2018-04

CTD Newsletter: April 2018

CTD and NRCS Conservation Planner Certifications

Questions about the new NRCS Conservation Planner Designations? Curious how the CTD Planner Certifications differ? The CTD and NRCS recently held a joint webinar covering the new NRCS Planner Certification levels, qualification criteria, training opportunities, and timelines, as well as provided information on the CTD Planner Certifications and held a Q&A session. The webinar is for NRCS, Conservation District, and other planning partners interested learning more about the new criteria and what they need to do to get rolling.

Find more information on NRCS or CTD planning certifications and requirements, including a link to the recorded webinar and presentation materials on the CTD website: http://www.wactd.org/planner-certifications/nrcs-certification.

WADE Registration Now Open!

The WADE Conference will be in Leavenworth at the Sleeping Lady Resort on June 11-13, 2018. Ongoing training is one of the most important things we all need as district staff, supervisors and partners to be successful in our jobs to get conservation on the ground.

The WADE schedule, registration information, and scholarship application can be found on the WADE website: https://sites.google.com/site/wadistrictemployees/wade-conference.

Discounted early registration is due on Friday, April 27. Absolute registration deadline is Friday, May 11.

Along with the great technical training that WADE brings you, the conference is a nice opportunity for you to meet and learn from your colleagues from across the state, and to just have a good time networking in the beautiful setting of the Sleeping Lady Resort.

There will be a silent WADE Auction during the conference. Think creatively about donating a fun trip, experience, or item from your district or from a collaboration of districts. We would love to see a mix of items and experiences so that everyone can enjoy this activity. Funds from the auction provide scholarships for the WADE training to ensure that all districts can attend. If you would like to help with the auction or if you have auction questions, please contact Karen Bishop at karen@whidbeycd.org.

The CTD will be hosting a lawn games mixer on Monday evening which is a fun way to meet new folks, and the Envirothon Committee will test your trivia knowledge at the Grotto on Tuesday evening.

Volunteers Needed! The CTD is looking for fun-loving volunteers to help out at the lawn games mixer on Monday evening! Please contact us at info@wactd.org if you are able to help out!

The Riparian Track TEDx talks are back at WADE! We are seeking presenters to give a short talk (7 minutes) on programs, projects, lessons learned or interesting concepts that will help spur ideas within riparian restoration. These talks are a great way to kick off WADE by inspiring ideas and conversations. Due date for sign-up is May 31st. Sign up HERE.

Dairy Nutrient Recovery Technology Field Day

Please join WSU and our commercial partners for a Dairy Nutrient Recovery Technology Field Day on April 20, 2018 from 9 AM to 2 PM in Lynden, WA to learn more about dairy manure nutrient capture and recovery efforts in WA State.

This event is being held to showcase two different technologies that capture nutrients from dairy manure:

  • A dissolved air flotation (DAF) system operating at Edaleen Dairy that removes fine solids from manure wastewater

  • The mobile struvite system which captures phosphorus in liquid dairy manure in the form of struvite, an easy to handle form of fertilizer.

Topics covered will include:

  • Operation and management of these nutrient recovery systems

  • Resulting products and their agronomic applications

  • Economics of on-farm and mobile technology

LOGISTICS: Attendees will meet at Bellewood Acres at 9 AM in Lynden, to board buses and then to tour both technologies at Edaleen dairy.

Attendees will be bused back to Bellewood Acres for a lunch program featuring a 7 person panel of WSU researchers speaking about their additional manure nutrient recovery state-funded projects. Please see the website for additional logistics.

COST: Free- although, registration before April 10th is required to ensure lunch counts. Registration includes bus transportation, tours and lunch.

REGISTER BY: April 10th at http://csanr.wsu.edu/nrtech-field-day/

WHO SHOULD ATTEND?: Dairy producers, ag industry, ag support professionals, relevant government agencies, and the interested public.

NCPP Listening Session - May 9th

The National Conservation Planning Partnership (NCPP) invites you to participate in a listening session. We would like to share more in-depth, detailed information about where we have been and where we are going, but more importantly we want to give you an opportunity to provide feedback to national and state conservation partnership leaders and staff about what you need to be successful. Please view the flyer for additional details.

If you'd like to join this session in person, please fill out the registration form to let organizers know no later than April 25, 2018:https://www.formstack.com/forms/?2160377-5w8z5tM1mS.

In person participants will meet at Leavenworth Festhalle and Civic Center located at 1001 Front Street, Leavenworth, WA 98826.

If you'd like to join the Listening Session by Adobe Connect visit: http://nrcs.adobeconnect.com/ncpp_and_you/. Audio will broadcast through Adobe Connect (VoIP). The listening session will be recorded.

