WETLANDS RESERVE PROGRAM CALL FOR APPLICATIONS

Funding is Available for Wetlands Conservation on Private Agricultural Land

The U.S. Department of Agriculture’s Natural Resources Conservation is soliciting applications from landowners interested in restoring or enhancing wetlands on private agricultural land in Louisiana through the Wetlands Reserve Program (WRP).

The Wetlands Reserve Program provides financial incentives to landowners to restore their land to its natural wetland condition with an emphasis on enhancing wildlife habitats and environmental benefits.

Landowners have several options for enrollment in WRP. Options include restoration cost-share agreements, 30-year conservation easements, and permanent conservation easements—all designed to help landowners achieve personal land use goals.

The Wetlands Reserve Program is a national program authorized by the Farm Bill to assist eligible landowners restore, create, protect, and enhance wetlands on their property. Participation in this program is voluntary, and restoration is accomplished in an environmentally safe, cost-effective manner. Eligible lands are generally limited to existing pastureland or cropland with a predominance of wetland soils. Incidental acres of other lands (woodland) are considered when they are within pastureland or cropland applications.

Easement payments are based on the lowest of either the fair market value of the land using an appraisal or area-wide analysis, the Geographic Area Rate Cap, or an offer made by the landowner. The current Geographic Area Rate Cap for Caldwell, Jackson and Winn Parish is $1300 per acre.

Interested landowners are encouraged to contact the Dugdemona SWCD office at 318-628-4438, or the Natchitoches NRCS Field Office at 318-357-8366, ext 3, or the Ruston NRCS Field Office at 318-255-3136, ext 3, or the Columbia NRCS Field Office at 318-649-2651, ext 3 or stop by the Dugdemona SWCD office at 301 West Main Street, Suite 210, Winnfield, LA

Program information is also available online at: http://www.la.nrcs.usda.gov/

USDA Natural Resources Conservation Service is an equal opportunity provider and employer.

New Office Hours

Louisiana’s SWCD’s are struggling financially. The Dugdemona SWCD is no exception. Drastic cuts have been made in every area of our operations. Due to the financial hardships we face and the continued cuts from State of Louisiana we have no choice but to temporarily close the Dugdemona SWCD office and to reduce the hours of operation.

Our office will be closed temporarily and will re-open Tuesday, December 1, 2009. Our new Office Hours are Monday- Wednesday 9 a.m. – 5 p.m.

We apologize for any inconvenience this may cause. Please feel free to contact your Louisiana Legislators and let them know how important it is to have our Local Soil & Water Conservation Districts fully operational in the local community. To caontact your Legislators please see the information below.

If we are unavailable and you need immediate conservation assistance in Winn Parish please call 357-8366 Ext 3; in Jackson Parish please call 255-3136 Ext 3. ; in Caldwell Parish 318-649-2651 Ext 3, or you may call 628-4438 and leave a message we will return you call as soon as possible.

Sincerely,
Dugdemona SWCD

Representative Noble Ellington
Parishes RepresentedCaldwell, Catahoula, Franklin, and Tensas
Contact Representative Ellington at
4272 Front StreetWinnsboro, LA 71295

Phone: (318)435-7313 Fax: (318)435-2994
Email: ellingtn@legis.state.la.us

Representative Billy Chandler
Parishes RepresentedGrant, LaSalle, Rapides, and Winn
Contact Representative Chandler at
P.O. Box 100711

Hwy. 167 Dry Prong, LA 71423

Phone: (318)899-1193 Fax: (318)899-1213
Email: larep022@legis.state.la.us

Representative Jim Fannin
Parishes Represented
Bienville, Jackson, Ouachita and Winn
Contact Representative Fannin at
320 6th StreetJonesboro, LA 71251
Phone: (318)259-6620 Fax: (318)259-6645
Email: larep013@legis.state.la.us

