Conservation ChronicleMonthly Newsletter of the Oklahoma Conservation Commission

March 2018

Welcome Letter WelcometothefirsteditionoftheConservationChronicle,yourmonthlysourceofconservationnewsandnotes.AsIgrowfurtherintomyroleasPublicInformationOfficerattheOklahomaConservationCommission,Ihopetobuildrelationshipswiththedistrictsandthepeopleweserve.Thegoalofthisnewsletteristodojustthat,enhancecommunication.Themorecollaborationwehave,thebetterwecanserve.Ihavealwaysfeltthatsharingideasandstoriesleadstogrowthandenrichment.

ThisnewsletterisdesignedtohighlightsomeofthegreatworkbeingdoneattheCommissionandatthedistrictlevel.MyhopeistohighlightatleasttwoCommissiondivisionsorprograms,oneeventfromeachofthefiveCommissionAreas,andaconservationpartnereachmonth.Hopefully,thesestorieswillnotonlyshowcasetheworkbeingdone,butalsosparkideasforotherwaystoreachouttotothoseweserveinthevariousdistricts.

Ihopethisnewsletterprovestobeavaluablesourceofinformationandawaythattheconservationstorycanbespreadacrossthestate.Pleaseprintasmanycopiesasyouwouldlikefordistributionatyourlocaldistrictoffices.Theplanistoreleasethisnewsletterattheendofeverymonthso,fromhereonout,belookingforittohityourinboxinthefinalweekofeachmonth.Also,pleasecontactme,ChrisCox,withanystoryideasatchristopher.cox@conservation.ok.govorbycalling405-522-5954.ThankyouandIhopeyouenjoythefirsteditionoftheConservationChronicle.

GIS Specialist Shellie Willoughby, her son Andrew, and Lt. Gov. Todd Lamb at GIS Day at the Capitol

GIS Day at the Capitol A Success

The24thGISDayattheCapitoltookplaceonMarch6thandwasseenasasuccessbytheOfficeofGeographicInformationandTechnicalServices.

“GISDayattheCapitol2018wasagreatsuccesswithover50exhibitorsfromvariousmunicipal,county,regional,state,tribalandfederalagenciesdisplayingtheiruseofgeographicinformationtechnologytosupportday-to-daydecision-making.IappreciatetheinterestshownbyLt.GovernorLambwhovisitedseveralexhibitdisplaysashemadehiswayaroundthe4thfloorCapitolRotunda,”saidDirectorMikeSharp.SharpalsothankedGISSpecialistShellieWilloughbywhoplannedandcoordinatedtheevent.

PicturesoftheeventcanbefoundonlineattheOklahomaConservationCommission’sFlickrpage(seebackpage).

conservation calendar

Oklahoma Conservation Commission2800N.LincolnBlvd.,Suite200

OklahomaCity,OK73105405-521-2384

www.conservation.ok.gov

Oklahoma Conservation Commission @Conservation_OK Oklahoma Conservation Commission

Page1Story ideas may be submitted to Chris Cox at christopher.cox@conservation.ok.gov

Page8

APRIL 2018

4/4 FeralHogManagementandSoilHealthWorkshopinAltus

4/5 Ottawa&CraigCountyCDFeralHogOutreachMeetinginAfton 4/12 ConservationAwardsCeremonyintheAgricultureLabAtriumatthe DepartmentofAgricultureBuidlinginOklahomaCity

4/12 SeminolCCDSoilHealthFieldDayatBlackjackRanchinWewoka

4/23GreerCCDSoilHealthFieldDay

4/25Comanche,Cotton,&SouthCaddoCDFeralHogOutreachMeetingin Lawton

4/26Dewey&MajorCountyCDFeralHogOutreachMeetinginChester 4/26NaturalResourceDayinKayCounty

4/26DeerCreekCDAnnualOutdoorClassroominWeatherford *For details on specific events, visit the calendar on the Conservation Commision website or check with the local conservation districts

Page2 Page7

ThemonthofMarchwasabusymonthfortheOklahomaConservationCommission.ComingofftheheelsofthesuccessfulOACDStateMeeting,CommissionemployeeswereattheStateCapitolfornotonebuttworecognitiondays.ThefirstwasGISDayonMarch6th.ShellieWilloughbyandMikeSharphostedtheeventthatfeaturedover50exhibitorsthatshowcasedGgeographicInformationSysytemstechnologyandhowitisusedonadailybasis.GISDayalsofeaturedanappearancebyLt.Gov.ToddLamb.JusttwoweeksafterGISDayonMarch20thwasWaterAppreciationDayattheCapitol.TheBlueThumbteamhadaboothatWaterAppreciationDayandshowedoffthewonderfulworktheyaredoing.

