Forest Service, US Department of Agriculture WATERSHED – FISH – WILDLIFE – AIR – RARE PLANTS ::: WFW MONTHLY WFW STAFF NEWSLETTER May 2009 CONTENTS News Coming Events Technical Information & Publications Training & Tools Sharing Success Vacancies/ Employment Opportunities General/Cross Area * Air Resource Appeals & Litigation Aquatic/Fish Continuing Education/WFW * NatureWatch Planning Soil TES * * Watershed * * * Weather Wildlife * * Other Staffs or Partners R6 R1, R3, R5,R9 NPS * Click on the header to take you to this section of the newsletter. Federal job announcements can be found at: http://jobsearch.usajobs.opm.gov/agency_search.asp Submit your information Disclaimer & Non-Discrimination Statement News: GENERAL/CROSS AREA National Fishing and Boating Week Youth Fishing Day at the National Mall On Monday, June 8th, 2009 as part of the National Get Outdoors Week Celebration, the Forest Service plans to again help co-host National Fishing and Boating Day at the National Mall. This event allows approximately 350 elementary schoolchildren (4th, 5th and 6th graders) from Maryland, Virginia and the District of Columbia the opportunity to fish along with government staff and leadership in the Constitution Gardens Pond. The Annual D.C. National Fishing and Boating Week Youth Fishing Event is a collaborative effort between the U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service, The D.C. Dept. of the Environment, the National Oceanographic and Atmospheric Administration, the National Park Service, the Bureau of Land Management, the Bureau of Reclamation, the U.S. Army Corps of Engineers, the U.S. Forest Service, the Recreational Fishing and Boating Foundation, Trout Unlimited and Catch A Special Thrill (C.A.S.T.) Foundation for Kids. This event provides the Secretary of Agriculture and the Secretary of Interior the opportunity to implement their priorities of helping America’s youth reconnect with nature. The youth participating in the event have historically been from urban neighborhoods where their opportunity to participate in these types of activities have been limited. A significant portion of the kids participating in this event will be fishing for the first time. Events such as these are designed to simultaneously begin to cultivate aquatic resource stewardship in these young people as well as to get them outdoors and having fun while they are fishing. Submitted By: Abigail Adams, USFS, Yale School of Forestry & Environmental Studies Student Call for 2008 Award Nominations: Rise to the Future, Hydrologist, and Soil Scientist Awards REPLY DUE: July 10, 2009 Each year, along with our partners, we are pleased to honor those who have been leaders in the implementation of our fish, hydrology, and soil science programs across the country. We ask your assistance in identifying those top performers who are making significant contributions in fish and watershed resource management within the National Forest System. A summary of the award categories is enclosed, along with a nomination form. Note that several of the awards can be given to either internal or external individuals or groups. Since we no longer select one recipient per Region, we urge you to provide Regional recognition for your top performers. This year, in addition to the Rise to the Future Fisheries Award, we will recognize outstanding performance in the watershed program and the soils program. The “Rise to the Future” and “National Hydrologist and Soil Scientist” Awards will be presented in Washington, DC in October 2009. Please share this nomination request widely, both internally and externally. Completed forms should be sent to David Schmid, National Fish Program Leader, no later than July 10, 2009. For more information, please access the WFW internet site. * Call for Nominations letter (24 KB) * Categories (15 KB) * Nomination Form (22 KB) Submitted By: David Schmid, USFS/WO/WFW Netta Grant Accepted a New Job! Yes, I have accepted a new position with the Department’s OCIO. My last day with the WFW staff is Friday, June 5th. I want to thank all of you for your teamwork in the building and support of WFRP-MS over the years. But, more importantly, I want to thank you for your friendships and support when I needed them most, over the last three years. I have been blessed beyond measure. I will truly miss my family I have here. I’ll make it a point to keep in touch, since I’m only a phone call away. Take care and God bless all of you. Submitted By: Netta Grant, USFS/WO/WFW Save the Bees – Eat Häagen Dazs http://www.helpthehoneybees.com/ Bee-built ingredients: Cherries, Strawberries, Pears, Cherries, Macadamia Nuts, Mango, and Peppermint. You can thank the bees for bringing us these delicious all-natural ingredients. Buy a pint and make a toast to the honey bees! Circulated By: Wayne Owen, USFS/WO/WFW Funding Opportunity from the Joint Fire Science Program Closing Date: July 10, 2009 5:00 PM Mountain Daylight Time Regional Science Delivery and Outreach JFSP Request for Applications (RFA) 2009-4 Submit your using the electronic submission process provided on the JFSP website www.firescience.gov.  