Senator Gerald Long
Capitol Office

P.O. Box 94183 Baton Rouge, LA 70804

Phone: (225) 342-2040

E-mail: longg@legis.state.la.us

District Office

P.O. Box 151 Winnfield, LA 71483

Phone: (318) 628-5799 Fax: (318)628-6120


Senator Neil Riser

Capitol Office

P.O. Box 94183 Baton Rouge, LA 70804

Phone: (225) 342-2040
E-mail : risern@legis.state.la.us

District Office P.O. Box 117 Columbia, LA 71418

Phone: (318) 649-0977 FAX: (318) 649-0979

Senator Bob Kostelka

Capitol Office

P.O. Box 94183 Baton Rouge, LA 70804

Phone: (225) 342-2040

E-mail: kostelka@legis.state.la.usDistrict

Post Office Box 2122

1818 Avenue of America

Monroe, LA 71207

Phone: (800) 508-5572

Locally Led Conservation Meeting

Local Community To Make Local Conservation decisions

Resting in the hands of our local community members is the future of our valuable natural resources and the decisions that are made to conserve, enhance and sustain the integrity of soil, water and air quality in the Dugdemona Soil & Water Conservation District and throughout Louisiana. Conservation of our resources can not be achieved by one group, government agency or the individual – it takes cooperative conservation.

Cooperative conservation starts first with the active involvement of the individual community member who helps to identify the resource needs of the community. Community involvement helps the Dugdemona Soil and Water Conservation District (SWCD) and the USDA’s Natural Resources Conservation Service (NRCS) assess and prioritize resource concerns on a community level. Local natural resource priorities help direct technical and financial assistance decisions that NRCS and SWCD make throughout the year.

Locally led conservation efforts are successful with the help from our residents. Please, become involved in locally led conservation. A Locally Led Conservation Meeting will be held on Wednesday November 18, 2009 at the Allen Building located at 104 West Main Street, beginning at 1:00 p.m., to identify resource concerns for the Dugdemona SWCD. The Dugdemona SWCD covers all of Jackson and Winn parishes and the portion of Caldwell west of the Ouachita River. Your involvement is significantly important to the locally led conservation process and all partners involved in conservation. At the Locally Led Conservation Meeting you will be able to voice concerns, provide comments and help to identify conservation issues. Save the date, and help our community make sound conservation decisions – become an active part of locally led conservation and cooperative conservation efforts.

For more information on the Locally Led Conservation Meeting, contact the Dugdemona SWCD at (318) 628-4438 or Natchitoches NRCS field office today at (318) 357-8366 Ext 3, the Ruston NRCS Field Office at (318) 255-3136 Ext 3 or the Columbia NRCS Field Office at (318) 649- 2651 Ext 3. Or visit the Dugdemona SWCD's website at http://dugdemonaswcd.shutterfly.com/

Conservation Posters are due Next Week

Don't Forget all conservation posters themed "Dig It! The Secrets of Soil" should be submitted to the Dugdemona Soil and Water Conservation District by

Friday, October 30, 2009.

Conservation Poster Contest

For over fifty years, a national network of conservation districts has helped Americans learn to conserve natural resources. This year, join the Dugdemona Soil and Water Conservation District and America’s conservation districts as they participate in the 19th Annual Conservation Poster Contest. The Conservation Poster Contest takes during the month of October of 2009, with the theme “Dig It! The Secrets of Soil.” The Dugdemona Soil and Water Conservation District contest will join the Louisiana Association of Conservation Districts Auxiliary and the National Association of Conservation Districts by locally sponsoring a Soil and Water Conservation Poster Contest.

The annual National Conservation Poster Contest provides kindergarten through twelfth grade students with an opportunity to share their thoughts about soil, water and related natural resource issues. This year’s theme focuses on soil. There is much to learn about soil. Almost all of the minerals and nutrients we need for life, to nurture us, to help us grow, to give us energy and keep us healthy come from fields, gardens, trees and pastures. Every plant, vegetable, or fruit that we eat gets its nutrients from the soil in which it grows. How much soil do we have on earth to depend on for the world's food supply? Look at the entire earth – 75% of the earth is covered with water in our oceans, lakes, rivers and streams. What is left represents land which is about 25%. Over half of that land is desert, polar or mountainous regions where it is too hot, too cold or too high to be productive. That leaves us with 12.5% which includes land that is limited by terrain, fertility or too much rainfall. It could be too rocky, steep, shallow or to wet to sustain food production. It leaves us with a very small fragment of the land area about 10% which represents the soil everyone depends on for the entire world's food supply. This small amount competes with all other soil needs such as, housing, cities, schools, hospitals, shopping centers, landfills and more. Soil is a precious natural resource.

