The ‘Best’ Hard Time”

2009 Area Meetings of the Oklahoma Association of Conservation Districts, Cosponsored by the Oklahoma Conservation Commission

“The ‘Best’ Hard Time,” the theme for the OACD 2009 Area Meetings conservation district directors and employees, reflected the idea that in the midst of the hard times of a declining state budget there have been significant conservation accomplishments in the past year. The state legislature authorized a $25 million conservation bond in the 2009 legislative session to provide conservation districts with funds to repair the conservation infrastructure damaged by recent natural disasters. In addition, the American Recovery and Reinvestment Act (ARRA) federal stimulus initiative provided over 16 million dollars of new conservation dollars to the OCC and conservation districts for needed work including the rehabilitation and repair of aging upstream flood control dams. The NRCS reported they had delivered this past year a record number of federal conservation dollars in the state, over 81 million dollars, through  federal conservation programs they administer. These positive developments were tempered by the challenges faced by declining state funds to support the day-to-day operations of conservation districts. Conservationists were encouraged to maximize all state and federal funds to continue the indispensable work of conserving Oklahoma’s vital resources.

Spotlight on Conservation Districts

“Spotlight on Conservation Districts” featured local success stories at each Area Meeting. Special recognition was given for outstanding efforts at some of the meetings.

Area I, Taloga, Oct. 29.

Dewey County Conservation district, represented by Jimmy Emmons, chairman, Coleta Bratten, secretary, and NRCS district conservationist Paul Clark, along with Junior Salisbury, county commissioner, presented photos and discussed the wildfire that swept across Dewey County on March 5, 2009, forcing the evacuation of Taloga. Blaine County Conservation District director Brandon Webb introduced Tina Rogers, a local teacher, who described the development of a Blue Thumb volunteer water quality monitoring team with a group of her students. Garfield County Conservation District, represented by Dale Milacek, chairman, and Jason Skaggs, manager, provided suggestions for conservation districts keeping local legislators informed of their activities.

The U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service (USFWS), represented by USFWS employee Luke Bill, received a Conservation Commendation jointly from the OCC and OACD “For supporting conservation districts and utilizing the conservation district delivery system to promote prescribed burning in Oklahoma to enhance and restore native ecosystems and for commitment to the conservation of natural resources in the State of Oklahoma.” USFWS and OCC recently agreed to continue and expand an agreement to help support prescribed burn associations in northwest Oklahoma.

Area IV, Lawton, Nov. 5

Gloria Stearns, South Caddo Conservation District associate director, and Danielle Whaley, NRCS district conservationist, explained how the three conservation districts in Caddo County – North Caddo, South Caddo and West Caddo Conservation Districts—worked together to inform county commissioners and gain support for the important work they do for the county. Carol Stayer, a volunteer for the Comanche County Conservation District, talked about the district’s Blue Thumb volunteer water quality monitoring program. Kirk Schreiner, NRCS state co-coordinator for the Earth Team volunteer program, discussed how volunteers can help fill needed gaps in conservation activities.

Edie Brown, Washita County Conservation District, told how the South Western Oklahoma Development Authority (SWODA) used Rural Economic Action Plan grants to help conservation districts acquire equipment to use for operation and maintenance of flood control dams. Following that SWODA, represented by employee Jana Harris, received a Conservation Commendation jointly from the OCC and OACD.

Area III, Bartlesville, Nov. 10

Adair County Conservation District was featured for the first small watershed flood control dam in the nation to be rehabilitated using federal stimulus funds from the American Recovery and Reinvestment Act, Sallisaw Dam No. 18M. Tulsa County Conservation District was featured for its use of the state-funded Conservation Cost-Share Program to help local land users install practices that help conserve natural resources. Caney Valley Conservation District was recognized for having the first entire flood control project in the nation, the Double Creek Watershed Project, to complete rehabilitation.

Additionally, John Beasley, a Tulsa County Conservation District board member and Tulsa Memorial High School teacher, described the Blue Thumb volunteer water quality monitoring team he leads with students. Kirk Schreiner, NRCS state co-coordinator for the Earth Team volunteer program, discussed how volunteers can help fill needed gaps in conservation activities. Finally, Dale Tullis, Craig County Conservation District board member, told how his district had acquired equipment to help local landowners conserve their natural resources.

Steve Clark, resource specialist at the NRCS Claremore Technical Service Office, received a Conservation Commendation from OCC for assisting OCC water quality staff in obtaining Level II Conservation Plan Writing certification. OCC and OACD jointly commended the U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service, represented by employee Jontie Aldrich, for working with conservation districts to promote re-establishment of native grasses in northeast Oklahoma.

Area II, Shawnee, Nov. 17

Jeff Kuhn, Payne County Conservation District manager, explained how the district worked with the Tallgrass Resource Conservation and Development Council to obtain equipment to help with operation and maintenance on flood control structures. Trey Lam, Garvin Conservation District chairman, described challenges and accomplishments of his district in working with oil and gas drilling activities on flood control dam locations.

Colleen Smith, a teacher at Southeast High School in Oklahoma City described the Blue Thumb volunteer water quality monitoring team she leads with students. Susan Henning, Kay County Conservation District manager, and Dianne Jeans, an Earth Team volunteer at the district, presented a puppet show about how volunteers can help fill needed gaps in conservation activities.

Area V, Idabel, Nov. 19

Frank Acker, Little River Conservation District manager, and Jim Grego, Latimer County Conservation District chairman, each discussed how they seek out and combine local resources to expand conservation activities in their respective areas. Kirk Schreiner, NRCS state co-coordinator for the Earth Team volunteer program, discussed how volunteers can help fill needed gaps in conservation activities.

Ralph Mitchell, Little River Conservation District chairman, introduced Dennis Wilson, a Blue Thumb Program volunteer team leader, who explained the water quality monitoring activities of his team made up of local FFA club members.

Youth and Director Service Awards

The OACD Area Meetings include contests cosponsored by the Oklahoma Association of Conservation District Employees (OACDE) for youth in categories of speeches, essays and posters. Western Farmers Electric Cooperative (WFEC) sponsors awards for the OACD/OACDE Awards. First place winners in the essay and poster contests, as well as first and second place winners in the speech contest, are eligible to compete at the state level during OACD’s Annual State Meeting to be held Feb. 21-23, 2010, in Midwest City. Awards were presented at each meeting to conservation district directors for five, 10 and 15 years of service on their local boards. Service awards for more than 15 years of service will be presented at the OACD Annual State Meeting.