Oklahoma Conservation News
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News Archive:
2011
Two New Fact Sheets from the National Watershed Coalition
Keep Oklahoma Beautiful Recognizes Volunteer and University for Blue Thumb Activities
Oklahoma Carbon Initiative reaches 50 thousand acres
Agreement Creates Four New 15-Month Technician Positions
New: Watershed Fact Sheets 38 Fact Sheets about the Small Watershed Upstream Flood Control Program and selected dams.
OACDE Offering Two-Day Training Session for District Employees
Record Earthquakes Leave Dams Undamaged
Honey Creek Implementation Project Shows Water Quality Improving
“The 2011 Drought and Beyond - Will we keep the dust at bay???” 2011 OACD Area Meetings with links to presentations
OACD/OACD Auxiliary College Scholarships
Watershed Assessment Team Commended
Northwest Oklahoma Land and Range Contest
Denim & Lace: Women In Agriculture Conference
Wildlife Expo Held Sept. 23-25, 2011 (Post Event)
Wildllife Expo 2011 Underway
EPA Adds Nearly $1 Million to Water Quality Projects
Coal County Conservation District holds Open House in New Building
OACD to Receive Conservation Grant for Wildlife Credit Program
OACD praises EPA decision to fund additional water quality efforts
Conservation Program helps landowners recover from drought
Record August Puts Exclamation Point on Hottest Oklahoma Summer
Conservation Districts in the News
Farm Women’s Day Out
Conservation Drought Seminar
Oklahoma eCycles Day
NRCS Earth Team Volunteer Accomplishes More Than Donating Time
Conservation Districts Eligible to Apply for People's Garden Grant Program
Conservation at the Crossroads — What will the future hold?
EPA Offers Oklahoma Watershed Based Plan as Model
Rains welcomed but may be too late to save crops
Oklahoma Prescribed Burning Association forming to help landowners and local prescribed burn associations
Congressman Frank Lucas on the 2012 Farm Bill
Deer Creek Conservation District and Friends of Hydro Library send ‘Hugs’ to soldiers
Sugar Creek L-44 Groundbreaking
Dig In! at ScienceFest Oklahoma 2011
No-Till Oklahoma 2011 (announcement)
Area I Conservation Commissioner: Karl Jett
Oklahoma Envirothon 2011 State Champions Named
NACD Auxiliary National and Regional Photo Contests 2011
Matt Gard Honored on Completing Term as Area I Conservation Commissioner
Grady County Conservation District Honors Ralph Morgan
Rogers County Conservation District recognized on KTUL Channel 8 "Good Day Tulsa"
Oklahoma Prescribed Fire Council: Burn Survey
OCC and NSU Partner to Reclaim Mine Land
National Watershed Conference held in Oklahoma City
Watershed Program named National Historic Landmark
Cotton County Conservation District Honors Jack Hudman
Quality Oklahoma Team Day 2011
Kay County Conservation District's Eco Trail
Redlands Community College and Concho Cheyenne and Arapaho hosted 60th National Land and Range Judging Contest (post event)
Russell Pierson, 99, Continues to serve National Land & Range Judging Contest
Missouri Levee Break Highlights Need for Flood Control Dams
Soil Management After Termination of a Drought-Stressed Wheat Crop
Stewardship Week 2011
Deer Creek Elementary's Grove Valley Outdoor Classroom
National Land & Range Contest 2011 Will Bring U. S. Teens to Oklahoma (pre-event announcement)
Oklahoma Farmers Royalty and OACD to Partner on State Conservation Youth Awards
Tulsa Business Journal Honors Blue Thumb Program with Blue/Green Award
Oklahoma is a National Leader in Documented Water Quality Success Stories
No dust storms? Thank an agriculture producer By Clay Pope, executive director of the Oklahoma Association of Conservation Districts
12th National Watershed Conference — "From Local to Landscape: A Watershed Based Approach" (pre-event announcement)
Conservation Day at the Capitol - post-event summary of events and award presentations
Conservation Day at the Capitol 2011- Announcement and schedule of activities
The Conservation Partnership — Pulling Together - OACD 2011 Annual State Meeting post meeting news wrap up
The Conservation Partnership — Pulling Together - tentative agenda
Texas County Conservation District 2010 Outstanding Cooperators
NRCS Listening Session 2011
Conservation Districts Featured in the News!