The Dugdemona Soil and Water Conservation District wants to help people in our community to learn how important it is to help conserve all our natural resources and how easy it can be.

The contest will have five categories: K-1, 2-3, 4-6, 7-9, and 10-12. Local judging will occur during the first of November, so it is important that entries are received no later than Friday, October 30, 2009. The Dugdemona Soil and Water Conservation District will award the following prizes in each category: 1st Place- $50.00, 2nd Place - $25.00, and 3rd Place 15.00.

The first place district winner in each category will be entered in the state competition. In the state competition first place winners in each category will be awarded with cash prizes of $100.00 and second place winners will receive a $75.00. The first place winners in the state contest will be sent to the national poster competition, where First place winners receive $100 and second place winners receive $75.

Any media may be used to create a flat or two-dimensional effect (paint, crayon, colored pencil, charcoal, paper or other materials). Poster size must be between 8.5" x 11" and 22" x 28". All posters must have a completed entry form attached to the back of the poster. The entry forms should be glued or taped to the back. Posters should be packaged so they remain flat when sent to the local soil and water conservation district for judging.

For information about the conservation poster contest and conservation, contact the Dugdemona Soil and Water Conservation District office by calling (318) 628-4438 or 628-2352 or visit the office at 301 West Main Street, Suite 210 in Winnfield. Please be sure to visit our Conservation Poster & Essay Contest website at http://dugdemonaswcd.shutterfly.com/ for entry forms, contest rules and other information concerning our 2009 contests.

Join the Dugdemona Soil and Water Conservation District as we celebrate conservation by participating in the Conservation Essay Contest, with the theme “Dig It! Secrets of Soil.” The contest will have two categories: 8th Grade and 9th Grade. The winners will be awarded with cash prizes of: $100.00, $50.00, and $25.00. This year we will reward the teacher whose student wins first place, by giving them a cash award of $100.00.
Essays are due by 5:00 p.m. Friday, December 18, 2009

The Essay must be the original work of the student. Teacher counseling is permitted. No more than 20% may be direct copy from other sources and directly quoted material must be credited to the author. Paraphrasing is permitted. Resource conservation material may be obtained from the Soil and Water Conservation District in your parish, or any other sources with material pertaining to this year’s theme. The essay must be typed and double-spaced and will consist of a minimum of 300 words and a maximum of 500 words. Each essay will be on the basis of 50% for content, 35%for composition, and 15% for spelling, grammar, punctuation, and neatness. Then information should be factually correct and should depict the theme.

This year’s theme, “Dig It! The Secrets of Soil” focuses on soil. There is much to learn about soil. Almost all of the minerals and nutrients we need for life, to nurture us, to help us grow, to give us energy and keep us healthy come from fields, gardens, trees and pastures. Every plant, vegetable, or fruit that we eat gets its nutrients from the soil in which it grows. How much soil do we have on earth to depend on for the world's food supply? Look at the entire earth – 75% of the earth is covered with water in our oceans, lakes, rivers and streams. What is left represents land which is about 25%. Over half of that land is desert, polar or mountainous regions where it is too hot, too cold or too high to be productive. That leaves us with 12.5% which includes land that is limited by terrain, fertility or too much rainfall. It could be too rocky, steep, shallow or to wet to sustain food production. It leaves us with a very small fragment of the land area about 10% which represents the soil everyone depends on for the entire world's food supply. This small amount competes with all other soil needs such as, housing, cities, schools, hospitals, shopping centers, landfills and more. Soil is a precious natural resource.

The Dugdemona Soil and Water Conservation District wants to help people in our community to learn how important it is to help conserve all our natural resources and how easy it can be. For information about the conservation essay contest and conservation, contact the Dugdemona Soil and Water Conservation District office by calling (318) 628-4438 or visit the office at 301 West Main Street, Suite 210, Winnfield, Louisiana 71483 (We are located in Room 210 above the Winn Parish Health Unit.)

For information about the conservation essay contest contact the Dugdemona Soil and Water Conservation District office by calling (318) 628-4438 or 628-2352 or visit the office at 301 West Main Street, Suite 210 in Winnfield.

