August Board Meeting

The next Latah SWCD board meeting will be held Tuesday, August 3, 2010 at 6:00 PM in the conference room of the Idaho Works Career Center, 1350 Troy Road, Moscow.

Trail and Hawley Receive Latah SWCD Conservation Stewardship Awards

Over 60 guests were present last Tuesday evening as Latah Soil and Water Conservation District Chairman Cody Anderson presented the 2009 Conservaton Stewardship Award to Representative Tom Trail and the 2010 Conservation Stewardship Award to Lee Hawley.

2010 also marks the 70th anniversary of the Latah SWCD (see former blog post). The celebration was in the form of a BBQ at Robinson Park near Moscow, Idaho.

Each year, the District board chooses an award recipient. Lee was selected for his long-term commitment to conservation efforts and for his many years of service to the Latah SWCD. He filled three terms (12 years) as an elected District Supervisor, serving as Chairman for several of those years. In addition, he has contributed as an Associate Supervisor for over 24 years. Lee also served as Chairman of the Paradise Creek Watershed Advisory Group. Lee thanked the Natural Resource Conservation Service staff for all their help through the years.

Chairman Anderson provided a heartfelt tribute to Representative Trail for coming to the rescue when, as Anderson described it, Latah felt they were just about the only party left on a sinking ship. Nearly two years ago, Latah board members requested the assistance of their local legislators. They found Representative Trail, Representative Ringo, Senator Schroeder and numerous legislators throughout the State of Idaho to be extemely supportive of conservation districts, for which Chairman Anderson expressed his appreciation on behalf of himself and the District.

Thanks to all who attended to show their support for Lee, Rep. Trail, and local conservation efforts. And special thanks to Wayne and Jacie Jensen for grilling all the steaks, and the McGregor Company for lending us their grill!

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

Latah SWCD Celebrates 70th Anniversary at 2010 Conservation Stewardship Award BBQ

On January 6, 1940, three petitions were submitted to the State Soil Conservation Commission requesting the formation of three separate districts within Latah County. On January 30, 1940, a fourth petition was submitted requesting the formation of a single conservation district within Latah County. On February 13, 1940 a public hearing was held in Moscow. 75 were in attendance. Unanimous consent to the formation of a district was voiced at that hearing. A referendum was held on March 16, 1940. 457 votes were cast; 363 voted in favor, making Latah the first conservation district in Idaho. On April 25, 1940, Guy Kitch and Henry Bottjer were appointed as supervisors. The certificate of organization was issued on May 1, 1940. The first election of supervisors was held June 15, 1940. Roy Emerson, Ralph Naylor, and King Ingle were elected. The first board meeting was held July 1, 1940. On July 12, 1940, supervisors met in the Kendrick City Park to elect officers and make a plan. At that time they also appointed G. T. McAlexander of the extension service to serve as secretary. The Kendrick City Park was also the scene of the 40th anniversary celebration held July 12, 1980; Lee Hawley was Chairman.

Please join us in Robinson Park on June 29th at 5:30 PM as we honor Representative Tom Trail and Lee Hawley as recipients of the 2009 and 2010 Latah SWCD Conservation Stewardship Awards, respectively.

Student Receives "Giant" Prize

Michelle Ross, a Deary School 8th grade student, was the grand prize winner of the first Latah SWCD "Write to Bike!" essay contest. District staff presented a Giant bicycle and award certificate to Michelle at a Deary School award assembly on June 4, 2010.

There are two primary objectives associated with the essay contest. One is to encourage junior high students to think about and research issues related to natural resources and conservation. The other is to encourage a specific conservation habit: riding bikes! All 7th-9th grade students residing in Latah County are eligible to participate in the contest.

Each year brings a different contest theme. This year's theme was "Conservation Habits = Healthy Habitats." The theme is selected by the National Association of Conservation Districts and also applies to the annual poster contest (elementary age students) and speech contest (high school age students).

Purchase of the bike (retail value $390) was a joint effort of the Latah SWCD and TJ at Paradise Creek Bicycles in Moscow. Thank you for supporting youth education in Latah County!

Additional information about this contest or next year's is available on the Latah SWCD website or by contacting Kari Schwendiman, kschwendiman@latahsoil.org.

Direct Seeder Field Tour, June 24th

June Latah SWCD Board Meeting

The next Latah SWCD board meeting will be on June 1st from 6 to 8:30 pm at the Idaho Works Career Center (Job Service), 1350 Troy Road, Moscow, ID.

Click on the meeting's agenda on the top left-hand corner to view the agenda

The public is encouraged to attend.

Apply for Conservation Stewardship Program by June 11

The Conservation Stewardship Program (CSP) offers monetary incentives for producers to conserve and enhance soil, water and other related natural resources. The application deadline to be considered for the next ranking and funding period is June 11, 2010.

For more information, visit the Idaho NRCS website or the Moscow Field Office.

Field Day: International Exchange on the Palouse

All those interested are invited to attend a free field tour on Thursday, June 24, 2010. Registration is at 7:30 AM at the Palouse Conservation Field Station just north of Pullman; buses will depart promptly at 8:30 AM.

WSU and USDA-ARS will host 50 international visitors representing direct seed farmers from Europe, Australia, and New Zealand for a morning bus tour to the Palouse Rock Lake Conservation District direct seed drill research and demonstration field trials. A complimentary lunch will follow. The lunch program will include presentations from direct seeders visiting from Germany and New Zealand. After lunch, researchers will lead an early afternoon tour highlighting research on direct seed cropping systems, drills, pathogens and weeds at the Palouse Conservation Field Station.

Questions may be directed to Deb Marsh marshdj@wsu.edu. Additional details can be found here.

RCRDP Loan Program

The Idaho Soil Conservation Commission (ISCC) continues to offer a low interest loan program as a way to help cooperators meet their conservation goals. Additional information about the Resource Conservation and Rangeland Development Loan Program (RCRDP) and application process is available by contacting your local conservation district or visiting the ISCC website.