Oklahoma’s 2010 Water Quality Success Stories
No-Till Oklahoma 2011 Conference
Stream Teams on the Job!
Garfield County Conservation District, OSU Extension Service to Host 6th Conservation Tillage Conference
Pittsburg County Legislators Tour District Sites
Oklahoma-Grown Seedlings Available Online
2010
Deer Creek Conservation District Open House
Max Dominick, A Legend in Conservation
Deer Creek CD Holds Groundbreaking for Cobb Creek Site 1
USFW Provides Grass Drill to Dewey County Conservation District
Little River Conservation District Receives McCurtain County 4-H Partnership Award
Sammy Soil at Ben Franklin Science Academy
“Navigating Through Troubled Waters” OACD 2010 Area Meetings
Blue Thumb Volunteer Conference
Blue Thumb Receives Golden Paddle Award
Oklahoma Leads the Region in Nonpoint Water Quality Success Stories
Oklahoma ECOPass
Progressive Farmer features Conservation
Field Notes features Conservation Kerr Center newsletter
Blue Thumb Grants to Conservation Districts
Blue Thumb 2010 Volunteer Conference
NALMS 30th International Symposium
OCC Full Staff Meeting, Oxley Nature Center
Commissioners of Land Office Annual Fall Lease Auction
Rogers County Conservation District Helps Make Bellringer DVDs
Monarch Migration Celebration 2010
Conservation District Directors named as "Master Agronomists"
Adair County Conservation District Watershed Rehabilitation Among Top 100 Recovery Projects
The True Cost of Unrestrained Development — Cottonwood Creek Sites 15 & 54
Oklahoma ECOPass
Brookhaven Creek Rehabilitation Project
Lt. Gov. Jari Akins Keynotes Women in Ag at Muskogee
Building a Rain Garden at Remington Elementary Channel 8 print story, Channel 6 print story Channel 8's video page, select the "Day of Caring" video.
Oklahoma AML Program Wins Reclamation Award from Office of Surface Mining
No-Till Wheat Flour Mill Open House
Hughes County Conservation District Cedar, Brush & Weed Control Workshop
Oklahoma Women in Agriculture and Small Business Conference set for Oct. 14-15
Osage Nation Watershed Forum
Cedar Hollow Blue Thumb Fish Collection
New Conservation Program Popular with Oklahoma Landowners
Water Research Projects of Interest to Conservation Efforts
Cooperative Conservation Partnership Initiative Will Help Repair Storm Damage in Southwest Oklahoma
A Brick Wall Ahead: The FY2011-2012 Outlook, A Message from Mike Thralls, Executive Director
Doris Anderson Retires from Payne County Conservation District
Reva Maddox Retires from East Woods County Conservation District
Jim Grego Appointed as Area V Conservation Commissioner
Oklahoma Carbon Program Approves First Aggregator
NACD Regional Auxiliary Adopts Youth Only Photo Contest
Lt. Gov. Jari Askins to Keynote Women in Ag in Muskogee, Sept. 14, 2010
Conservation Commission Partners to Assess High Hazard Dams
Portrait of a Steward of the Soil
OCC and OWRB Collaborate on Dam Breach Inundation Study
Carbon Sequestration Training for Senior Verifiers
Okie One-Call Now to Include Watershed Flood Control Dams
Virginia Kidd Retires as Area V Commissioner
OK Horizon Features Turkey Creek Dam No. 3 Dedication
Caddo County Commissioners Lunch 2010
High Plains Range Conference
OCC Budget and Allocation Committee 2010
Billy B at Rogers Conservation Education Reserve for 18th Year
Pontotoc Ridge Prescribed Burn Association
U.S. Deputy Sec. of Ag visits Oklahoma
Leon Russell retires from Hughes County Conservation District after 30 years
Oklahoma Today features Conservation and Conservationists