Please visit our Conservation Poster & Essay Contest website at http://dugdemonaswcd.shutterfly.com/ for entry forms, contest rules and other information concerning our 2009 contests. We are looking forward to working with our schools in Caldwell, Jackson and Winn Parish and receiving our student’s entries for this poster contest and other projects we have planned for this school year.

Recovery Act Funding In Louisiana

Recovery Act Funding In Louisiana

$4,470,00 Million from Recovery Act for Rehabilitating of Two Louisiana Watersheds
Agriculture Secretary Tom Vilsack announced on April 16, 2009, that the USDA will be sending $4,470,000 to Louisiana state and local governments to improve water quality, increase water supply, decrease soil erosion, and improve fish and wildlife habitat in rural communities as part of the American Recovery and Reinvestment Act (ARRA) of 2009. Major benefits include improved community safety and health, flood mitigation, sediment control, and enhanced fish and wildlife habitat.

ARRA funds will be used in Red Bayou and Bayou Duralde-Lower Nezpique Watersheds in Louisiana to develop conservation measures such as planting vegetative cover and creating shallow water ponds to improve wildlife habitat, improving irrigation efficiency and conserving water, installing filter strips and soil erosion control practices, and enhancing stream corridor and floodplain function.NRCS has worked closely with sponsors to identify projects that are ready for immediate implementation. Projects to be funded are the Red Bayou and Bayou Duralde-Lower Nezpique Watersheds. NRCS Louisiana State Conservationist Kevin Norton said “Louisiana’s Red Bayou project funding will reduce soil erosion and sedimentation; improve water quality in Red Bayou and its tributaries; improve fish and wildlife habitat, and increase efficiency of existing irrigation systems. The project will lead to a reduction of 6,200 tons per year of sediment delivered to water supplies.”

“Funding for the Bayou Duralde-Lower Nezpique Project will treat 33,300 acres of critically eroding cropland by installing 1,451 grade stabilization structures, 60 filter strips, 32 miles of irrigation pipeline, and 21,250 acres of irrigation land leveling in the three parishes of the watershed,” said Norton. “Nearly 45,450 tons of soil will be saved from offsite deposition which will improve water quality for 135 miles of drainage canals and 200 acres of lakes, 36,600 acre/feet of water will be saved annually which equates to a 19% reduction in the demand for groundwater, Improved wildlife habitat on 14,800 acres of bottomland hardwoods, and 15,000 acres will receive 54% less soil deposition and retain its function and values for a longer time period.”

Master Farmer Phase 2 Training

Phase II:
Since its inception over seven years ago, 2300 agricultural producers have participated in the first environmental stewardship program offered through a cooperative conservation effort among Louisiana State University Ag Center, Farm Bureau Federation, Natural Resources Conservation Service (NRCS), Louisiana Cattlemen's Association, Soil & Water Conservation District's (SWCD) and the Louisiana Department of Agriculture and Forestry. This program was designed for producers, regardless of commodity, to learn about local and national environmental issues, such as Total Maximum Daily Loads and Nonpoint Source Pollution, and how they can address these issues on their own farms. This voluntary certification program consists of three phases:• Phase I: 8 hours of environmental lecture• Phase II: Touring a “model farm” where BMPs are installed• Phase III: Develop and implement a comprehensive conservation plan on farming operationPhase I trainings are held each spring and fall, through distance education. The training is taught from the Dean Lee Research Station in Alexandria and broadcast to several sites, including the Red River Research Station, Oak Grove, Scott Center in Winnsboro, and Crowley. Below is the summer and fall schedule for Master Farmer field days for 2009. Some of these are research station field days and NRCS tours or workshops and all of them fulfill the Phase II requirement for the program.

Please contact Donna Morgan, LSU AgCenter,
at 318-613-9278 with any questions.

