focuses on agricultural water management in the Tropics and has been recently updated. A few new items include: 1) Dr. Megh Goyal's textbook on drip irrigation translated into Spanish. 2) A list of links to sites related to climate change and agriculture. If you have a project related to ag water management in the Tropics and would like to post a summary of the project on the website please send it to Eric Harmsen, associate professor. University of Puerto Rico at eharmsen@uprm.edu.

www.esscpalemocongress.it

The 5th International Congress of the European Society for Soil Conservation website is up and accepting abstracts for participation. The deadline for submission is January 31, 2007.

"Plans to protect air and water, wilderness and wildlife are in fact plans to protect man." -Stuart Udall

FACTOIDS

* Approximately 42 percent of the nation's landowners do not operate any of the land they own.

* Of these landowners, 85 percent are not actively involved in the decision making for the farm.

* Nationally, only eight percent of absentee landowners report acres enrolled in the Conservation Reserve Program and the Wetlands Reserve Program.

* The majority of absentee landowners have never been a farm operator.

* Over 23 percent of landowners live 50 miles of further from the land they lease to others.

* Greater than 45 percent of farmland acquired by women is inherited versus 19 percent for men.

Source: 1999 ERS Agriculture Economics and Land Ownership Survey.

Copyright Soil and Water Conservation Society Jan/Feb 2007

(c) 2007 Journal of Soil and Water Conservation. Provided by ProQuest Information and Learning. All rights Reserved.