Thewarmerweather,andthearrivalofSpring,meantthebeginningoffielddaysacrossthestate.TheKiamichiCDhostedthefirstfielddayonMarch16h.Over50farmersandranchersattendedthatfielddaydowninFrogville,OK.ThefielddaywasheldasapartoftheOklahomaAssociationofConservationDistricts“OklahomaHealthySoils”project.TheNorthCaddoCDalsohostedafielddayinEakly,OKonMarch29th.SoilHealthEducatorBlaneStacyattendedandspokeaboutassessingsoilhealth,crovercrops,andgrazingmanagementplans.BesuretochecktheConservationCommissionwebsite,www.conservation.ok.gov,forafulllistofupcomingfielddaysacrossthestate.

TheOklahomaConservationCommissionalsosawthefirstferalhogoutreachmeetingtakeplaceinMcAlester.HostedbytheLeFloreandHaskellCountyconservationdisticts,andincon-junctionwiththeEasternOklahomaBeefCattleSummit,producerslearnedaboutthedamagecausedbyferalhogsandwaystonotonlyaddressthedamagebutalsowaystopreventtheferalhogdamage.TheseoutreachmeetingswilltakeplaceacrossthestateinAprilandMaymakesuretolookattheOCCcalendarfordatesandcontactinformationregardingthevariousferalhogoutreachmeetings.

Month in review producer/program spotlights

PerhapsthebiggesteventinconservationacrossthestateinMarchdidn’tactuallytakeplaceinOklahoma.TheNACD’sannualWashingtonD.C.Fly-IntookplaceonMarch20th.OCCExecutiveDirectorTreyLam,NRCSStateConservationistGaryO’Neill,OACDPresidentJimmyEmmons,andOCCCommssionersScottyHerrimanandBillClarktooktheconservationmessagerighttolawmakersinWashington.Thefly-incameattheperfecttimeasfederalbudgetissuesandFarmBillnegotiationsthreatensomeconservationprograms.

From R-L: NRCS State Conservationist Gary O’Neill, Area III Commissioner Scotty Herriman, Rep. Markwayne Mullin, OCC Ex. Dir. Trey Lam, & Area V CommissionerBill Clark

Whileonebusymonthends,anotherisonthehorizonasAprilbringsseveralmoreeventsacrossthestate.ThebighighlightinAprilwilllikelybeConservationAwardsCeremonyonApril12thwheretheConservationPartnershipwillhonordistricts,employees,andcelebrateJimmyEmmonsonbecomingthefirstLeopoldConservationAwardwinnerinOklahoma.

Jimmy and Ginger Emmons

InOklahoma,conservationplaysakeyroleinjustabouteveryfarmingandranchingoperation.SoilhealthandwaterconservationpracticeshelpOklahomansmaximizetheirlandwhilealsoregeneratingtheland’snaturalresources.

SeveralpeopleinOklahomahavebeenattheforefrontofconservationinthestate.However,onlyonehasbeenrecognizedasaLeopoldConservationAwardwinnerandthatisJimmyEmmonsfromLeedy.EmmonsandhiswifeGingerfarmandruncattleonlandthathasbeeninhisfamilysince1926.InWesternOklahomawhererainisscarceandwaterisapreciouscommodity,Emmonsrealizedheneededtomakechangestohisoperationtomaximizehisnaturalresources.Emmonsstartedincorporatingno-tillfarmingpracticesasearlyas1995andnowhasacompleteno-tilloperation.It’sthatkindofthinkingandlong-termcommitmenttoconservationthatlandedEmmonstheprestigiousLeopoldConservationAward.

Since2003,theLeopoldConservationAwardisgivenoutannuallybytheSandCountyFoundationto“agriculturallandownersactivelycommittedtoalandethic.”AccordingtotheSandCountyFoundationwebsite,theawardrecognizespeoplewhoshow“extraordinaryachievementinvoluntaryconservation,inspireotherlandownersthroughtheirexample,andhelpthegeneralpublicunderstandthevitalroleprivatelandownerscananddoplayinconser-vationsuccess.”Emmonsexemplifiesthosequalifications.