2009 Louisiana Master Farmer Phase II Training Schedule
Date Site
June 16 - Stephen Logan Farm, Gilliam (row-crops)
June 17- Northeast Research Station Field Day, St. Joe (row-crops)
June 18 - Red River Research Station Field Day, Bossier (row-crops)
June 18 - Precision Ag Workshop, Donovan Taves Farm, Lake Providence (row-crops)
July 7 - Kent Lounsberry's Farm (Vermilion Parish Rice Tour), Lake Arthur (rice)
July 8 - Rougon-Jones-Rummler Farm, New Roads (sugarcane)
July 14 - Paul Hylan Farm (Pasture Walk), Athens (cattle/forages)
July 17 - Wiggers Farm, Winnsboro (row-crops)
July 22- Iberia-St.Mary-Vermillion Parish Sugarcane Tour
August 20 - Dean Lee Research Station Field Day, Alexandria (row-crops)
October 1 - Hill Farm Field Day, Homer (cattle/forages)
Fall (TBA)- Raymond Fontenot Farm, Abbeville (cattle)
Fall (TBA) - Cattle Field Day, Iberia Parish

Conservation Partnership Efforts

Conservation Partnership Efforts

Soil & Water Conservation Districts (SWCD) in Cooperation with the Natural Resource Conservation Service (NRCS)

NRCS Pumping Plant and Irrigation System Efficiency Evaluation Unit

NRCS unit collecting data

Throughout Louisiana farmers are utilizing pumping plants and irrigation systems, but do we know just how efficient these pumps are operating on the farm? Are they saving farmers energy, fuel and expense while at the same time operating at peak performance? With the cost of fuel and energy on the rise, testing the operational efficiency of pumping plants and irrigation systems will provide recommendations for energy conservation, reduced fuel consumption and more efficient production of irrigation water.The Natural Resources Conservation Service (NRCS), in partnership with Louisiana State University Ag-Center, is now offering a new tool to landowners, which is designed to help find ways to increase efficiency of irrigation systems. NRCS Pumping Plant and Irrigation System Efficiency Evaluation Unit is a mobile unit that can be driven on site to test irrigations systems, providing producers with data to help them achieve maximum overall efficiency for water production and energy conservation.
“Louisiana State University and NRCS are working in partnership together to better serve producers across Louisiana to conserve water and energy." said NRCS State Engineer Ed Giering.A flow meter is utilized to determine the amount of fuel consumption for diesel power plants, and the electric meter is read to determine to power consumption for electric power plants. A flow meter is utilized to gauge the amount discharge from the pumping plant. These measurements are used to evaluate energy input and output of the pumping plant to determine an overall efficiency. Knowing the efficiency of the pumping plant, information can be provided to the landowner that can assist them in improving their pumping efficiency, potentially saving energy and reducing the cost per unit of irrigation water pumped. Also knowing the actual pumping rate will allow the landowner to more effectively manage the application of the irrigation water.There are numerous benefits to using the Unit.

NRCS Pumping Plant and Irrigation System Efficiency Evaluation Unit
“First, by measuring flows, producers will be provided with data showing the amount of water the pump is producing," said Giering. "Secondly, landowners will know if and how efficiently their pump is operating and lastly the Unit can be used to determine how efficiently the pump power plant (natural gas engine, electric motor, or diesel engine) is operating." “NRCS will also provide recommendations to producers regarding the speed that they should operate their drivers to ensure efficient fuel consumption," said Giering.
In most cases, the producer will receive results from NRCS at the time of the site visit, as well as, learn about steps and measure that can be taken to improve operational performance. In the future, NRCS will be able to provide customers with a print-out of the efficiency evaluation that will include annual savings on site. The Unit is already being utilized in the state and has evaluated 12 wells and two bayou pumps Southwest Louisiana and 12 wells in Northeast Louisiana.“Conserving energy and water consumption is just a taste of what NRCS is doing throughout Louisiana to help people help the land,” said Giering. “This active mobile unit is a giant step in water and energy conservation on the farm.”NRCS is now taking applications from producer who would like to have their pumping plants evaluated. If you are interested in this service you should contact your local field office. Please visit NRCS on the web to locate a field office near you at: www.la.nrcs.usda.gov http://www.la.nrcs.usda.gov/.

Staff Contact: Ed Giering, State Conservation Engineer

Phone:(318) 473-7673 FAX: (318) 473-7750

NRCS Civil Engineer Brad Sticker collecting data
NRCS Technician Shannon Walters measuring volume of fuel
NRCS Civil Engineer Mike Kennedy collecting data on water flow and volume

Organic Initiative Offered Through the 2008 Farm Bill to Louisiana Farmers

Organic farming is one of the fastest growing segments in U.S. Agriculture. The Food, Conservation and Energy Act of 2008 (2008 Farm Bill) provides specific opportunities for organic producers and those transitioning to organic farming. Louisiana farmers who are transitioning to organic or who are currently certified organic can now apply to receive assistance under the Organic Initiative through the Environmental Quality Incentives Program (EQIP).

