Information for and about Oklahoma’s Conservation Districts
Volume 50 No. 2/3, February/March 2005
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Bill Wilson Becomes NACD
President
OACD 2005 State Meeting
Speaker Highlights
Awards
Commission Meeting Minutes
January
February
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NRCS Chief
Bruce Knight
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OACD 2005, continued on page 2
U.S. Rep. Frank Lucas
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The Oklahoma Association of Conservation Districts (OACD) held its 67th
Annual State Meeting at the Biltmore Hotel in Oklahoma City Feb. 27 March 1. The Oklahoma Conservation Commission cosponsored the
meeting.
Congressman Frank Lucas was the first speaker at the opening
session on Feb. 28. Natural Resources Conservation Service (NRCS) Chief
Bruce Knight, National Association of Conservation Districts (NACD)
President Bill Wilson, and NACD Chief Executive Officer Krysta Harden
followed Lucas.
Congressman Lucas said that all federal programs are suffering
budget cuts in order to fund the war in Iraq. He and others in Congress
are working to ensure that agriculture, rural America and conservation
are cut no more than their fair share, and that if more revenue
becomes available that funding is restored fairly as well. “If the
economy continues to grow, I am optimistic that we will see more
resources available by the time we get to the fall than we have now,”
Lucas said.
NRCS Chief Bruce Knight gave updates on several Farm Bill
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The 2005 OACD Annual State Meeting
In This Issue
Our vision:
Responsible car
e for
care
Oklahoma’s natural resources
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Forward to the Future — Writing the Next Chapter of Conservation History
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NACD President, continued on page 2
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Billy Ray Wilson of Kinta, Okla., became
president of the National Association of
Conservation Districts on Feb. 9 at the
annual convention of the NACD. Wilson
had served as first vice president and
president elect for the previous two years.
He serves on the board of directors for the
Haskell County Conservation District in
Oklahoma.
Wilson’s term began during the
NACD awards banquet on Wednesday
evening when he was inducted by
outgoing president Gary Mast of Ohio.
Outgoing NACD President Gary Mast (left) with
The NACD annual national meeting
new NACD President Bill Wilson at the NACD
took place Feb. 5-9 in Atlanta, Ga.
convention banquet in Atlanta, Ga., Feb. 9.
“This is a great moment for
conservation and for Oklahoma,” said Mike Thralls, executive director of the Oklahoma
Conservation Commission. “Bill has shown great devotion to conservation and to leadership in
Oklahoma and the nation.”
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Oklahoman Leads National Conservation Group
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Billy Ray Wilson takes place as NACD President
Our mission:
To conserv
e, pr
otect and
conserve
protect
restore Oklahoma’s natural
resources, working in
collaboration with the
conservation districts, on
behalf of the citizens of
Oklahoma.
Conservation Calendar
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“One of my personal goals is for Oklahoma to again lead the nation in conservation, as we
have continually in the past,” said Darrel Dominick, state conservationist for the USDA Natural
Resources Conservation Service. “With Bill Wilson as president of NACD, Oklahoma will have a
powerful voice in setting the conservation agenda for the nation— as it should.”
“Bill has always taken his role in natural resource conservation to heart, “ said Royce Casey,
president of the Oklahoma Association of Conservation Districts. “He has been tireless in his efforts
–first as a Haskell County Conservation District Director, then serving the OACD executive board
as Area V director, as vice president, then as president and past president.”
“OACD is very proud that Bill Wilson is president of the national conservation district
association,” said Clay Pope, OACD executive director. “He is widely respected for his knowledge
and for his leadership and accomplishments. He has testified to Congress numerous times to
advise them on conservation issues,” Pope added.
In 1994 Wilson was elected to represent Oklahoma on the NACD council and later on the
NACD board of directors. He served as president of the Oklahoma Association of Conservation
Districts in 1993-1994. He has served on the board of directors for the Haskell County Conservation District since 1980. Wilson is a founder and past president of the National Watershed
Coalition. Bill and his wife Carolyn own and operate a 400-acre cow/calf, horse and mule ranch
in east central Oklahoma. He is also a registered land surveyor in Oklahoma and Arkansas.
OACD 2005, continued from page 1
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Please inform Mark Harrison at OCC of district directors or
employees who have been ill, passed away or had babies.