ThroughhisroleontheDeweyCountyConservationDistrictBoardandasthepresidentoftheOklahomaAssociationofConservationDistricts,Emmonsfindshimselfonthefrontlinesoftheconservationconversation.“Mygrandfatherdidthebesthecouldwiththetoolsandknowledgehehadtomanageourfamily’sland.Iamtryingtocontinuethatlegacybyusingwhatwenowknowarethebestpracticesforimprovingthehealthofoursoils.Mygoalisthatmygrandson,Owen,andhischildrenwillbeabletofarmthislandforanother100years,iftheychoose.ThatisonlypossibleifGingerandIdoourparttotakecareofthenatu-ralresources,”saidEmmons.

TogoalongwiththeprestigeofbeingnamedaLeopoldConservationawardwinner,theSandCountyFoundationalsopresentsawardwinnerswithacrystalawardand$10,000inasettingthatshowcasesthelandownersachievementsamongtheirpeers.EmmonswillreceivehisawardatConservationDayattheCapitolonApril12th.FormoreinformationontheLeop-oldConservationAwardvisitwww.sandcountyfoundation.org.

CongratulationsJimmy&GingerEmmons!

Area 5 spotlight

partner spotlight

OCC Division spotlights Greatspeakers,greattopicsandwonderfulweathersetthemoodfortheKiamichiConservationDistrict’sSoilHealthWorkshop.TheKiamichiConservationDistrict,OACD,theOklahomaConservationCommissionandtheUSDA-NaturalResourcesConservationServicesuccessfullysponsoredandhostedthefirstsoilhealthandcovercropsWorkshopinChoctawCountyTheeducationaleventwasheldonMarch16attheCharlieSeimerFarmlocatedinFrogville,OK,SEofHugo,OK. Theevent,partofOACD’s“OklahomaHealthySoils”project,wasattendedby50farmersandranchersinterestedinimprovingtheirsoilsandextendingtheirgrazingseason.

“Improvingthehealthofoursoilsandputtingmoredollarsbackinthepocketsofourfarmersandranchers,wasthemaintopicoftheworkshop,”saidScottPace,DistrictConservationistwiththeUSDA-NaturalResourcesConservationServiceinHugo,OK. FielddaytopicsincludedcovercropsforsoutheastOklahoma,lookingatsome2017covercropplantings,adaptivegrazingmanagementandyear-roundgrazingplusmuchmore.SpeakersincludedOACDPresidentJimmyEmmons,SteveAlspachwithNRCS,OACDExecutiveDirectorSarahBlaneyandBrettPeshekwithGreenCoverSeeds.Moreinformationonthe“OklahomaHealthySoils”projectcanbefoundatwww.okconservation.org/healthysoils.

conservationdistrictsandthosewhomanagethelandtoenhanceournaturalresourcesforabetterOklahoma.

OACDisledbyPresidentJimmyEmmonsandExecutiveDirectorSarahBlaney.Emmons,afarmerfromLeedey,wasfirstelectedtoleadOACDin2017andwasre-electedin2018tohissecondterm.BlaneybeganworkingatOACDin2011astheDirectorofDevelopmentandwasnamedExecutiveDirectorinDecemberof2017.“ConservationinOklahomaissuccessfulbecauseofthestrongpartnerships.ThecommissionersandstaffarealwayswillingtohelpOACDandthedistrictsinourcombinedeffortstopreservethenaturalresourcesofOklahoma.WhatIpersonallyloveaboutthepartnershipbetweenOACDandOCCisitreallydoesfeellikeateam,”saidBlaney

OklahomaConservationCommissionExecutiveDirectorTreyLamsaid,“OACDisanessentialpartoftheConservationPartnership.Theirworkpromotingconservationpracticesonthelocalleveliswhatmakestheideaoflocally-ledconservationareality.”

FormoreinformationontheOACD,visittheirwebsitewww.okconservation.org.

OFFICE OF GEOGRAPHIC INFORMATION AND TECHNICAL SERVICES TheConservationCommissionhasseveraldivisionsthatallplayanimprotantroleattheOCCandinspreadingtheconservationmessage.Butonedivisionthatcan,attimes,seemoutofplaceattheConservationCommissionistheOfficeofGeographicInformationandTechnicalServices,orGIS.