Conservation Commission Commended at Quality Oklahoma Team Day 2010
Mine Reclamation Work Fills Voids in Oklahoma
OCC and Water Quality by Clay Pope, OACD Executive Director
El Reno hosted 59th National Land and Range Judging Contest (post-event)
Oklahoma County CD Director testifies before Congress
ScienceFest 2010
Green Roof Project Open House
National Land & Range Contest Brings U. S. Teens to Oklahoma (pre-event)
Stewardship Week 2010 Proclamation
Earth Day 2010 — CSP Rewards Good Stewards
Stewardship Week 2010 - Lt. Gov. Jari Askins television and radio PSAs
NRCS Chief Dave White Helps Dedicate Turkey Creek Dam No. 3
NRCS Chief Visits Oklahoma
National Weather Center Green Roof Project
Oklahoma State Envirothon 2010
Service Award: Mike Thralls, 15 Years
Service Award: Marti Mefford, 10 Years
Commissioner Gard Attends Ag Day 2010
EPA Ranks Oklahoma in Top Five for Improving Water Quality
GIS Day at the Capitol
Murray County CD Honors Jack Penner
Employee of the Quarter: Wes Shockley
Oklahoma Carbon Program Accepting Applications
Conservation Day at the Capitol 2010
OACD State Meeting 2010 “The Best Hard Time”
Oklahoma Horizon television program on Feb. 7 featured three stories on conservation. The stories are available for viewing online at the links below, along with a "Value Added" feature on Frank Austin, former board member at Central North Canadian River Conservation District. A fifth story, It's Your Government — Oklahoma Conservation Commission, was featured on OETA's Oklahoma News Report on Jan. 26
Farmers upstream of Oklahoma's Capitol are pitching in to implement conservation practices that would improve the water quality in Oklahoma City.
Clay Pope, executive director of the Oklahoma Association of Conservation Districts, about what conservation practices are being done on the farm.
Beyond their aesthetic beauty, trees play a critical role in our environment...cleaning the air and preventing erosion and many of these trees got their start from a small plot of land in Goldsby, Oklahoma.
Oklahoma's Frank Austin has spent years studying the land and building conservation programs for it which is helping to turn Oklahoma land into something beautiful, but more importantly, useable.
OETA Television: It's Your Government — Oklahoma Conservation Commission To view the program online, click on this link: http://www.oeta.tv/programs/ondemand.html?list=onr, then select the ONR 1-26-10 episode. The segment begins at about the 23 minute location within the 30-minute program.
Service Award: Lynn Weldon, 15 Years
OCC Cooperates to use ARRA Funds for Three Water Quality Projects
ARRA - American Recovery and Reinvestment Act of 2009
Record funding for conservation and flood control in spite of budget cuts
A Brief History of the Conservation Commission and Conservation Districts
2009
Conservation Commission and Department of Transportation Collaborate on Project to Support U.S. Highway 270 Dec. 21
Record Funding for State Conservation Cost-Share Program Dec. 18
Cotton County Conservation District Burns Mortgage Dec. 18
Sugar Creek L-43 Rehabilitation Groundbreaking Dec. 11
Mountain View and Kiowa County Conservation District Consolidate Dec. 9
"The 'Best' Hard Time" - OACD Area Meetings 2009 - News summary following the meetings
"The 'Best' Hard Time" - OACD Area Meetings 2009 - Before meetings announcement with agenda, schedule, locations and links to photos available after the meetings.
