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.”