GIShousestheStateOfficeofGeographicInformation,theStateGISCoordinator,andistaskedwithmaintaingtheOCC’sgeographicinformationsystemsoperationsanddatabase.TheOCCandtheOfficeofGeographicInformationandTechnicalServicesalsochairstheStateGISCouncil.Createdbylawin1994,GIShasseenitsmissionchangefromsimplycreatingastatewideGISstrategytonowsolvingeightprimaryissues.

Whilenotoftenthoughtaboutintheconservationconversation,GISplaysacriticalroleintheworkthatOCCanditspartnersdo.GISallowsOCCtomapoutdatathatiscriticalinhelpingfarmersandranchersmeettheirconservationneeds.WithoutGIS,farmersandranch-erswouldpotentiallybelefttotheirowndevicestofigureoutcriticalissuesonandaroundtheirland.

TolearnmoreabouttheOfficeofGeographicInformationandTechnicalServicesvisit,www.okmap.onenet.net.

WATER QUALITY DIVISION WhileGISmightnotbethefirstdivisionthoughtofwhenyouthinkOklahomaConservationCommission,theWaterQualityDivisionmightbe.WaterQualityworkstoassessstreamhealthacrossthestate.Manystreamsarealreadyingoodshapeduetowisemanagementpractices.However,whenproblemsareidentifiedtheWaterQualityDivisionpartnerswithlandownersandothersthroughvolutaryprogramsthatreducepollution.

Toachievethatpollutionreductiongoal,WaterQualityidentifieswatersimparedbynonpointsourcepolution(NPS),prioritzesprojectstoreducepollutants,andimplementsthosevariousprojects.OCC’sWaterQualityDivisionhasbeenoneofthemostsuccessfulorganizationsinthecountryincleaningupNPSsites.Todate,Oklahomahas60bodiesofwaterdelistedfromtheEPA’s303(d)list.Thatissecondmostintheentirecountry.In2017alone,Oklahomahad6bodiesofwaterdelistedfromthe303(d)list.

ButWaterQualitydoesmorethanjustmonitorbodiesofwater.WaterQualityalsoeducatesthroughtheBlueThumb,WET,andSoilHealthEducationprograms(whichwillallbehighlightedinlatereditions).WaterQualityalsoisinchargeofmonitortingthestate’swetlandareas,managingthestate’sConservationReserveEnhancementProgram,andisinchargeofthecarbonsequestrationcertifications.

Page3Page6

ForthefirstPartnerSpotlight,let’sfocusontheOklahomaAssociationofConservationDistricts.TheOklahomaAssociationofConservationDistrict,orOACD,isanonprofitorganizationthatrepresentsOklahoma’s84conservationdistrictsandonetribaldistrict.ThegoalofOACDistoprovideleadership,resources,andpartnershipopportunitiesfor

Area 1 spotlight Area 3 spotlight

Area 2 spotlight Area 4 spotlight

ItwasafairlyquietmonthinArea1.ButonethingthatisstillofconcerntomanyconservationistsinArea1istheburnbanthatremainsineffectformanycountiesinnorthwestOklahoma.HighwindsanddryweatherledtotheburnbanfromGovernorFallin,whichwasinitiallyenactedinFebruary.Barringunforseenrain,theburnbanwilllikelystayineffectforawhileasthemajorityofNWOklahomaisinD3(ExtremeDrought)orD4(Excep-tionalDrought)accordingtotheUSDroughtMonitor.

Theburnbaneffectsmanyconservationsitswhopracticeprescibedburningtohelpmanagetheirnaturalresourcesandprotecttheirlifeandproperty.Prescribedburningiswhensomeoneintentionallysetsafirethatburnscertainareaofland.Prescribedburningcanhelppreparethelandforthenextroundofplanting.Prescribedburningalsoisaneffectivetoolinpreventingtheoutbreakandspreadofwildfires.

ThedroughtthatledtotheburnbanalsoledUSDAtodeclare57Oklahomacounties,includingallcountiesinArea1,asnaturaldisasterareasduetolossesanddamagescausedbythedrought.ThatdesignationallowsqualifiedfarmoperatorstoapplyforemergencyloansfromtheFarmServiceAgency.Formoreinformationvisithttps://www.fsa.usda.gov/pro-grams-and-services/disaster-assistance-program/index.

