Conservation Clip List is a weekly collection of articles distributed by NACD that provides our members and partners with the latest news in what's driving conservation. If you have a relevant submission, please contact your NACD Communications Team.

NACD Blog: Did You Know? Advocating for Conservation Before the County Board
By Jason Weinerman
01/02/2018

Did you know that Minnesota’s conservation districts are using new tools to work with their county boards to solicit more support, including additional funding, which will allow more conservation activities to be put on the ground?

ABC News: President declares disaster over deadly California wildfire
By The Associated Press
01/02/18

President Donald Trump on Tuesday declared a major disaster in California over a wildfire that destroyed more than 1,000 buildings as fierce winds whipped it through Ventura and Santa Barbara counties last month. The declaration makes federal funding available to state and local governments and some nonprofit organizations for emergency work in those counties and statewide for work to reduce hazards related to the fire.

Des Moines Register: Instead of new water quality effort, Iowa should fund existing law
By David Chivers, Carol Hunter, Lynn Hicks and Andie Dominick
01/03/18

(Opinion) Republican leaders are pushing Iowa House members to support a $27 million water quality bill the state Senate passed last session.

High Plains/Midwest Ag Journal: Conservation needs strong support in next farm bill
By Cameron Peirce
01/01/18

(Opinion) As Congress moves forward with writing the 2018 farm bill, legislators must not shortchange conservation—especially those working lands programs like CSP and EQIP. Strong support of conservation is a win-win for both farmers and all Americans.

Star Tribune: Test our water for nitrates? Minnesota county says no thanks
By Josephine Marcotty
12/31/17

At its December meeting, the Brown County Board of Commissioners in New Ulm declined to adopt a plan that would allow some residents to get their drinking water tested for nitrates and other farm contaminants by the Minnesota Department of Agriculture. The five commissioners — three of whom are farmers — said they were worried that the Agriculture Department would use the information to regulate the use of fertilizer.

WBIR: Arizona's free-roaming Salt River horses get long-term protection with agreement between state, feds
By Jessica Boehm
12/30/17

After years of controversy and uncertainty, representatives for Arizona and the federal government say they have reached an agreement that will ensure the long-term protection of the free-roaming horses near the Salt River.

The St. Augustine Record: Lawmakers weigh spending on conservation projects
By Jim Saunders
12/29/17

Florida lawmakers have started moving forward with several high-priced bills that would further divvy up money that voters approved in 2014 for water and land conservation.

Daily Yonder: Subsistence farmers in Puerto Rico suffer devastating losses
By Daryll E. Ray and Harwood D. Schaffer
12/28/17

With such a large portion of Puerto Rican farmers at subsistence or near-subsistence levels of income, the impact of Maria on farm households must be devastating.

NBC 5: Frisco Council Approves 'Green' Community With Grass on Roofs
By Ben Russell
01/03/18

Total Environment, a developer from India, has plans to build a community of high-end homes that feature roofs covered with grass and native plants.

Lancaster Farming: Executive Order Strengthens Fight Against Invasive Pests
01/02/18

Gov. Tom Wolf of Pennsylvania signed an executive order expanding the Governor’s Invasive Species Council to bring additional expertise and resources to bear in the battle against new invasive species.

Independent Record: Mountain pine beetles in decline, but Douglas-fir beetles could thrive after summer fires
By Holly K. Michels
12/31/17

Of particular concern is the Douglas-fir beetle, which can establish itself and thrive in burned trees, then build up large enough populations to take over healthier forests.

San Francisco Chronicle: Sparse Sierra snowpack has officials worried about a long, dry summer
By Peter Fimrite
01/03/18

Does the state have enough stored-up water to survive a dry year? From north to south, the snowpack in the state’s frozen-water bank averages a depth of just 3 inches, a dismal 24 percent of normal for this time of year.

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