Please include dates!!!!!!!!
Programs including the Environmental Quality Incentives Program. Knight called EQIP the
“flagship program” of NRCS and one of the most important programs for putting conservation
on the ground on the working lands of farmers and ranchers.
“Last year (NRCS funded) a little over $720 million in total — nearly 46,000 contracts.
Three years ago we barely broke 20,000 contracts,” Knight said. “Just two weeks ago Oklahoma
was singled out among a handful of states, that because of outstanding accomplishment, were
allocated additional EQIP funds. A little over a million dollars of additional funds is coming to
Oklahoma, to farmers and ranchers just like yourself, because of outstanding management and
how the dollars were invested. I want farmers and ranchers around the country to be jealous of
Oklahoma farmers and ranchers for getting more money because you run the program
efficiently,” Knight said.
Bill Wilson of Kinta, Okla., who became president of the National
Association of Conservation Districts in February, described to OACD
members the realignment of the national organization during the
last several years. With changes in personnel and leadership, along
with cost-cutting measures, he stated he believes NACD is now in a
better position to present a unified voice for conservation in Washington, D.C. He also emphasized the importance of the Small Watershed
Upstream Flood Control Program to Oklahoma and other states. He
NACD President
stated that the current challenge is to spread broader understanding
Bill Wilson
of the program and its benefits and to provide oversight to ensure the
program operates to its fullest potential. To that end, Wilson announced he had selected Dan
Lowrance, a member of the Oklahoma Conservation Commission and a Stephens County
Conservation District board member, to chair NACD’s Water Resources
Committee. Lowrance is also the current chair of the National Watershed
Coalition. (Note: At the OACD Business Session, the following day, Lowrance was elected as new president of OACD.)
Wilson introduced Krysta Harden who just completed her first year as
CEO of NACD. She predicted tough budget times ahead for conservation in
Washington. “We have got to pull together and provide Congressman
Lucas and others our support,” Harden said. “We’ve got to live up to our
NACD CEO
legacy. We have got to be the leaders,” she added.
Krysta Harden
OACD 2005, continued on page 3
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Harper County CD director Marc Harland and
wife Kim are proud parents of a new son, Jace
Wayne, born Feb. 1.
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Congratulations
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Earl McVay, Ottawa County CD director, passed
away March 8.
The nephew of Coleta Bratten, Dewey County CD
secretary, was badly injured in a tragic
accidental shooting Jan. 29.
OCC/WQ staff member Greg Kloxin’s grandfather
passed away Jan. 29 after an extended illness.
Blaine County CD secretary Lisa Young and her
family lost their house in a fire Feb. 2.
Sammie G. Vogel, Logan CD director, died of a
heart attack Feb. 5.
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In Our Thoughts
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May 22-25
Nineth National Watershed Conference
National Watershed Coalition, Ft Mitchell, KY
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May 6, 2004
Southern Regional Woodland Clinic,
Beavers Bend State Park, OK
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May 4-6
National Land & Range Judging Contest
OACD, Oklahoma City
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May 3-5
10th Annual RC&D “Forestry on the Grow”
Wagoner OK
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April 9
Lincoln County 4th Annual Ag Expo,
Lincoln County Fairgrounds
Lincoln County CD
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March 30
Ag Day at the Capitol, Fourth Floor
Rotunda, State Capitol Bldg.,
Oklahoma City, ODAFF
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March 29
Conservation Day at the Capitol, Fourth
Floor Rotunda, State Capitol Bldg.,
Oklahoma City, OACD
Awards Ceremony begins at 9:30 a.m.
NACD President, continued from page 1
2
At the Monday luncheon, state Sec. of
Agriculture Terry Peach and Sec. of Environment Miles Tolbert praised Oklahoma’s
national leadership in conservation and
expressed their support of new conservation
initiatives. Sen. Jeff Rabon, chair of the
Senate Appropriations Subcommittee on
Natural Resources and Rep. Curt Roggow,
chair of the House Appropriations SubcomSec. of Agriculture
mittee on Natural Resources, provided
Terry Peach
legislative updates at the Tuesday morning
session.
Awards for outstanding contributions to
conservation of Oklahoma’s natural
resources were presented to individuals and
organizations during the OACD State
Meeting.
