Wyoming Association of Conservation Districts

1. Wyoming Association of Conservation Districts 2000-2006 Strategic Plan Accomplishments

2. District Operation/EducationPlan Priorities • Marketing – training and development of marketing plan • Support NRCS Technical Assistance • Educate Students & Adults on importance of Ag and natural resources • Assist Districts in securing funding/Secure funding for technical staff • National & State legislative involvement • Get the message out!

3. Resolutions with directives adopted from 2000-2005 • Produce Ag education packet, in conjunction with Ag organizations, for all legislators on priority legislative issues • Promote rural and urban natural resource education • Highlight Ag success stories on Public Radio

4. ACCOMPLISHMENTS MARKETING – TRAINING AND DEVELOPMENT OF MARKETING PLAN • Researched marketing plan development, board member initiated drafting • Continued to promote district activities and accomplishments through various venues • A fully developed and adopted marketing plan was not completed SUPPORT NRCS TECHNICAL ASSISTANCE/ SECURE FUNDING FOR EDUCATION ON IMPORTANCE OF AG & NATURAL RESOURCES • Obtained additional funding for AFO technical assistance • Stressed importance of CTA to Congressional delegation via position papers, correspondence during appropriations process • Obtained additional funding for soil survey crew • Supported increased allocation from programs to cover technical assistance costs to implement programs, i.e. programs pay their way DISTRICT FUNDING: • Assisted Cody, Crook, Popo Agie, Laramie County, Niobrara, Weston & Hot Springs CD with mill levy efforts • Developed and coordinated effort to increase local district funding • Assisted with district funding requests to commissioners • Assisted Department of Agriculture with allocation and tracking of state funding • Provide Districts assistance in obtaining funding for water quality efforts through 319 grant program

5. NATIONAL & STATE LEGISLATIVE EFFORTS • Attended annual legislative conference in Washington, DC and met with Congressional Delegation and staff • Provided Wyoming Delegation with policies and positions of Wyoming Association on an annual basis • Maintained open line of communications to Delegation and staff on numerous issues such as Farm Bill, Clean Water Act, Endangered Species Act, etc. • Provided testimony at Small Business Regulatory impact hearing • Forwarded NACD updates and communications in regard to national legislative issues • Assisted western states with organization and staffing of Western Coalition of Conservation Districts • Tracked and informed districts on state level legislative activities: District funding, special district election costs, mill levy funding fees to Treasurers, water well driller licensing, conservation district law revision legislation, special district auditing requirements, special district boundary reporting requirements, instream flow legislation, water rights transfer legislation • Initiated district legislative training program • Participated in agriculture organization coordination meetings GET THE WORD OUT EFFORTS • Presented to: Women in Ag, Feed Dealers conference, Water Forum, Ag Trade Show, NACD Regional meeting, County Commissioners association, W.I.F.E., • Maintained and updated WACD website • Published newsletter 4/times per year with distributing to approximately 1700 newsletter each time • Conducted radio interviews with Public Radio, various local radio stations, Northern Ag Network • Issued press releases on seedling tree program, AFO/CAFO workshops/program, conventions • Co-hosted Mega Ag convention • Hosted Supervisor and Employee training • Coordinated supplies, advertising etc. for Day of Monitoring • Participated in development and delivery of Coalition for Wyoming Water education campaign, developed web site for campaign • Coordinated and participated in providing a booth at State Fair • Presentated to Wyoming LEAD group

6. Conservation Forestry Plan Priorities • Forest Stewardship Committee representation • Coordination of technical assistance, information/education and assistance with training

7. Resolutions with directives adopted from 2000-2005 • Encourage districts to be actively involved in coordinating committees, such as national fire plan • Encourage districts to review and comment on pre-planning projects implementation • Encourage districts to become active as cooperating agencies • Explore additional seedling tree supplier options