Oklahoma lawmakers eye threat from cedars Story in the Daily Oklahoman Oct. 28
Water Quality Success Story on Ron Hays' Oklahoma Farm Report Oct. 28
Control of Eastern red cedar in Oklahoma urged Associated Press story in the Tulsa World Oct. 27
$16Million in Stimulus Funds for Oklahoma Dams KWTV Channel 9 video Oct. 26
Double Creek Celebration featured on Oklahoma Horizon Silent Sentinels Protecting Oklahomans video Oct. 25
U.S Fish & Wildlife Service and Oklahoma Conservation Commission’s successful Prescribed Burn Program expanding Oct. 23
Water Festival Held at Grove Valley Elementary Oct. 13
OETA-TV News Report on the Locally Led Cost Share Program. You can view the clip by going to http://news.oeta.tv and clicking on the "Archives" tab. In the "Oklahoma News Report Video" index window, scroll down to the 10.12.09 ONR report. The Cost-Share feature is at the 4:45 minute mark of the newscast. Oct. 12
Noble County Conservation District Sponsors Outdoor Classroom at CCC Lake Sept. 30
Henry Bellmon —Farmer, Statesman, Conservationist Sept. 29
Oklahoma County Conservation District Sponsors Sunset Elementary Natural Resource Day Sept. 29
Grove Students Tour Demonstration Farm Sept. 29
Wildlife Expo 2009 Sept. 27
Groundbreaking held for Sallisaw Creek Watershed Dam 18M Sept. 24
National Watershed Coalition O&M Video News Release Scroll down list and select "USDA Helps Maintain Watershed Dam Safety."
Oklahoma Hosts Advanced O&M Workshop Sept.17
Turkey Creek No. 3: Groundbreaking for New Dam Sept. 9
REVOLUTION: Oklahoma Wind Energy Conference September (announcement)
USDA Rural Tour Listening Session Sept. 16
Double Creek Celebration Marked First Completed Rehab Project September (Post-event)
Double Creek Celebration to be Held September (Pre-event)
CREP Plan Writers Achieve Level II Certification August
Rogers County's Dog Creek Watershed Festival August
Blue Thumb Featured On Tulsa World Website August
Lake Thunderbird Watershed Implementation Project
Project Webfoot Workshop
Stimulus funds to help dams, streambanks and fight invasive species
Conservation Bond, Contributions Agreement, Budget Outlook July
Blue Thumb Environmental Education Workshops June
Robert Gibbs, Rogers County Conservation District employee, featured on the Outdoor Oklahoma June
Spring Natural Resource Events for Youths June
Cross Timbers Prescribed Burn Association June
Summer Fire Field Day June
Greg Kloxin Named Water Quality Assistant Director June
Carl Lucero Meets with OCC and OACD on Carbon June
OACD and OACD Auxiliary Scholarships June
Chickasaw Nation Presents U.S. Department of Interior Awards to OCC June 1
Outstanding Teacher Awards Presented Locally in Five Congressional Districts May
National Land and Range Judging Contest 2009 May 8
Conservation Education Initiative story in the Oklahoma Gazette features Karla Beaty, OCC education coordinator May
National Land and Range Judging Contest featured on Ron Hays' Oklahoma Farm Report
Governor Signs Conservation Bond Legislation April 28
Lt. Gov. Jari Askins Stewardship Week PSA 2009 April 16
Stewardship Week - Dig It! The Secrets of Soil Along with resources for conservation districts: A sample news release and a printable proclamation. April 17
Stewardship Week 2009 Audio Public Service Announcements from Oklahoma Lieutenant Governor Jari Askins April 17
Stewardship Week 2009 — Printable Poster April 17
Blue Thumb Exceeds 100 Stream Monitoring Sites April 23
More Water Quality Success Stories April 17
EPA 2008 Report Features OCC Water Quality Successes April 14
Recovery funding coming to state for new dams and wildlife habitat April 16
House Passes Conservation Bond Legislation April 9
Conservation Leaders Applaud U.S. Sec. of Ag Stimulus Announcement for Oklahoma Flood Control Dams April 6
2008 Farm Bill Information Meetings Scheduled March 31
State Conservation Leaders Discuss Stimulus Funding for Oklahoma Conservation Infrastructure Press conference during Conservation Day at the Capitol, March 25