The Oklahoma Association of Conservation Districts and the Oklahoma Conservation Commission established the Oklahoma
Conservation Hall of Fame in 1985. Each
Sec. of Environment
year, one or more friends of conservation
Miles Tolbert
and/or conservation district directors are
inducted in recognition of a positive influence on Oklahoma’s conservation programs. This year OACD inducted two friends of conservation
into the Hall of Fame.
Bruce Price of Hinton, Okla., was inducted into the Conservation
Hall of Fame as a Friend of Conservation. Price
served 12 years in the state Senate representing
District 23, covering parts of Blaine, Caddo,
Canadian, Grady and Kingfisher Counties. He
was cited for his consistent support of conservation programs including sponsoring the state’s
Conservation Cost-Share Program and state
match funding that helped bring federal dollars
to the state for the Small Watershed Flood
Bruce Price
Control Program.
Pat Sharp of Edmond was also named a Friend of Conservation.
During the OACD
meeting, she completed
three year-long terms as
president of the OACD
Auxiliary. During her
tenure the Auxiliary
raised money for
Pat Sharp (seated, right) with husband Bill
student scholarships
and family.
and conservation
education activities and volunteered time to assist with education
activities including the National Land & Range Judging Contest.
Don Bartolina of Edmond received the OACD President’s Award for
his outstanding efforts during three years as OACD executive director.
During that time, OACD instituted a Conservation Day at the Capitol
and the OACD Conservation Awards, and published a book, “Out of the
Dust - The History
of Conservation
in Oklahoma in
the 20th
Century.”
The OACD
Conservation
Royce Casey (at left in center) presented the
Awards for
OACD President’s Award to Don Bartolina, shown
Outstanding
with his family. Bartolina also received a Special
Appreciation Award from OACDE.
Conservation
District, District Director and District Cooperator were announced at
OACD Awards Banquet on Feb. 28. The awards will be presented in a
ceremony in the Governor’s Blue Room during Conservation Day at the
Capitol on March 29.
Kay County Conservation District will receive the Outstanding
Conservation District, sponsored by Chesapeake Energy. The district was
cited for an active program of public information and conservation
education, assisting with applications for over 16,000 acres for the
Environmental Quality Incentives Program, providing farmers and
ranchers a variety of conservation equipment and resources, and
helping with events sponsored by other local or statewide entities.
George Stunkard of Coweta was named to receive the Outstanding
Director Award. Stunkard is on the board of directors of the Wagoner
County Conservation District. He served three years as president of
OACD, and in 2003 Gov. Brad Henry appointed him to represent
northeast Oklahoma on the Oklahoma Conservation Commission.
Stunkard manages Sanders Nursery and Distribution Center in Coweta,
and he and his wife Phyllis have a 120-acre farming and cattle
operation.
Bob and Carol Diemer of Kay County will receive the Outstanding
Cooperator Award, sponsored by the Oklahoma Poultry Federation. The
Diemers manage over 6,000 acres, of which over 4,900 acres are no-till
wheat, corn, soybeans, grain sorghum, and sesame in rotation. The
Diemers were the first in Oklahoma to sign a Conservation Security
Program contract. They were cited for the numerous conservation
practices employed in their operation and setting an outstanding
example of stewardship for their neighbors.
Mark Thomas, executive vice president of the Oklahoma Press
Association (OPA), presented the Environmental Information Awards,
cosponsored by OACD and OPA. The award for Best ConservationRelated Feature Story went to Charles I. Burch of the Newkirk Herald
Journal for his story, “Will Our Grandchildren be Able to Farm In Kay
County,” published on January 22, 2004. The feature was entered in the
contest by being submitted in a scrapbook of news clippings from the
Kay County Conservation District. Jim Barker of the Alva ReviewCourier won the Outstanding Editorial Award for his discussion of
conservation in his regular column, “Sports Spasms,” on June 200,
2004. The Herald Democrat, Beaver, Okla., received recognition for
Outstanding Advertising Series Promoting Conservation.
Caney Valley, East Woods County, Dewey County and Kay County
Conservation Districts received awards for compiling outstanding news
clipping scrapbooks featuring local conservation activities.