If you need lodging, rooms are held under NRCS group name at the following hotels:

  • Hampton Inn & Suites (509) 470-9798

  • Fairbridge Inn & Suites (509) 548-7992

  • Howard Johnson (509) 548-4326

  • Der Ritterhof Inn (509) 548-5845

Join the conversation, provide feedback and gain insight as NCPP leaders and participants discuss NCPP and You!

NACD Scholarships Available to Attend NRCS Conservation Planning Boot Camp

Interested in attending NRCS's Conservation Planning Boot Camp in Lincoln, Nebraska during 2018? Seats for Conservation District employees are still available, and NACD has scholarships available to help cover travel, lodging, and meals during your training. Learn more on the NACD website: http://www.nacdnet.org/general-resources/conservation-planning-boot-camp/

District Highlight

Skagit Conservation District

District Size: 1,920 square miles

District Population: 123,681 (2016 data)

Number of Employees: 10

Main Programs:

  • Commercial Livestock and Small Farm Operations

  • Conservation Reserve Enhancement Program (CREP)

  • Forest Stewardship Program

  • Clean Samish/Padilla Bay Education

  • Environmental Education Programs – Youth and Adult

  • Marine Biotoxin Monitoring Program

  • Backyard Conservation Stewardship Program

  • Low Impact Development (LID) and Stormwater Education

  • Skagit Stream Team/Storm Team

  • Watershed Masters

Key Partners:

  • Washington State Conservation Commission

  • Skagit County

  • Cities of Anacortes, Burlington, Mount Vernon, Sedro-Woolley

  • Skagit Land Trust

  • USDA, WDNR, FSA, NRCS, WDOE

  • Skagit Fisheries Enhancement Group

  • Native Plant Society – Salal chapter

  • Western Washington Ag

  • WSU Extension

  • Samish Tribe

  • Swinomish Tribe

  • Skagit Watershed Council

  • Recreation and Conservation Office

  • Seattle City Light

  • Padilla Bay Reserve

  • Washington State Department of Health

  • Skagitonians to Preserve Farmland

Project/Program Most Proud of: Skagit Stream Team

72 volunteers currently participate in the 2017/2018 Stream Team Program and monitor for fecal coliform, temperature, dissolved oxygen and turbidity twice a month at stations located in the Padilla Bay, Samish Bay, Kulshan Creek, Trumpeter Basin, Gages Slough, Ace of Hearts Creek, and Nookachamps Creek Basin.

High levels of fecal coliform bacteria threaten the health of priority rivers and tributaries in Skagit County, putting public health at risk and contributing to closures and downgrades of commercial shellfish harvest. The Skagit Stream Team Program, established in 1998, has engaged hundreds of local citizens in conducting routine sampling to assess water quality trends, identify hot spots, and document improvements. Volunteer contributions are valued at $90,000 annually.

Fun Facts:

  • Skagit County produces 75% of the tulip bulbs in the United States.

  • The Skagit River Watershed is the second largest watershed in the state, and home to the most glaciers, second only to Alaska.

  • 50% of the wild Chinook salmon population in Puget Sound is located in Skagit County.

  • Over 80 different crops are grown in Skagit County and is a world leader in beet and spinach seed production.

  • Skagit County is the leading strawberry producer in the State.

  • Approximately 95% of red potatoes from Washington State are grown in Skagit County.

  • Nearly one million acres of land in Skagit County is forested.

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AgLearn Account Reminders

This is a friendly reminder to all of those with AgLearn accounts to remember to log in to your account every 30 days to maintain access. Regular logins are the best way to avoid issues with your AgLearn account! The CTD recommends setting up a reminder in your Outlook calendar.

If you did not complete the required FY 2018 Information Security Assessment (ISA) training, you may find your account inactivated. Please DO NOT attempt to create a new account! For assistance with login issues relating to your eAuthentication ID and password, please contact the eAuthentication Help Desk at eAuthHelpDesk@ftc.usda.gov or via phone at (800) 457-3642.

KCD Launches Farmer-Led On-Farm Research Program

King Conservation District (KCD) is utilizing a national, farmer-led research program that makes use of the Discovery Farms (DF) model to study the effectiveness of riparian buffers on agricultural land. The program will adhere to the three fundamental principles of DF model: farmers’ leadership, scientific research, and strong education and outreach. KCD's goals are to provide scientific evidence to policymakers; empower natural resource conservation managers with better knowledge; increase farmers' knowledge about environmental impacts of farm practices; and enhance adoption of best management practices. Learn more.