The USDA's Natural Resources Conservation Service (NRCS) administers EQIP and is now taking applications for the Organic Initiative. Under the Organic Initiative, approved applicants can receive up to $20,000 per year or $80,000 over six years.

A number of "core" organic conservation practices may be funded through the Organic Initiative, including cover crops, conservation crop rotation, prescribed grazing, pest management, nutrient management, and forage harvest management. All conservation practices offered under "general" EQIP are also available through the Organic Initiative, including but not limited to fence and watering facilities for rotational grazing, erosion control practices, irrigation management, field borders, etc.

EQIP is a voluntary conservation program reauthorized in the 2008 Farm Bill. It supports production agriculture and environmental quality as compatible goals. Through EQIP, eligible producers may receive financial and technical help with structural, vegetative, and management conservation practices on agricultural land and private non-industrial forestland.

Applications for EQIP are taken continuously throughout the year. However, to be considered for Fiscal Year 2009 funding under the Organic Initiative, producers need to have an application signed and returned to their local NRCS office by June 12, 2009. Applicants who are currently certified organic will need to include their organic system plan (OSP) reviewed by a USDA
accredited organic certifier when applying for financial assistance in the Organic Initiative under EQIP. Applicants who are transitioning to organic will need to submit a self-certification form to the NRCS acknowledging that agree to develop and implement conservation practices for certified organic production that are consistent with an organic system plan. The self-certification form may be obtained at time of application from any NRCS Service Center.

Some participants are eligible to receive a higher payment rate; those are limited resource farmers, beginning farmers, and socially disadvantaged groups. For more information, go to www.nrcs.usda.gov/programs/SLB_Farmer/. For more information in Jackson Parish visit the NRCS Ruston Field Office at 1803 Trade Drive in Ruston or contact us at (318) 255- 3136 extension 3. For more information in Winn Parish visit the NRCS Natchitoches Field Office at 6949 LA Hwy 1 Bypass in Natchitoches or contact us at (318) 357- 8366 extension 3. For more information in Caldwell Parish visit the NRCS Columbia Field Office at 7128 Hwy 165 South in Columbia or contact us at (318) 649-2651 extension 3.

You can also learn more about the NRCS and Farm Bill programs by visiting us on the Web at http://www.la.nrcs.usda.gov/ or by contacting the Dugdemona SWCD.

District Supervisor Elections

Dugdemona Soil & Water Conservation District Supervisor Election for 2009.
The Dugdemona SWCD serves Jackson, Winn, and Caldwell Parish west of the Ouachita River.







NOMINATING PERIOD
OPENS: APRIL 1, 2009
CLOSES: APRIL 30, 2009

For individuals interested in serving,
Nomination Petitions can be obtained at:
Dugdemona Soil and Water Conservation District
301 West Main Street, Suite 210
Winnfield, LA 71483

Petitions must be completed between April 1and April 30, 2009 and must be postmarked PRIOR to May 1, 2009. For more information please call: 318-628-4438 or
email us at dugdswcd@bellsouth.net


Election will be held on Saturday June 13, 200



The Dugdemona Soil & Water Conservation District encompasses all of Winn and Jackson Parishes and a portion of Caldwell Parish. Concerned and eligible landowners in Caldwell, Jackson and Winn parishes have an opportunity to help manage and conserve the natural resources in this area by serving on the Dugdemona Soil & Water Conservation District (SWCD) Board. If the issues and programs stated in this document interest you, please call Vikkie Lafollette at 628-4438.

I. Mission: To provide leadership, education, and technical assistance through conservation planning and programs to assist all land-users in solving the needs to conserve, sustain and improve the soil, water, and other natural resources in the

Vision: To be recognized as the community leader by establishing partnerships and coordination plans of action to achieve soil and water conservation.