OACD 2005, continued on page 4
3
OACD 2005, continued from page 3
Jo Callison, programs coordinator for the
Craig County Conservation District, received the
Adeline Laird
Award. The award
was established in
memory of
Adeline Laird,
finance officer at
the Oklahoma
Conservation
Commission from Mike Thralls presented the
Adeline Laird Award to Jo
October 1974
Callison, Craig County CD
until her death in programs coordinator.
1984. The award is presented to recognize
district secretaries or programs coordinators who
typify Laird’s hard work, dedication, enthusiasm
and caring attitude.
Darrel Dominick and Kirk Schreiner presented
NRCS Earth Team Awards. Above, from left, are
State Conservationist Darrel Dominick,
Ouachita RC&D Coordinator Gary Garman,
Hughes County CD director Randy Cotten,
Valliant CD secretary Linda Bone, and Earth
Team Coordinator Kirk Schreiner. Garman,
Cotten and Bone accepted the Earthn Team
Award on behalf of the Ouachita RC&D Council.
Rita Niece, secretary for the West Caddo
Conservation District, received the Outstanding
Conservation District Employee Award from the
Oklahoma Association of Conservation District
Employees. OACDE presented Don Bartolina
with a Special Appreciation Award.
Darrel Dominick and Kirk Schreiner of the
USDA Natural Resources Conservation Service
presented NRCS Earth Team awards for
volunteer service. Earth Team Volunteer Awards
were presented to Clyde Morehead of McAlester,
Bill Wilson of Kinta and Jeanne McCulloch of
Enid for each contributing over 1,000
volunteer hours last year. For the NRCS field
office with the most volunteers, Wilburton
received first place, and Tulsa and Idabel
received second and third respectively. Ouachita
Mountains Resource Conservation & Development Council received the Workgroup Recognition honor. Randolph Cotton, board member of
Ouachita Mountains RC&D, secretary/treasurer
of the state RC&D Association and board
member of Hughes County Conservation
District, received the Extra Volunteer Effort
Award.
Harper County Conservation District was
honored for continuing a record of 100 percent
attendance of district directors at board
meetings.
Project WET Workshops
Karla Beatty, (405) 521-2384
Project Learning Tree Workshops or Trunks
Christina Stallings, (405) 521-3864
Project WILD Workshops or Trunks
Lisa Anderson, (405) 521-6704
Oklahoma Conservation Conversation
Published monthly by the
Oklahoma Conservation Commission
2800 N. Lincoln Blvd., Suite 160
Oklahoma City, Oklahoma 73105-4201
(405) 521-2384 FAX: (405) 521-6686
http://www.okcc.state.ok.us
COMMISSION MEMBERS:
Area I
J.T. Winters Jr. Mooreland
Area II Rick Jeans Tonkawa
Area III George Stunkard Coweta
Area IV Dan Lowrance Duncan
Area V Virginia Kidd Poteau
Mike Thralls, Executive Director
Ben Pollard, Assistant Director
Editing and Layout - Mark Harrison
email: [email protected]
This publication, printed by Department of Central Services, Printing Services, is issued by the Oklahoma Conservation Commission as authorized by
Mike Thralls, Executive Director. Eight hundred copies are prepared and distributed monthly at a cost of $0.17 each. Copies have been deposited with
the Publications Clearinghouse of the Oklahoma State Department of Libraries. All programs and services of the Oklahoma Conservation Commission
and Oklahoma’s Conservation Districts are offered on a nondiscriminatory basis without regard to race, color, national origin, religion, gender, marital
status or physical disability.
Published monthly by the Oklahoma Conservation Commission
2800 N. Lincoln Blvd., Suite 160 Oklahoma City, Oklahoma 73105-4201
PRSRTSTD
U.S. POSTAGE
PAID
OKLAHOMA
CITY OK
PERMIT NO.
317
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months and then additional money would be needed from
the Legislature to continue the expense for FY2006. The
cost for restoring this expense for the last six months would
be $58,000. The source of funding would be from the
Emergency Watershed Protection Program earnings. He
stated that the health insurance increase would also be
covered. The Committee recommended that watershed
dam operation and maintenance funds being held in reserve, totaling $78,173, remain there for emergencies rather
than to be allocated. Commissioner Stunkard recommended that the Commission accept the Committee’s recommendations. Commissioner Lowrance expressed some
reservations about restoring the director meeting expense.