Page4 Page5

MarchwasfairlybusyforArea2asnotone,buttwoappreciationdayswereheldattheStateCapitol.ThefirstwasGISDayattheCapitol(seethespotlightonthefrontpage)onMarch6th.ThesecondwasWaterAppreciationDayattheCapitolonMarch20th.BothdaysarebigdaysontheConservationCommissioncalendarbecauseitisoneafewtimesallyearthatConservationCommissionemployees,producers,andconservationpartnerscaninteractwithlawmakers.

OnTuesday,March20th,theBlueThumbteamattendedWaterAppreciationDay,heldinthe state Capitolbuilding.BlueThumbEducationCoordinatorCandiceMillerandBlueThumbEducatorRobBarossiwerejoinedbyNathanCarter,WaterQualityDivisionMonitoringSpecialist,andBlueThumbvol-unteerTheronBlunck. OneofthehighlightsofheBlueThumbinformationaltablewasthetwocreekbugsamples,sidebyside,demonstratingtheabundantlifeatthebottomoftwodifferentcreeksintwodifferenturbanenvironments. TherewerequiteafewkidswhovisitedthetableandgottoviewthelivecreekbugsaswellasthepreservedbugsNathansetupwithamicroscopeandtvmonitor,sothateveryonecouldgetanevencloserlookatthevariousspeciesandtheirdifferences.Thisgavetheteamachancetotalkindepthaboutthebugstheycollectincreeksandstreamsalloverthestate,whyheteamcollectsthemandwhatthebugstellus. Nathan Carter and Candice Miller at Water

Appreciation Day

Clay Salisbury, NRCS Soil Scientist at the Eakly field day

North,South,andWestCaddoConservationDistricts,co-hostedanIntroductorySoilHealthFieldDayonMarch29thnearEakly. Thirty-sixpeoplegatheredtolearnaboutthebasicsofSoilHealth,SimpleSoilHealthassessmentandtools,andthebasicsofincorporatingcovercropsintono-tillsystems. 

ClaySalisbury,NRCSSoilScientist,openedthediscussionbydescribingthefiveprinciplesofsoilhealth,andhoweachprinciplerelatedtosoilfunction,quality,andresiliency.BlaneStacy,OCCSoilHealthEducator,discussedhowadiverseplantmixwithmanytypesofrootsystemscanbreakcompactionlayers,anchorthesandysoilpresentatthefield,andprovidefoodforthebiologicalcommunityinthesoil.

ThegroupsvisitedtwofieldswhereSalisburydugaseriesofholesinthesoiltoshowthebenefitsofsoilhealthpracticesonfieldswheredifferentcropsweregrownanddifferentsoilhealthpracticeswereused.Stacyexplainedthatsoilhealthsystemsaredesignedtomimicanativeprairie,withcontinuouscover,adiversityofplantswithlivingrootsthroughouttheyear,minimaldisturbance,andwiseuseoflivestock,willallworktogethertorebuildsoilorganicmatter,soilstability,andnutrients.

Alivelydiscussionfollowedwithmanyproducersrelatingsuccessesandfailureswiththeirrespectiveoperationsusingcovercrops.Manyproducersthathadtriedcovercropsmentionedhowtheycanbeusedaslivestockfeed,weedsuppression,soilarmor,andvariousmethodstoutilizecovercropsformanyuses.

Area3alsohadafairlyquietmonthbutthatdoesnotmeantheyweren’tbusyandpreparingforthemonthsahead.OttawaCountyandCraigCountyConservationDistrictsaregettingreadytoco-hostaferalhogmeetinginAfton.ThatmeetingwilltakeplaceinconjunctionwiththeOttawaCraigCattlemen’sAssociationAnnualMeetingonApril5th.

AnotherupcomingArea3eventisalegislativebreakfasthostedbytheWagonerCountyConservationDistrict.Thethemeofthebreakfastis“Watersheds:OurWater,OurHome.”ThatthemeisrightinlinewiththeNationalAssociationofConservationDistrictsthemeforStewardshipWeek.StewardshipWeekisApril30ththroughMay6th.

Formoreinformationontheseeventsandotherupcomingevents,visitwww.conservation.ok.gov.InformationandpromotionalitemsonStewardshipWeekcanbefoundatwww.nacdnet.org.