8. ACCOMPLISHMENTS FOREST STEWARDSHIP COMMITTEE REPRESENTATION • Continued representation on Forest Stewardship Committee, Forestry Advisory Committee, and Living Snow Fence committee • Participated in state forestry review, met with Western Forest Council • Participated in state Forestry legislative meetings COORDINATION OF TECHNICAL, INFO/ED, ASSISTANCE WITH TRAINING • Featured state forestry articles in newsletters • Assisted with Forest Health conference 2002 • Coordinated Seedling tree program • Coordinated pass through funding from state Forestry for seedling tree advertising, training and materials • Issued press releases on seedling tree sales • Assisted with administrative efforts for Agro forestry conference NATIONAL FOREST MANAGEMENT ISSUES • Reviewed and commented on National Forest System Land & Resource Management Planning proposed rules • Coordinated effort and filed amicus brief in Roadless Rule appeal

9. Private, State & Federal Lands Plan Priorities • Promote Best Management Plan implementation for animal waste • Partnerships with Agriculture organizations, Extension, Municipalities and County Commissioner Associations • Funding for Animal Feeding Operations • Recycling & hazardous waste • Forest Planning – facilitate and provide Memorandums of Understanding and Involvement of districts

10. Resolutions with directives adopted from 2000-2005 • Increased funding for NRCS for soil surveys • State support for soils surveys • Active role in Carbon Sequestration efforts • Seek support for nationwide funding for NRCS Emergency Watershed Protection program • Work with agencies & organizations on rules for dead livestock composting

11. ACCOMPLISHMENTS Promote Best Management Plan implementation for animal waste • Worked on 2002 Farm Bill specific to EQIP and animal feeding operations and assistance to livestock producers with members and staff of congress • Conducted 5 AFO/CAFO workshops (01-02), 30 (03), 4 (03-04), • Obtained funding for Animal feeding operations projects and information/education efforts • Provided funding to NRCS for AFO technical assistance • Requested and obtained additional $105,000 for AFO technical assistance in Wyoming from NRCS Chief • Commented on Environmental Protection Agency proposed CAFO regulations • Met with DEQ, EPA and livestock organizations on Wyoming AFO program • Participated in review of DEQ odor rules • Commented on proposed EQIP rules • Participated in NRCS technical service provider program development Partnerships with Agriculture organizations, Extension, Municipalities and County Commissioner Associations • Partnered with representatives of Ag organizations and extension to serve on AFO steering committee to oversee implementation of 319 program • Presented to County Commissioner Association on AFO projects • Coordinated with Ag groups on newsletter/magazine articles on AFO/CAFO issues and regulations • Coordinated joint effort to submit comments on AFO/CAFO regulations proposed by EPA Funding for Animal Feeding Operations • Obtained and allocated 319 funding for approximately 20 AFO demonstration projects • Supported the 45% EQIP funding nationally targeted towards livestock issues • Served on NRCS State Technical Committee Recycling & hazardous waste • Funding of multi district hazardous waste disposal efforts

12. Facilitate and provide Memorandums of Understanding and Involvement of districts in Forest planning • Assisted districts with coordinated cooperating agency efforts on federal land planning • Developed database of districts participating in federal land planning • Lobbied for increased funding for Governor’s Natural Resource Policy Account • Participated with County Commissioners Association, Governor’s office and federal agencies in developing cooperating agency training • Provided examples of multi-district MOUs Increased funding for NRCS for soil surveys/State support for soils surveys • Developed and pursued an accelerated soil survey strategy • Requested and obtained Congressional support for additional soil survey funding for NRCS • Obtained support of Wyoming Energy Commission for soil survey • Presented at NRCS Regional Soil Survey Conference • Obtained support from delegation to obtain BLM soil survey earmark • Met with State Lands Director in regard to funding for soil surveys

13. Active role in Carbon Sequestration efforts • District representation has been maintained on Carbon Task Force • Assisted with state appropriation for Carbon Sequestration • Assisted and sponsored Carbon Sequestration conference SUPPORT FOR FUNDING NRCS EMERGENCY WATERSHED PROTECTION PROGRAM • Supported funding for EWP to congressional delegation WORK ON RULES FOR DEAD LIVESTOCK COMPOSTING • Laramie County CD pursued resolution to this issue through DEQ and NRCS ADDITIONAL ACTIVITIES • Provided representation on Drought Task Force • Commented on Conservation Security Program regulations • Provided representation and assistance with Cheat grass Task force/tour • Commented on BLM grazing rules