After discussion Commissioners approved a motion to accept the Committee’s recommendation. Commissioners
then approved an amendment to include the Committee’s
recommendation to restore the district director meeting
expense for six months (January - June) along with the
health insurance increase.
Commissioner Reports
Commissioner Jeans stated that a Jan. 25 dinner would
honor retiring NRCS employee Les Conner.
Staff Reports
Administration: Mike Thralls, OCC executive director,
stated that OCC staff participated in farm shows in Tulsa
and Enid. He provided copies of the High Plains Journal
with an article on conservation by OACD Executive Director Clay Pope. Thralls commended Pope and OCC Information Officer Mark Harrison on their effort. OCC received
a letter from the Oklahoma Department of Libraries stating the book, Out of the Dust, has been nominated for a
national award. Harrison provided copies of an updated
pamphlet entitled Working Together for the Conservation of Oklahoma’s Renewable Natural Resources.
Thralls met with Sec. of Environment Miles Tolbert to prepare for an Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) Region 6 meeting. Thralls also met with Water Resources
Board representatives to discuss an environmental bond
for the Conservation Reserve Enhancement Program. OCC’s
first Senate budget meeting is scheduled for Jan. 20.
Financial Management and Human Resources:
Steve Coffman, FM/HR director, reported his staff had been
putting together financial information as requested by
the state Senate in preparation for the upcoming legislative session. He stated that no information had been received on the payroll conversion to the new CORE system.
Conservation Programs: Robert Toole, CP director,
stated that staff processed 36 Cost-Share Program claims
totaling $54,748.81 and provided assistance to 17 districts. The education coordinator began planning for 2005
workshops and provided assistance to 10 districts. Staff
processed 16 watershed operation and maintenance claims
for a total of $24,916.13 and provided technical assistance to 14 districts. Staff consulted with Caney Valley CD
concerning Double Creek Watershed Site No. 5, and an agreement will be finalized soon. A pre-bid conference was conducted for Cavalry Creek Site 6 in Washita County with bid
opening scheduled. A pre-construction conference was conducted on the Sugar Creek project with NRCS and the contractor. Toole reported that an updated inventory shows the
state has 2,101 small upstream flood control structures.
Water Quality: Larry Edmison, WQ director, reported
OCC’s 319 program received a $466,500 reduction in 2005.
The decrease will not affect personnel at this time but will
do so in the future if other cuts are received. Edmison provided an updated organizational chart of his division. Jim
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The Oklahoma Conservation Commission met Monday, Jan. 10 in the Agriculture Building Board Room, 2800
N. Lincoln Boulevard, Oklahoma City, beginning at 9:30
a.m.
District Director Appointments
* Beaver County - Terry N. Boston
Cimarron Valley - Terry Strader
Delaware County - Jack Harris
* Major County - Matt Gard
* Murray County - John Cagle
South Caddo - Ralph Myers
* Washita County - Leo Goeringer
West Caddo - Marty Oxley
*New Director
Claims/Financial Statement
Commissioners approved claims and financial statement presented by Steve Coffman, Financial Management
and Human Resources director, who reported $816,038.83
in claims paid Nov. 23 - Dec. 27, 2004.
Commission Agreements
Commissioners approved agreements listed below, as
presented by Lisa Knauf, District Services director, for individual conservation districts to assist NRCS with delivery
of Farm Bill programs by allowing district staff to provide
technical assistance.
a. Cimarron Valley Conservation District
b. Central North Canadian River Conservation District
c. Osage County Conservation District
d. Pontotoc County Conservation District
e. Sequoyah County Conservation District
f. West Caddo Conservation District
2005 AML Simplified Grant
Commissioners approved the Office of Surface Mining
2005 AML Simplified Grant as presented by Mike Kastl,
AML Program director, with a breakdown of budget items.
Travel Requests
Commissioners approved the following travel requests:
1. EPA Region 6 Workshop, Jan. 26-27, Dallas, Tex.
(Butler, Ormston)
2. ASIWPCA Mid-Year Meeting, Washington, D.C.
(Edmison, Butler)
NRCS Cost List Update
Commissioners approved a motion to adopt the updated NRCS cost list for the Ft. Cobb, Stillwater Creek and
Spavinaw 319 Implementation Projects, as requested by
Joe Creech, Stillwater Creek Project coordinator,
FY2005-2010 Strategic Plan
Commissioners approved the OCC FY2005-2010 Strategic Plan as submitted by Robert Toole, Conservation Programs director. Commissioner Dan Lowrance commended
Toole for his work with the plan. Toole commended the
entire Strategic Planning team for its work.