II. Goals and Objectives:
· Establish soil and water conservation policy for the SWCD.
· Assess resource needs.
· Develop strategies to address these needs.
· Provide quality conservation education to Parish educators and school children.
· Provide land users with technical assistance.
· Develop programs to address local natural resource problems.
· Serve as a focal point for addressing local natural resource issues and coordinating various programs to help solve identified concerns.

III. Legal Authority:
Title 3, Section 1201-1219 of the Louisiana Revised Statutes defines a Soil & Water Conservation District as a governmental subdivision of the State of Louisiana, and a public body corporate and politic.

IV. Current Major Issues:
· Landowners needing technical assistance
· Surface Water Quality
· Coastal wetland loss
· Cropland erosion
· Invasive/Non-native plant species
· Urban storm water runoff
· Insufficient operating funds

V. Major Programs and Activities:
· Federal Farm Bill conservation programs
· CWA Section 319 agricultural cost-share program
· Conservation equipment rentals
· Tree seedling sales
· Approval of conservation plans
· Review of Parish planning proposals
· Conservation educational programs for Agricultural producer, school, and civic groups
· Publish SWCD newsletter
· Revise and publish annual business plan and annual report.
VI. Funding Sources:
· State government
· Local governments (Police Jury, Drainage Board)
· Local business and organization donations
· Competitive grants
· Federal grants, cooperative interagency agreements
· Tree sales and equipment rentals
· Educational workshops and seminars

VII. Expectations of SWCD Supervisors:
· Take advantage of SWCD supervisor training opportunities
· Attend board and conservation related meetings
· Participate in district programs and activities
· Serve on a LACD (Louisiana Assoc. of Conservation Districts) committee
· Be involved and responsible for SWCD program direction
· Promote soil and water conservation in the community
· Help manage SWCD staff
· Represent the SWCD in public
· Help secure financial resources
. Attend local, reional, state and national meetings

VIII. Benefits of being a SWCD Supervisor:
· Representing locals resource concerns
· Providing a voice and a service for the citizens within your SWCD
· Satisfaction of providing your time to improve the environment and sustaining local resources
· Being actively involved with assistance and educational programs
· Provide leadership in community resource conservation

Items To Consider Before Submitting a Nomination

1. Do you understand and are you committed to the mission of the District?
2. Can you devote the time, resources, and energy required of a SWCD board member?
3. Do you understand the roles and responsibilities of the District?
4. Are you willing to attend meetings regularly, making them a priority for the duration of your term?
5. Are you willing to participate in the necessary training, education, and development activities?
6. Will you actively serve on District and LACD Committees?

If you are unable to answer any of these questions, please contact the SWCD Chair at (318) 628-4438 for more information.

March 3, 2009 Water Festival

Water resources are vital to the health and well-being of our society…..even here in Louisiana, where water is often taken for granted. Water is a life sustaining non-renewable resource. As water quality and conservation issues continue to grow it is important that our children learn how they can contribute to its wise use and protection.

For this reason, this effort titled “Make a Splash with Project WET” was funded in part by the Caldwell, Jackson and Winn Parish Police Juries. The festival on beautiful Caney Lake consisted of structured learning stations and exhibits where students actively engaged in hands-on water activities and investigations. Student groups rotated from one activity station to the next where activities included topics such as the hydrologic cycle, ground water, watersheds, soils, water quality and the Sparta Aquifer.

On March 3, 2009 approximately 300 4th grade students and 47 educators from Caldwell, Jackson and Winn parish schools made the trip to Jimmie Davis State Park in Chatham, Louisiana to take part in an effort to raise an awareness of the need for water education and conservation. The objective of this annual event is to highlight the role of water in people’s everyday lives and to teach children of the science and history of water, one of our most essential natural resources.

The students who attended the festival came from schools within the Dugdemona Soil and Water Conservation District. Each teacher and student left the festival with a commemorative bag containing useful educational items including journals for the students to record their experiences and knowledge gained from each of the activities. All educators who attended this festival strongly agree that these Project WET activities expose children to the important subject of resource conservation in a way that both compliments and reinforces traditional classroom learning. That, in itself, is fun and exciting.

There is no question of the vast enjoyment the students receive from this type of activity participation, but most importantly the students gain critical knowledge of water and other natural resources and some basic components of resource conservation and management. With the goal of increasing conservation education and awareness in mind, we educated and trained over 60 high school students from Caldwell, LaSalle, Jackson and Winn parish schools prior to and during this event. Those students were presenters, presenter assistants and volunteers through the entire event.

