Conservation Clips is a weekly collection of articles distributed by NACD that provides our members and partners with the latest news in what's driving conservation. These articles are not indicative of NACD policy and are the opinions of their authors, unless otherwise noted. If you have a relevant submission or need assistance with accessing articles, please contact NACD Communications Manager Sara Kangas.

NACD Blog: RCDs working to address wildfire concerns with help from CAL FIRE
07/25/18

Through a variety of funding sources – including $1.9 million from the state of California – El Dorado County and Georgetown Divide Resource Conservation Districts (RCDs) are working with several agencies to implement a cohesive land management strategy to prevent significant wildfire destruction.

NACD Blog: NACD Forestry Notes Q&A: Larry Wiseman, Vibrant Cities Lab
07/25/18

Wiseman serves as co-creator and content developer for the Vibrant Cities Lab website. He shared time recently with NACD Forestry Notes to discuss the project.

NACD Blog: Michigan district assists landowners in treating autumn olive spread
07/25/18

Wexford County Conservation District (WCCD) is tackling a problem conservation districts unknowingly created more than half a century ago: autumn olive.

Agri-Pulse: Washington Week Ahead: Farm bill negotiations await Senate action
By Philip Brasher
07/22/18

The Senate plans to name its farm bill negotiators this week, clearing the way for the talks to begin as House members scatter for the August recess.

The New York Times: The City’s Buried Treasure Isn’t Under the Dirt. It Is the Dirt.
By Richard Schiffman
07/25/18

While air pollution and spoiled waterways are the most visibly threatened environmental resources, the soils that lie beneath our feet have lately been receiving some long overdue attention as well — especially in the New York metropolitan area, which scientists say sits on top of some of the best soil on the continent.

Harvest Public Media: Drought Deepens In Missouri, Plains States; Ranchers Trim Herds
By Erica Hunzinger
07/19/18

About a quarter of the state started 2018 in a drought, and it’s only gotten worse from there. The Midwestern Regional Climate Center said Joplin has received 9.65 inches of rain since April — on track to be in the 10 driest periods of the last 100 years.

The Washington Post: From smelly to sparkling: A $2.7 billion cleanup of Anacostia, Potomac rivers
By Reis Thebault
07/21/18

As the Anacostia comes back to life, life is coming back to the Anacostia. A pair of bald eagles is nesting there. Osprey and beaver are returning.

Agri-Pulse: Opinion: Farm Bill ACEP-ALE Will Stem Farmland Loss
By John Piotti
07/23/18

(Opinion) The Agricultural Conservation Easement Program (ACEP) is a critically important federal conservation program implemented by the USDA Natural Resources Conservation Service. The Agricultural Land Easement (ACEP-ALE) subprogram is arguably the most cost-effective program in the Conservation Title, leveraging state and local funds to purchase agricultural easements from farmers and ranchers.

CropLife: Ohio Water Quality Executive Order a Warning for Agriculture
By Eric Sfiligoj
07/23/18

Titled “Taking Steps to Protect Lake Erie,” this new executive order calls on the Ohio Department of Agriculture to consider declaring eight watersheds in the Maumee River Basin as “in distress, due to increased nutrient levels resulting from phosphorus attached to soil sediment.”

Wisconsin State Farmer: Using prairie filter strips next to crops to protect Wisconsin water
07/23/18

Sand County Foundation is working with six farmers to demonstrate how prairie strips work on Wisconsin farms of varying soil types, typographies and management styles. Filtrating rain, soil sediment and nutrients across a narrow strip of prairie keeps soil on the field and out of waterways.

West Central Tribune: The importance of grasslands
07/23/18

All together, the easement will help the Block family keep 140 acres of land in perennial cover, much of it highly erodible. Glup calculated that the easement will keep 550 tons of soil -- or 43 dump truck loads -- from washing into Eagle Lake and the Hawk Creek Watershed each year.

The Salt Lake Tribune: Utah’s Rob Bishop and Democratic counterpart unveil $5 billion plan to start tackling national parks’ maintenance backlog
By Thomas Burr
07/26/18

The bipartisan bill, which is matched by a similar Senate measure, is aimed at starting to tackle a nearly $12 billion maintenance backlog at America’s national parks where sewer systems, bridges, paths and structures have been crumbling – or in some cases, not working – because of a lack of funding for the National Park Service.

Missoula Current: Gianforte, ranchers call for regulatory reform to protect grazing allotments
By Sherry Devlin
07/24/18

Fear of litigation, not stewardship of the land, is driving the management of federal grazing allotments, a third-generation Ruby Valley sheep and wool producer told a U.S. House subcommittee. Gianforte said he called the hearing out of concern for that regulation and litigation and a belief that Congress can set a new course that provides more even-handed multiple use of federal public lands.

Roll Call: Burr to Hold Up Water Bill, Slow Others, for Conservation Fund
By Jeremy Dillon
07/26/18

His bill would preserve the LWCF, an Interior Department program to protect national parks, water resources and wildlife areas and make them available to the public for recreation.

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