Date Change for Regular Scheduled Meeting
Because the date of the April 4 regular scheduled Commission meeting conflicts with the National Association
of Conservation Districts Spring Legislative Conference,
April 3-5, in Washington, D.C., Commissioners approved a
motion to change the meeting date to April 11.
Additional Allocations
Commissioner George Stunkard reported that the Allocations Committee, made up of Commissioners Stunkard
and Rick Jeans, OACD President Royce Casey, OACD Vice
President Pam Mach and OACDE President Carolyn Tucker,
held a teleconference to discuss restoring meeting expenses to conservation district directors. A concern of the committee is that this allocation could only be done for six
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A Summary of the Monthly Meeting of the Oklahoma Conservation Commission (January 2005)
Leach will now be the cost-share and financial director
and Dan Butler will be assistant director. Edmison and staff
will meet with EPA to discuss the Grand Lake Watershed
plan submitted on the 2004 application. If approved, recommendations will be made to do more work in the Grand
Lake area in 2005 and 2006, particularly in Honey Creek
and Flint Creek. Staff has received interest from districts in
doing work on the North Canadian River between Canton
and Oklahoma City and that recommendation may come
in 2007. On Jan. 13 a nonpoint source presentation will be
made in Fort Cobb recommending a 60 percent TMDL reduction in phosphorous and nutrient loading.
Abandoned Mine Land: Mike Kastl, AML director, reported the Whitlock/Jones project is proceeding. The West
Chelsea/Chapman project had been stalled due to rain,
and the low bidder has been accepted on the Smithson101 project. Kastl stated that staff is working with the Department of Transportation on a new emergency in Pittsburg County. Kastl stated that the AML program will now
be required to obtain water discharge permits from the
Department of Environmental Quality on all projects.
Information TTechnology:
echnology: Shellie Willoughby, GIS
specialist, reported that work on the Enochs Tar Creek
project was stalled due to wet weather. Staff completed the
first draft proposal for engineering on the Tar Creek West
Commerce project in the amount of $217,037. The Geographic Information Council will meet Feb. 4 and GIS Day
at the Capitol is March 8. Chris Dunlevy, database manager, gave an update on OCC’s upgraded server systems.
District Services: Lisa Knauf, DS director, negotiated
Performance Agreements with several districts during the
month. She also assisted districts with end of year tax reports and W2 forms.
USDA Natural Resources Conservation Service
Darrel Dominick, NRCS state conservationist, reported
that the NRCS had received its budget containing $10
million less than last year for financial and technical assistance. He stated Gary O’Neill has been named to fill the
assistant state conservationist position vacated by Les Connor’s retirement. Several employees have retired but not all
positions will be filled. NRCS is continuing its inventory
on salt cedar and eastern red cedar. A meeting was held
recently on the issue of using satellite imagery and computer software to address invasive plant species.
Oklahoma Association of Conservation Districts
Clay Pope, OACD executive director, thanked the Commission for restoring the district director meeting expenses
to district directors. He participated in the Tulsa and Enid
Farm Shows and both had a good response. Pope met with
the Oklahoma Academy of State Goals to provide its recommendations to the Legislature, including the Conservation Reserve Enhancement Program (CREP) and environmental bond. Pope met with Senate President Pro Tempore Cal Hobson to discuss OCC’s budget and conservation
issues. Pope sent out the first copy of the OACD electronic
newsletter. In it he thanked Congressman Frank Lucas for
his work on conservation issues.
USDA Farm Service Agency
Rod Wanger, FSA Conservation Programs chief, reported that six employees retired Jan. 1. He gave an update on
crop disaster programs.
Next Meeting
The next regular meeting of the Oklahoma Conservation Commission will be Feb. 1, in the Agriculture Building Board Room, 2800 N. Lincoln Boulevard, Oklahoma
City, Oklahoma beginning at 9:30 a.m.
A Summary of the Monthly Meeting of the Oklahoma Conservation Commission (February 2005)
The Oklahoma Conservation Commission met Feb. 1
in the Agriculture Building Board Room, 2800 N. Lincoln
Boulevard, Oklahoma City, beginning at 9:30 a.m.
