the trailblazer may 2014 spring newsletter · the trailblazer kodiak soil and water conservation...
TRANSCRIPT
Spring Spring is one of the four convention-al temperate seasons, following win-ter and preceding summer.
Spring and springtime refer to the season and to ideas of rebirth, reju-venation, renewal, resurrection, re-growth, and to “spring forth.”
At the spring equinox, days are close to 12 hours long.
The beginning of spring is not al-ways determined by calendar dates.
The phenological/ecological defini-tion of spring relates to biological indicators: the blossoming of plants, the activities of animals, the smell of soil that has reached the temperature for flora to flourish.
May 2014 Spring Newsletter
Special points of interest: Weeds on the Rock
KSWCD and Alaskan Leader
Fisheries Foundation donate to
the Kodiak Envirothon
NRCS Report
2014 Poster Contest sign-up
Wal-Mart Award to KSWCD
Community Garden Project
The Trailblazer Kodiak Soi l and Wa ter Conserva t ion Dis t r ic t
Please help by reporting any invasive species found out-side of known concentration areas to KSWCD.
Wildlife Forever’s aquatic invasive species kits are still available FREE to lodges, guides and other service pro-viders—educating visitors can prevent the introduction of aggressive species from around the world.
Weeds on the Rock
Chocolate Lily in Fort Abercrombie
June Photo by Blythe Brown
Now is the time to prevent the spread of invasive
weeds…some RIP funding is still available from
KSWCD!
Boots from off-island waiting for a flight to re-mote areas in Kodiak. What may be lurking in the crevices?
Photo by Blythe Brown
The KSWCD Invasive Spe-cies program should be busy this year.
KSWCD has received project funding for surveys, monitor-ing and control of invasive plants throughout the Archi-pelago.
There is also some funding specifically for targeting Can-ada thistle and a grant to in-vestigate the occurrence of crayfish in the Buskin Lake.
It varies according to the climate and weather of a particular year.
Unstable weather may occur in spring when warm air invades from lower latitudes and cold air from the polar regions.
Spring is a result of the warmth caused by the changing orienta-tion of the Earth’s axis relative to the Sun as daylight rapidly increases.
NRCS was sorry to see Lydia Clayton, the Cooperative Extension Agent leave Alaska.
The KSWCD cooperators with EQIP conservation contracts that are sched-uled for completion in the 2014 season (Nutrient Management, Pest Manage-ment or Crop Management) that have questions about what is scheduled on their production area please call Rose Baize in the Kenai office.
Her number is 907-283-8732 ext. 112
and her email is [email protected].
If Nutrient Management is sched-uled in your contracts for the 2014 growing season please request a copy of the soil test results be emailed to Rose Baize at NRCS.
Craig Sanders, Resource Conserva-tionist can be contacted for any site visits needed to certify com-pleted practices or planning for future contracts.
His number is 907-283-8177 ext.
107 for more information or email [email protected].
David Kaplan will be available this season for hoophouse inspections in the Kodiak area. Call 486-5574 for more information or email [email protected].
Visitors study hand-outs at the KSWCD Inva-sive Species display next to the Alaska Depart-ment of Fish and Game booth at ComFish.
Page 2
NRCS Report
KSWCD Supervisor Marie Rice speaks to the Kodiak Island Borough Assembly in support of a Cooperative Extension Service Agent for Kodiak.
The Trailblazer
KSWCD at the Kodiak Envirothon
KSWCD received a grant from the Alaskan Leader Fisheries
Foundation towards the Envirothon sweatshirts.
Photo by Lisa Hupp
At the Sustainable Agriculture sta-tion Jen Hagen, Judy Hamilton and Oskar Klausner look over the seed-lings. The students learned the steps to compost soil, plant/transplant and enjoy the bounty!
Photos by Blythe Brown
KSWCD recently participated in the sixth annual Kodiak Enviro-thon. Pictured are the 2014 winners. Wesley Pyle placed first among all Envirothon contend-ers.
Students tested their knowledge of forestry, soils, wildlife and aquatics. They also learned about subsistence and sustaina-ble agriculture.
News Alert! Kodiak’s FFA earned 1st and 2nd place at the Alaska State Envirothon competition!
Wal-Mart Award to KSWCD Community Garden Project
KSWCD proposes to develop and manage a community gar-den on land jointly owned by the City of Kodiak and the Kodi-ak Island Borough.
The district hopes to provide
gardening opportunities for citizens who may not own suitable land of their own.
Beverly Egan, the Kodiak Wal-Mart Manager presents Joe Dinnocenzo, the KSWCD District Manager, a check to support the community garden project.
Kodiak Soil and Water Conservation District
The Poster Contest is open to grades K-12. Winners in each age group can earn $20.00 and their poster may go on to the state competition or even nationals.
Brochures and applications are available at the KSWCD office at 518 West Ma-rine Way or call 486-5574 or email [email protected]
for more information go to www.nacdnet.org/education/
contest/poster 2014.
Alaska Association of Conservation Districts
Alaska Division of Agriculture, Plant Materials Center
Alaska Department of
Environmental Conservation
Alaska Department of Natural
Resources
Alaska Capital Projects
Alaskan Leader Fisheries
Foundation
Conoco-Philips
Healthy Tomorrows Foundation
2014 Poster Contest
Page 3
Selfie photo
The theme for the 2014 Poster contest is DIG DEEPER: Mysteries in the soil.
Soil is a complex mix of minerals, air and water. Soil teems with microorganisms and the decaying remains of living things. Soil is made of life and soil is life.
To the farmer, soil is where crops grow.
To the engineer, soil is a foundation on which to build.
To the ecologist, soil supports communities of living things.
To the archeologist, soil holds clues to past cultures.
To the city dweller soil nurtures grass and gardens.
KSWCD Thanks Our Funding Sources!
The Natalia Way knotweed removal and erosion control project involved AACD, American Pest Management, the City of Kodiak, Koniag, the Plant Materials Center and US Fish and Wildlife Service
Photo by Blythe Brown
Kodiak Association of Charterboat
Operators
Kodiak Island Borough
Kodiak National Wildlife Refuge
Kodiak Lions Club
USDA Natural Resources Conservation Service
University of Fairbanks, Kodiak 4-H
US Fish and Wildlife Service Coastal Programs, Fish Passage
US Fish and Wildlife Service Partners Program
US Forest Service
Wal-Mart Foundation
Woman’s Bay Service Area
Kodiak Soil and Water Conservation District
The Mission of the Kodiak Soil and Water
Conservation District is to provide education
and leadership by coordinating and imple-
menting programs for the conservation, use
and sustainable development of soil, water
and related resources.
518 West Marine Way
Suite 206
Kodiak, AK
Kodiak Soil and Water Conservation District
Phone: 907-486-5574
Fax: 907-486-5586
kodiaksoilandwater.org
District Board Members
Chris Flickinger, Chairman
Charles Dorman, Vice-Chairman
Marie Rice, Supervisor
Craig Stratman, Supervisor
Todd Dorman, Supervisor
Alternate Supervisor, Bob Mudd
Alternate Supervisor, Rick Ellingson
Staff
Joe Dinnocenzo, District Manager
Blythe Brown, Program Coordinator
David Kaplan, Project Coordinator
Stephen Bodnar, GIS Technician
Corinne Estelle Ferre,` Administrative Assis-tant
NRCS Field Office, Craig Sanders, Resource Conservationist
USDA is an equal opportunity provider and employer
Kodiak Archipelago Cooperative Weed Management Area