This annual event would not be possible without the support, commitment and dedication from the generous collaboration of our sponsor, the conservation partnerships, volunteers and individuals in our community.

We would like to thank the Acadia, Bodcau, Boeuf River, Caddo, Calcasieu, LaSalle, Natchitoches, Northeast & Sabine Soil & Water Conservation Districts, the USDA Natural Resources Conservation Service (NRCS), the Louisiana Cooperative Extension Service, Trailblazer RC&D, the La. Dept of Environmental Quality, the La. Dept of Agriculture & Forestry, the US Forest Service, AmeriCorps, FFA and 4-H students, teachers, principals and School Boards from Caldwell, Jackson and Winn parishes, and the numerous volunteers.

We also thank the sponsors of the event. These sponsors are the Jackson Parish Police Jury, the Winn Parish Police Jury, the Caldwell Parish Police Jury, Caldwell Bank & Trust, Weyerhaeuser Company, Homeland Federal Savings Bank, Jackson Parish Farm Bureau, Bank of Winnfield and Jackson Parish State Bank. We know times are extremely difficult in the current economic climate, yet you have not waivered in your commitments to the conservation effort, words cannot fully express our gratitude; the water festival would not possible without your dedication to conservation. Together, we made a difference.

Please click on the links below to view pictures from this year’s festival.

http://www.photoshopshowcase.com/Go.aspx?AID=213630&AT=1&VID=689008&ABID=658630
And for part two go to:
http://www.photoshopshowcase.com/Go.aspx?AID=214202&AT=1&VID=689108&ABID=658630


The water festival is an annual event that takes place during each school year. The 2009-2010 water festival is expected to take place in October of 2009. If you would like to be a sponsor of this event or other conservation programs, you would like to volunteer or have any questions please contact Vikkie Lafollette at the Dugdemona Soil and Water Conservation District at (318) 628-4438 or dugdswcd@bellsouth.net.

Were you a presenter, volunteer, teacher, student or sponsor of this event? If so please fell free so make comments on this event or any other conservation issues. We would love to hear from you!

“Make a Splash with Project WET”

Water resources are vital to the health and well-being of our society…..even here in Louisiana, where water is often taken for granted. Water is a non renewable natural resource. This precious resource may become increasingly scarce as we place more demands on fresh water supplies. As water quality and conservation issues continue to grow it is important that our children learn how they can contribute to its wise use and protection.

For this reason the Dugdemona Soil and Water Conservation District Festival in partnership with the LSU Cooperative Extension Service for Winn Parish will conduct a water festival featuring interactive, hands-on learning activities related to surface and ground water, the water cycle, aquatic organisms, water’s chemical and physical properties, water distribution, natural springs, and more. The festival is designed for teachers and students of the fourth grade. Students will experience interactive exhibits that will encourage a stewardship ethic and a commitment of responsibility and community participation.

There are many conservation issues in Louisiana. Through Project WET we emphasize the importance of water, the non-renewable natural resource, water quality as well as quantity. We also address many other important issues such as reducing soil erosion, enhancing water supplies, improving water quality, increasing wildlife habitat, and reducing damages caused by floods and other natural disasters. There are many public benefits including enhanced natural resources that help sustain agricultural productivity and environmental quality while supporting continued economic development, recreation, and scenic beauty.

The “Make a Splash” water festival will be held at the Group Camp in Jimmie Davis State Park located at 1209 State Park Road, in Chatham, LA 71226 on Tuesday, March 3, 2009 from 9:00 am to 2:10 pm. Fourth grade teachers and students from Caldwell, Jackson and Winn parishes are invited to attend this event.

We are so happy to invite you to share this great experience. We sincerely hope you will become one of our “Partners in Conservation” by supporting this milestone event a volunteer or sponsoring. By working together, communities, businesses, and organizations such as ours, we ensure vital natural resource will continue to enrich our lives. Please contact us at your earliest convenience if you plan to be a sponsor or attend this event. For additional information please contact Vikkie Lafollette at (318) 628-4438 or 628-2352 or email us at dugdswcd@bellsouth.net .