District Director Appointments
* Atoka County - Troy Gammon
Atoka County - Roger Richardson
Garfield County - Richard Wuerflein
* Garfield County - Kim Farber
Love County - Richard Taliaferro
Major County - Trent Martens
North Fork of Red River - Kathy Carter
Pawnee County - Allen Fulton
Upper Washita - E.F. Fowler Jr.
*New Director
Elected Position No. 1
Commissioners approved a motion to authorize OCC
Executive Director Mike Thralls to certify eligibility of
candidates for District Director Elected Position No. 1 and
approve polling places in those conservation districts holding elections.
Claims/Financial Statement
Commissioners approved claims and financial statement presented by Steve Coffman, Financial Management
and Human Resources director, who reported $740,362.89
in claims Dec. 28 - Jan. 17.
Agreements
Commissioners approved the following agreements
presented by OCC Assistant Director Ben Pollard:
a. Love County CD, allowing district staff to provide
direct technical assistance to assist NRCS with delivery of
Farm Bill Programs.
b. The Nature Conservancy, to create a statewide portfolio of biologically significant streams by compiling the
aquatic portion of all ecoregion plans into a single product within a statewide ranking system.
Commissioners ratified the following agreements previously approved by Chairman J.T. Winters Jr. and Vice Chairman Rick Jeans:
c. NRCS No. 69-7335-4-40, Amendment 1, for native
grassland demonstration and reclamation in the Tar Creek
area of Ottawa County.
d. Office of Surface Mining, 2004 AML Simplified Grant,
Amendment No. 3 to add $55,000 to cover cost for grout
work on the Spears House/Coy Subsidence Emergency.
Travel Requests
Commissioners approved the following out-of-state
travel requests:
1. Feb. 20-23, International Erosion Control Association Annual Conference, Dallas, Tex. (Toole)
2. March 1-3, Office of Surface Mining, Financial Business Management System Workshop, Phoenix, Ariz. (Stieber, Easton)
3. March 2-4, NAAMLP, 2005 Winter Business Meeting,
Anchorage, Alaska. (Sharp)
Grants
Commissioners approved two grants presented by Water Quality staff Chris DuBois and Shanon Phillips.
1. EPA Region 6, Wetland Program Development.
2. EPA, Clean Water Act, Section 319, Federal FY05-06.
OACD State Meeting
Commissioners approved a motion to cosponsor the
OACD State Meeting Feb. 27 - March 1, 2005, at the Biltmore Hotel in Oklahoma City.
Wister Lake Priority Watershed Project
Commissioners approved a new Best Management Practice for Wister Lake Priority Watershed Project to allow cost
share for poultry litter export, as presented by OCC Water
Quality Director Larry Edmison.
Commissioner Reports
Commissioner Virginia Kidd reported attending a meeting with Sen. Kenneth Corn and environmental agency
personnel to discuss Wister Lake. Commissioner Rick Jeans
attended a retirement dinner for NRCS employee Les Conner. Commissioner George Stunkard stated that Wagoner
County CD and Wagoner County Farm Bureau, Farmers
Union and Cattlemen’s Association will co-host a legislative breakfast in Coweta. Commissioner Dan Lowrance
wrote a letter on behalf of the National Watershed Coalition to the new U.S. Sec. of Agriculture and received a response within a week. Commissioner J.T. Winters Jr. reported that a no-till alliance has started in western Oklahoma.
Staff Reports
Administration: OCC Executive Director Mike Thralls
reported that staff is in process of preparing a preliminary
proposal for the operation of the Conservation Reserve Enhancement Program (CREP) that is included in legislation for an environmental bond. The bond would also address upstream flood control structure rehabilitation and
invasive species control. Sec. of Environment Miles Tolbert
has endorsed the bill and Thralls has discussed it with House
Speaker Todd Hiett. Thralls stated the House Appropriations Subcommittee is beginning agency performance
reviews. OCC’s review will be scheduled in the near future.
