WACD ACTIVITY REPORT JULY 1, 2003- JUNE 30, 2004

1
WACD ACTIVITY REPORTJULY 1, 2003- JUNE 30, 2004

• The collective efforts of the WACD Board of
  Directors and staff
• and the partners we work with.

2
DISTRICT OPERATIONS

• Attended Wyoming Board of Ag meetings to
  represent districts Powell, Cheyenne, Douglas
• Conducted annual awards program
• Assisted host districts with 2003 Area
  Meetings/Convention 2003
• Represented Wyoming at Western Coalition meeting
  Colorado Springs, CO
• Provide staff support to Coalition, prepared
  minutes, agendas, board packets, budget, job
  descriptions, etc.
• Ag Unity meeting August 2003

3

• Track legislation, testify and represent
  districts during legislative session Feb. 9
  March 5
• Represent districts at Joint Corporations
  Committee meeting 7-03, Casper
• Represent districts at Jt. Agriculture Committee
  9-03
• Coordinate and host district legislative
  reception
• Provide legislative orientation and training to
  participants
• Participate in Laramie County CD legislative
  luncheon

4

• Mill levy efforts
• Hot Springs CD
• Laramie County CD
• Popo Agie CD
• Niobrara CD
• Tracked state funding requirements for Districts
• Assist district with personnel/consultant issues,
  contracts, etc.
• Work with Dept. of Ag on district bonding status
  and rules
• Participate in coordination conference calls with
  Ag group Execs.

5

• Published quarterly Conservation Communique
• Produced and distributed to approximately 500
  WACD Conservation District directories
• Review several special district statutes, loan
  program statutes, and prepare draft revisions of
  conservation district law under WACD leadership
  and District Law TF guidance
• Attend Stock Growers/Wool Growers Convention
  12-03, Casper
• Develop calendar of deadlines/events for districts

6

• Represented Wyoming at NACD National Convention
  Kona, Hawaii/Assisted with NACD Legislative
  fundraising auction
• Produced and Distributed approximately 200 WACD
  Policy Books
• Coordinated,with special thanks to Washakie and
  Hot Springs CD, NACD CEO visit/tour
• Updated Supervisor Training modules presented
  during 2003 Area meetings
• Updated District Procedures Manual and created
  web based manual

7
CONSERVATION FORESTRY

• Assisted with implementation of the 15,000 pass
  through funding to districts for seedling tree
  advertisement/training materials
• Compiled and completed Forest Stewardship
  reporting
• Inventoried and located WACD tree planters

8

• Developed and distributed seedling tree order
  form
• Coordinated billing for seedling trees TOTAL
  SEEDLINGS STATEWIDE 193,780
• Coordinated, with State Forestry, production and
  distribution of tree protectors 6,080
• Provided information on survival products such as
  weed barrier and hydrosource
• Posted Conservation forestry information on web
  site
• Issued two template press releases to district to
  promote seedling sales

9
EDUCATION

• Updated WACD web site
• Participated in Wyoming Public Radio Interview
  11-03
• Presentation to Wyoming County Commissioners
  Association 4-04, Torrington
• Participate with Washakie County CD in Ag Week
  radio interview
• Kaycee Ag Trade Show
• AFO/CAFO Article for W.I.F.E National Org.

10

• Began Coalition for Wyoming Water education
  campaign
• Assisted in raising approximately 30,000 to
  implement education campaign
• Developed web site for campaign
• Participate in Stock Growers Environmental
  Stewardship Tour

11
ENVIRONMENT

• Continued to request federal funding earmark for
  Wyoming NRCS for accelerated soil survey
• Provide information on soil survey to State Lands
  Dept. director
• With NRCS assistance, provide information on
  progress made with NRCS soil survey funds
• Explore Dept. of Energy grant funds for soil
  survey work
• Attend Carbon Sequestration meeting 3-04, Cheyenne

12

• Assist with restoring full funding to Carbon
  Sequestration legislation
• Smoke regulations/survey participate in
  meetings with Irrigation Districts, Farm Bureau
  and DEQ
• Attend two Governor Drought Task Force meetings
• Presentation to NRCS Regional Soil Survey
  Conference, Jackson
• Assisted with obtaining sponsorship/attended
  Carbon Sequestration Conference, Casper

