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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 the NACD Communications Team.


NACD Blog: WOTUS Update: Waters of the United States and the 2019 Proposed Definition
By Adam Pugh
04/24/19

Since NACD’s February 2018 blog explaining the role of the courts during the implementation of the 2015 Clean Water Rule, there have been a few updates on the waters of the United States (WOTUS).


High Plains/Midwest Ag Journal: Agriculture, natural resources groups support multi-stakeholder proposal to manage wild horses and burros
04/24/19

The proposal, if fully implemented, would increase BLM’s capacity to gather horses and burros in overpopulated areas; administer population-growth-suppressant to healthy animals at gather; and increase use of long-term, pasture-based holding for older horses.

Willamette Week: Conservation Groups Ask Judge to Block Land Management Plan That Could Destroy Oregon Sage-Grouse Habitat
By Elise Herron
04/22/19

Four national conservation groups have asked a federal judge to block land management plans in seven states, including Oregon, in order to protect threatened sage-grouse habitat.

U.S. AgNet: 12-Year Research Explores Cover Crop's Benefit to Soil
04/26/19

A Kansas State University research team is putting the finishing touches on the findings from 12 years of work in which they tested the value of growing cover crops in a no-till rotation with wheat, sorghum and soybeans. The group is finding that intensifying the cropping system with cover crops or double-cropping increases soil organic carbon near the surface, potentially leading to such benefits as better soil structure, aggregate size, water infiltration and more.

Colorado Public Radio: Healthy Snowpack In The Colorado River Basin Is Improving Reservoirs Across Multiple States
By Joella Baumann
04/19/19

Above-average snowpack in the upper Colorado River basin not only means a good forecast for Colorado, but for all seven states in its river system. Officials found that the snowpack in the basin through the winter ended up being 130 percent of average.

Forbes: Wet Weather And Flooding Are Testing U.S. Agriculture
By Jim Foerster
04/19/19

After a difficult winter for many farmers, the outlook doesn’t hold much promise for relief anytime soon. Much of the high-production areas of the central U.S. are wet enough that planting will be delayed until at least the end of April.

Minnesota Corn Growers Association: Study shows cover crops are effective in reducing nitrate loss in drainage tile
04/22/19

Using a nitrogen rate prescribed by the MRTN method (about 120 pounds), preliminary analysis found cereal rye, terminated in the spring, produced a 60-percent reduction in nitrate concentration and load in drainage water, compared to no cover crops.

Illinois Public Media: Illinois’ Agriculture Sector Pitching In To Save The Monarch Butterfly
By Daisy Contreras
04/23/19

A group of 16 Illinois organizations and agencies have teamed up to help the monarch butterfly survive. For Earth Day, the team unveiled additional steps to their Illinois Monarch Project (IMP) – an agriculture action plan that will enhance monarch preservation efforts. The group spent over two years developing the plan, which includes adding 150 million more milkweed stems in Illinois over the next 20 years and working closely with farmers, teachers and students to raise awareness.

Tri-City Herald: With tears in their eyes, Tri-Cities students set their fish free. This man shows why it matters
By Annette Cary
04/24/19

Hatchery eggs are delivered to classrooms in 37 Tri-City schools in January. Students take care of the fish until they grow to about three inches long, monitoring water temperature and chemistry and feeding them. In late April, each student releases a tiny salmon into the river.

Texas Observer: Invasive Species Have Reshaped Texas. Now What?
By Asher Elbein
04/19/19

Here is a case where the exotic has insinuated itself so thoroughly that management agencies have decided that ripping it out would cause much greater harm. The tamarisks are woven into the ecosystem and deliver ecological benefits. Does it matter if they originated elsewhere? Does it matter, indeed, that they only became so common because the massive dam and irrigation projects in the West altered the hydrology of the region in their favor?

Phys.Org: Scientists use eBird data to propose optimal bird conservation plan
04/15/19

A new paper shows a blueprint for conserving enough habitat to protect the populations of almost one-third of the warblers, orioles, tanagers, and other birds that migrate among the Americas throughout the year.

Science Daily: Living room conservation: Gaming and virtual reality for insect and ecosystem conservation
04/18/19

Gaming and virtual reality (VR) could bridge the gap between urban societies and nature, thereby paving the way to insect conservation by the means of education, curiosity and life-like participation.

SFGate: Planned burns can reduce wildfire risks, but expanding use of 'good fire' isn't easy
By Courtney Schultz
04/25/19

In particular, fire managers said they needed adequate funding, strong government leadership and more people with expertise to conduct these operations. Going forward, it will be particularly important to provide support for locations where partners and land managers have built agreement about the need for prescribed fire.


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