OCC Assistant Director Ben Pollard attended the first
meeting of the Senate Appropriations Subcommittee
chaired by Sen. Jeff Rabon. These meetings are part of the
zero-based budgeting process. During the meeting staff
fielded questions about watershed operation, maintenance
and rehabilitation. Pollard and Steve Coffman met with
Risk Management personnel to discuss insurance coverage
for conservation districts for the current year. He reported
that since the districts have a clean claim history, rates
should not be raised significantly. Pollard stated that a
full staff meeting will be held on Feb. 23. Pollard shared a
copy of a guide, Conservation Resources for the News
Media, that has been distributed to all state newspapers.
He also shared copies of a High Plains Journal issue with
an article by OACD Executive Director Clay Pope.
Financial Management and Human Resources:
Steve Coffman, FM/HR director, also reported on the meeting with state Risk Management staff to discuss OCC’s coverage. Staff has provided information on OCC to fiscal
analysts in the House, Senate and the Governor’s office.
Coffman commended Jana Chicoine, administrative officer, and Eldon Merklin, Cost-Share Program coordinator,
for mailing out over 1,000 1099 tax forms to Cost-Share
Program participants.
Conservation Programs: Robert Toole, CP director
reported conservation education staff developed a soils
education program proposal and facilitated a Land and
Range Judging Setup workshop with 12 participants. Watershed Operation and Maintenance staff processed 24
claims, attended four district board meetings, developed a
job description and began the interview process for the
Seminole County CD pilot project. Technical assistance
was provided to 14 conservation districts and staff conducted watershed site video inspections in three districts.
Staff attended board meetings in three districts regarding
watershed rehabilitation. Cost-Share Program staff processed 23 claims for reimbursement and provided assistance to 19 districts. Toole provided copies of the CostShare Program Year 6 final report.
Water Quality: Larry Edmison, WQ director, thanked
members for their support of the water quality grant applications. Edmison reported on the legislative tracking system OCC uses to track legislation, committee hearings,
and numerous other activities related to the legislative
session and provided a printout of bills being tracked.
Abandoned Mine Land: Mike Kastl, AML director, reported that AML has requested additional money from the
Office of Surface Mining for the emergency fund. AML has
three active jobs and four contracts are at the Department
of Central Services. Kastl reported that a contractor was
selected for EWP cleanup work totaling $180,000 in the
Kingfisher County EWP watersheds. The Garfield County
watersheds will be the last contracts under the EWP agreement with the NRCS.
Information TTechnology:
echnology: Mike Sharp, IT director, reported on Tar Creek activities and an opening of a shaft in
the Enochs project. He stated that DCS awarded a contract
on the West Commerce Project to the Benham Group. Six
exploratory wells are being drilled to determine the elevation of the roof and floor mine workings. Mr. Sharp stated
that with the new money OCC has received for the Tar Creek
project, new sites are being identified in the area. He stated
that staff has been working to get all information migrated to the new server and are upgrading email software.
Sharp reported that GIS Day at the Capitol is on March 8.
District Services: Lisa Knauf, Director, reported on attending four board meetings to assist with personnel, tax
and payroll issues. She stated that $87,665 has been obligated under the NRCS Contributions Agreement.
OACD Report
Clay Pope, OACD executive director, stated that Rep.
Don Armes filed a bill in the House for the environmental
bond discussed in Mike Thralls’ report and that Sen. Jay
Paul Gumm has filed a similar bill in the Senate. Rep. Curt
Roggow has expressed interest in the bond as well.
USDA Natural Resources Conservation Service
Darrel Dominick, NRCS state conservationist, reported
working with national headquarters on budget deficit issues. The Oklahoma office has a watershed planning staff
that helps with 2,101 watershed structures in the state, but
did not receive money for watershed planning. He has
implemented a deficit reduction plan that bans out-ofstate travel and includes other conservative measures. Dominick has been working on the Stamper Poultry Litter
Project and has had some requests for specific types of work.
USDA Farm Service Agency
Rod Wanger, Conservation Programs chief, stated that
the Direct and Countercyclical Program signup continues
until June 1. A 164-acre playa lake in Harper County was
the first enrolled in the President’s new initiative program
on restoring wetlands out of floodplain areas in the Conservation Reserve Program.
Next Meeting
The next regular meeting of the Oklahoma Conservation Commission will be March 1 at the Biltmore Hotel, I40 and Meridian Avenue, Oklahoma City, Oklahoma beginning at 8:00 a.m.