13
PRIVATE, STATE FEDERAL LANDS

• Represent districts at NRCS state technical
  committee
• meetings
• Meet with Governors new planning staff 7-03
• Meet with Governors staff, Dept. of Ag, and Ag
  groups in regard to Resource Advisory Councils
• Represent WACD at NRCS all employees meeting
• Participate in National Environmental Policy Act
  training 5-04, Thermopolis
• Meet with John Masterson, Governors Advisor
  2-13, Cheyenne

14

• Prepare and submit comments on Conservation
  Security Program proposed rules
• Prepare inventory of district involvement in
  federal land planning, distribute to Governors
  office, districts, etc.
• Submit comments on BLM proposed Grazing
  regulations (comments provided by Jean Dickinson)
• Coordinated groups to file amicus brief in
  Roadless appeal
• Assisted with printing handouts/sponsorship of
  Cheatgrass tour

15
WATER RESOURCES

• Assisted with legislative effort to continue
  675,000 in water quality funding for districts
• Refilled NRCS/WACD Watershed Coordinator position
• Developed new NRCS/WACD Northern Wyoming
  Watershed Coordinator position to meet demand

16

• Watershed planning coordination meeting DEQ,
  WDA and NRCS 8-03, Casper
• AFO Tours in Washakie and Goshen County
• AFO Workshop - Medicine Bow CD
• AFO Presentation Ag Day, Greybull
• Presentation to Wyoming State Planners convention
  on watershed efforts 9-03, Cheyenne
• Coordinate Macroinvertebrate project
• Issue Request for Proposals to districts for
  water quality funds
• Develop recommended qualifications for Data
  Analysis Interpretation

17

• Develop Septic System Information/Education
  brochure, project ranking criteria, and homeowner
  self assessment
• Attend Septic Conference in California

18

• Coordinate Phase I training, Wheatland
• Participated in meetings/criteria modification on
  Water Development Commission Small Water
  Development program Letter to Game Fish in
  regard to public trust doctrine and instream
  flow program issues
• Begin communications with UW on water quality
  training/certification program
• Coordinate and host water quality refresher
  training 5-04, Casper
• In-field Ecoli training, Riverton

19

• Continued implementation of 319 AFO
• cost-share and information education program
• Presented at a water lecture series 9-03,
  Casper
• Coordinate District lab analysis funds issues
  with Dept. of Ag
• TMDL workgroup meeting 10-03, Casper
• Coordinated and submitted comprehensive comments
  on DEQ 2004 305(b) report/303(d) list
• Nonpoint Source Task Force 11-03, Cheyenne

20

• WWDC meeting 5-03 conveyed concerns with Small
  Water Program/Game Fish Instream flow, Cheyenne
• Meet with DEQ Director and staff 10-03,
  Cheyenne
• Assist districts with Watershed Improvement
  District formation issues
• Respond to requests from Senator Thomas for
  information on EPA budget issues
• Distributed funding to districts for Data
  Analysis and Interpretation
• Developed agreement with UW for graduate student
  assistance on data analysis/reference stream
  program issues

21

• Presentation to NACD Southwest and Pacific
  Regions on Wyoming AFO/CAFO program
• Worked on MOU with NRCS and Water Development
• Developed Western Watershed Conference concept
  paper for Western Coalition Chair

22
Assisted the following Districts with watershed
planning/water quality issues on listed waters

• Campbell County CD
• Crook County CD
• Hot Springs CD
• Laramie County CD
• Lower Wind River CD
• Platte County RD
• Washakie County CD

• Powder River CD
• Star Valley CD
• Sweetwater County CD
• Washakie County CD
• Uinta County CD
• Lincoln CD

23
WILDLIFE

• Meet with Governors staff, Dept. of Ag, Ag
  groups in regard to Grizzly bear
• Attended Jt. Travel, Rec Wildlife Committee
  testified on Wildlife Forage Compensation bill
• Join Wyoming Farm Bureau Federation in signing
  petition for distinct population designation
  for Grizzly bear
• Meeting with Bureau of Land Management and Ag
  groups in regard to BLM Sage Grouse Management
  Plan, 9-03, Casper
• Join Wyoming Wolf Coalition in filing suit
  against Fish Wildlife over wolf plan rejection

24

• Work with Ag Petroleum organizations on
  Wildlife Trust fund issue
• Submitted comments and attended public hearing on
  Prebles Meadow Mouse 4-d rule extension

25

• ON BEHALF OF
• WACD BOARD OF DIRECTORS
• STAFF
• THANK YOU TO THE DISTRICTS FOR YOUR SUPPORT AND
  CONFIDENCE
• THANK YOU TO ALL OF OUR PARTNERS!