Conservation Day at the Capitol March 25, 2009 Post-event roundup
Conservation Day at the Capitol March 25, 2009 (Event announcement)
We Can Do It! A Message from Mike Thralls, Conservation Commission Executive Director
Conservation Commission Disappointed, but Hopeful on Bond Issue February 27
Eastern Redcedar Releasing Pollen February 26
OACD State Meeting 2009, A roundup of news from the OACD 2009 State Meeting February 24
Conservation Hall of Fame District Director: Wayne Spies February 24
Conservation Hall of Fame Friend of Conservation: James E. Covey February 24
OACD President's Award: Samuel Roberts Noble Foundation and Wadell Altom February 24
Comanche County Conservation District wins pickup truck donated by Chesapeake Energy February 24
OACD Annual State Meeting 2009 Announcement and agenda, February 13
Julie Gordon, District Employee, to Compete in Pro Am Archery Competition
Small Watershed Upstream Flood Control Dams by County
Cleora Outdoor Classroom
Mason Mungle Named Water Pioneer
Making Sense of Oklahoma’s Climate
2008
November
OACD Area Meetings 2008
September
OCC Full Staff Meeting, September 24, 2008, Billings
Deer Creek Conservation District, 2008 Outstanding Conservation District Hosts Conservation Commission, Rep. James Covey Commended
Radio Public Service Announcements
August
Central North Canadian River Conservation District Hosts “Groundbreaking” Carbon Event
OACDE and OCC Provide CPR and First Aid Training to Conservation District Employees
Conservation Commission Initiates Carbon Program in State
Poultry Litter Transfer Incentive - New Program Begins
Grazingland Strategies Workshop- Dewey County Conservation District
July
Successful Eucha/Spavinaw Water Quality Improvement Projects Extended
No Dust Bowl By Terry Peach, Oklahoma Secretary of Agriculture
Governor Henry and Sec. of Ag Peach Visit Cimarron County
June
Conservation Reserve Enhancement Program
Conservation District Act Revised - Part Two
Gov. Signs Bill for Conservation Repairs
May
Dam Deal: Flood-control spending worthwhile
Conservation District Act Revised!
Near Breach on Kadashan Bottom Dam No. 2
2008 Land Judging Contest Goes On Despite Rain
Poultry Litter Transport Incentive Program Closes
Employee Recognition Week
April
Governor Proclaims Soil and Water Stewardship Week 2008
Soil & Water Stewardship Week 2008 Public Service Announcements
March
Muskogee County Conservation District Receives Land Donation for Nature Sanctuary
Conservation Day at the Capitol 2008 (Post-event)
Conservation Day at the Capitol 2008 (Pre-event announcement)
14th Annual GIS Day at the Capitol Biggest Yet
Gov. Henry Proclaims March 9-15, 2008, as Conservation District Week in Oklahoma
February
OACD State Meeting 2008: Conservation College - Accolades for New Location
Governor Brad Henry's Budget Proposes $30 Million Bond Issue to Address Flood Damage
January
Conservation Commission Presents House Performance Review
No-Till Oklahoma 2008 Conference
New Location for the 2008 OACD State Meeting! Agenda, Registration and Exhibitor Info
2007
December
North Carolina Publication Spotlights OCC Water Quality Success
NACD President Olin Sims Dies in Ranch Accident
November
Centenarian, Former Conservationist Joins Stars in Celebrating Statehood
Make Money Using Your Land to Fight Climate Change
Implications of Climate Change for Oklahoma
The OACD Area Meetings 2007
October
Gary Mast at the Governor's Water Conference
Conservation Reserve Enhancement Program - First Contract Signing
Conservation Districts Host Tours for Legislators
State Legislators Tour Caddo County Flood Damage
September
Caney Valley Conservation District Discusses Flood Control with Legislators
Sequoyah Conservation District Hosts Legislative Tour
Conservation Programs Division Hosts Conservation Commission Staff Meeting
Outstanding Conservation District Hosts Conservation Commission
August