14. Water Resources Plan Priorities • Continue & expand water quality training • Expand water quality training to groundwater • Identify and provide funding for water quality monitoring • Establish certification process • Education/Outreach • Interstate coordination on water quality issues

15. Resolutions with directives adopted from 2000-2005 • Develop a public outreach and education program on role agriculture has played in developing and enhancing water resources • Pursue WWDC to fund a weather modification project/plan

16. ACCOMPLISHMENTS Continue & expand water quality training • Continued to coordinate delivery of 5 phase training program • Modified and added Refresher training course based on district input Expand water quality training to groundwater • No specific training has been provided in regard to groundwater Identify and provide funding for water quality monitoring • Prepared and obtained $675,000 in water quality funding through legislature each biennium • Assisted several districts with writing and obtaining 319 funding • Obtained funding to support watershed training and planning efforts Establish certification process • Developed contract with University for Water Quality monitoring certification program Education/Outreach/Technical Assistance • Developed statewide report on local watershed efforts, 2002 & 2005 • Presented to State Planners convention, water lecture series on TMDL issue, Southwest & Pacific NACD regional meeting on AFO/CAFO program, Forest Supervisors • Coordinated Macroinvertebrate educational project • Developed Septic System Information/Education informational materials • 2002 - via contract with NRCS, full-time dedicated watershed planning Coordinator • 2005 obtained state funding for one additional dedicated watershed planning coordinator • Hosted 2 statewide watershed conferences in coordination with Wyoming Association of Municipalities and Wyoming County Commissioners Association • Assisted approximately 15 districts with watershed planning

17. Interstate coordination on water quality issues • Initiated discussions through Western Coalition on interstate water quality issues Develop a public outreach and education program on role agriculture has played in developing and enhancing water resources • Developed Coalition for Wyoming Water campaign in cooperation with Ag groups, irrigation, conservation districts and NRCS Pursue WWDC to fund a weather modification project/plan • Supported and lobbied legislation authorizing weather modification study and implementation • Participated in feasibility study consultant selection process

18. Other Activities • Intervened in TMDL litigation with favorable ruling in 2002 • Participated in Small Water Development project program • Reviewed and commented on Water Quality Regulation revisions • Commented on 2000, 2002, 2004, and 2006 305(b) & 303(d) list • Pursued litigation on 2000 Clean Water Action Plan to ensure local involvement of water quality issues • Commented on EPA Rulemaking on “Definition of Waters of the US” • Represented Districts on TMDL Workgroup • Intervened in Pole Mountain litigation

19. Wildlife Plan Priorities • Promote grazing as a tool to improve forage • Develop a relationship for Conservation Districts input into wildlife decisions • Awareness for CDs efforts and role in wildlife issues • Endangered Species Act

20. Resolutions with directives adopted from 2000-2005 • None – general policy resolutions related to Wolf management plan support, forage compensation, and position on Endangered Species Act

21. ACCOMPLISHMENTS Promote grazing as a tool to improve forage • Nothing specific was done on this goal by WACD Develop a relationship for Conservation Districts input into wildlife decisions/awareness for CDs efforts and role in wildlife issues • Worked on Wildlife & Natural Resource trust fund • Commented on Game & Fish Comprehensive Wildlife Conservation Strategy • Initiated discussions for increased coordination with Wyoming Game & Fish Department • Testified in Endangered Species Act field hearing Endangered Species Act • Participated in meetings related to Preble’s Meadow Jumping Mouse, commented on proposed critical habitat designation, comments and hearing on 4(d) rule • Commented on Sage Grouse management plan • Met and discussed efforts related to Black Tail Prairie Dog • Participated in meetings regarding Grizzly Bear • Signed petition for distinct population designation for Grizzly Bear along with Farm Bureau • Joined Wyoming Wolf Coalition • Commented on proposed Sage Grouse listing

22. Thank you to all districts & partners for making this possible Where do we go now?