Sugar Creek L-44: Dam Danger Averted
Open Meeting/Open Records Act Workshops
Mike Kastl Honored at U.S.Capitol
July
OACD Hosted NACD South Central Meeting
Garfield County CD Returns Legal Fees to OCC
Mike Rooker Appointed to the Conservation Commission
Record Rainfall Proves Flood Control Dams’ Worth,
June
Aging Dams
Rick Jeans, Area II Conservation Commissioner, Honored
Oklahoma's Water Plan
May
OCC Joins Prescribed Burn Council
Oklahoma Conservation Commission unveils new logo
Older
Section 319 Nonpoint Source Success Stories: Oklahoma Leading the Nation in Conservation:
1. Beaty Creek: BMPs Result in Significant Reduction of Bacteria and Phosphorus Loading
2. Lake Creek: Improvement of Surface and Ground Water Quality
3. Sandy and Yellowstone Creeks: Education and Demonstration Efforts Result in Turbidity Improvements
Oklahoma Conservation Commission unveils new logo
Dams Save Oklahoma $33 Million in Flood Damage
Lake Eucha & Spavinaw Creek Demonstration Farm Tour
2007 Land Judging Contest Winners Honored (May 2007)
Gov. Brad Henry Proclaims April 29- May 5 as Soil & Water Stewardship Week in Oklahoma
Lt. Gov. Jari Askins records three Public Service Announcements for Soil & Water Conservation Week in Oklahoma April 2007)
Oklahoma Governor and U.S. Deputy Sec. of Agriculture Sign Conservation Reserve Enhance Program (CREP) Agreement (April 23, 2007)
Oklahoma State Envirothon April 2007
Garfield County CD & OACD say “thanks!” to event host (April 2, 2007)
Oklahoma Association of Conservation Districts Hosted “Conservation Day at the Capitol” (March 19, 2007)
Oklahoma Conservation Hall of Fame and President's Award February (2007)
This Week in Conservation History
Oklahoma Association of Conservation Districts Sponsors "Conservation Day at the Capitol" (March 19, 2007)
Oklahoma Celebrates GIS Day at the Capitol (March 14, 2007)
Governor Proclaims March 11-17 as Conservation District Week
OACD State Meeting 2007: 70 Years and Still Going!(February 25-27, 2007)
The Conservation Commission's Awards and Recognition Committee has begun planning events and activities for 2007.
Conservation Construction Dollars at Record High (December 2006)
Blue Thumb Volunteers Armed With Data (December 2006)
OACD Conservation Awards 2007
2006
Garfield County CD, Dept. of Wildlife Conservation & Groendyke Lodge Host Legislative Shootout (December 2006)
Coalition for Conservation(November 2006)
Area Meetings 2006 Highlights
Darrel Temple Commended for 30 Years of Watershed Flood Control Research at USDA-ARS
Rogers County Conservation District Honored
Governor Brad Henry and the Conservation Commission Commend Darrel Dominick
Governor Henry and Oklahoma Conservation Commission Commend the Poteau River Watershed CSP Team
Area Meetings 2006, Photos and Sample News Releases:
Area I
Area II
Area III
Area IV
Area V
Dear Conservation Friends
Farm Bill Hearing
Oklahoma Sweeps Awards at National AML Conference
Carolyn Tucker retires after 35 years of Service to North Caddo Conservation District
Cimarron County Conservation District cosponsors Brush Management Workshop
New Area I Commissioner
Cooperative Conservation Listening Session
Kay County Legislators
Oklahoma Conservationists Outraged at USDA Decision Aug. 16
Oklahoma Team Competes at Canon Envirothon in Canada Aug. 10, 2006
Conservation Districts and County Commissioners Collaborate on Versatile Equipment Aug. 10, 2006
Upper Red Rock Dam Construction Almost Complete Aug. 10, 2006
Governor Brad Henry's Public Service Announcement about the Dust Bowl and the work of the Conservation Partnership April 2006
Another Significant Milestone for Conservation District Employees
Legislative Review 2006 by OCC Executive Director Mike Thralls, July 2006
Area I Commissioner Completes Term, J.T. Winters Jr., June 2006
Eastern Oklahoma Landowners Rewarded for Good Conservation June 6, 2006
OACD 2011 State Meeting Presentations
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