Proposals should not be submitted in Grants.gov. There will be no exceptions to this closing date. More Information Submitted By: Jina Mariani, USFS/WO/WFW WATERSHED NFF Matching Awards Program Pre-Proposal - including Watershed Health and Restoration REPLY DUE: June 6, 2009 Funding opportunity from the National Forest Foundation to share with watershed partners: The National Forest Foundation is currently soliciting Pre-Proposals for the second round of the 2009 Matching Awards Program. The program provides 1:1 challenge grants to organizations implementing action-oriented, on-the-ground stewardship and citizen-based science projects that benefit America's National Forests and Grasslands. One of their priorities is Watershed Restoration and Enhancement, including projects that address critical issues such as non–point source pollution and fish habitat enhancement. Potential project activities include: a) Sediment reduction through slope stabilization and contouring; b) Planting of native species in damaged riparian areas; c) Removal of invasive exotic species; d) Culvert replacement to improve fish passage. Pre-Proposals are due on June 6, 2009 and may be submitted electronically. To learn more about the Matching Awards Program, including how to apply and to view the RFP, visit http://www.nationalforests.org/conserve/grantprograms/ontheground/map. Please note that the RFP for round two has been revised and is different from the RFP used in round one. Submitted By: Polly Hayes, USFS/R2/WFW WILDLIFE Sportsmen’s Attitudes on Oil and Gas Extraction Activities in the Rocky Mountain West New report out from the group, Responsive Management, on sportsmen’s opinions toward energy development. Some of the major findings include (excerpted from report): * 76% to 84% of sportsmen in each state strongly or moderately oppose oil and gas extraction industry exemptions regulations to protect rivers and streams. * 71% to 78% of sportsmen in the four states agree that the federal government should take more steps to protect fish and wildlife on lands that have been leased for oil and gas extraction. Full Report (334KB PDF – 115 pages) News Release (PDF – 2 pages) Submitted By: Jina Mariani, USFS/WO/WFW Coming Events – Conferences & Meetings: WATERSHED International Forest and Water Conference - Raleigh, NC DATE: September 14 – 16, 2009 Visit the conference website for a detailed program & more info: http://www.sgcp.ncsu.edu:8080/ Contacts: Kelley Duffield McCarter - registration questions (kelley_mccarter@ncsu.edu). Jennifer Moore Myers (jennifer_mooremyers@ncsu.edu), or Ge Sun (ge_sun@ncsu.edu) - General or technical program questions. More Information – flyer (170 KB) Submitted By: Jean Thomas, USFS/WO/WFW Call for papers: 2010 Water Quality Monitoring Conference - Denver CO The National Water Quality Monitoring Council (NWQMC) is proud to host its Seventh National Monitoring Conference - Monitoring From the Summit to the Sea - to be held in Denver, Colorado from April 25-29, 2010. The conference will focus on the many facets of water quality and quantity monitoring for improved understanding, protection, and restoration of our natural resources and communities. The conference is a centerpiece forum for communication that generally attracts 500-800 water practitioners from all backgrounds-including governmental organizations, volunteers, academia, watershed and environmental groups, and the private sector-to exchange information, develop skills, and foster collaboration and coordination. Come present and learn about new findings on the quality of the Nation's streams and groundwater, estuaries, and lakes, as well as recent innovations and cutting-edge tools in water-quality monitoring, assessment, and reporting. We are very excited about the conference in Denver - not only because of its vibrant downtown nestled in outdoor grandeur - but because it provides an ideal venue to show case western water issues, including sustainable water management and efforts to evaluate effects of climate on water quality, quantity, and aquatic ecosystems. Please refer to the attached "Call for Abstracts" for specifics on themes and potential topics of interest. The on-line abstract submission system will be up and running in the beginning of June. More Information Feel free to distribute this call for papers to any appropriate institutions and colleagues. With your participation we look forward to another exciting and informative conference. Submitted By: Jean Thomas, USFS/WO/WFW Call for Papers: Joint 9th Federal Interagency Sedimentation Conference Conference Dates: June 27 - July 1, 2010 Abstract Papers Due: July 1, 2009 Joint 9th Federal Interagency Sedimentation Conference and 4th Federal Interagency Hydrologic Modeling Conference is seeking papers. The 2010 Conference will be held in Las Vegas, Nevada. Additional Iinformation: http://www.jfic2010.org/JFIC-Call-for-Papers-102808.pdf Submitted By: Jean Thomas, USFS/WO/WFW Technical Information & Publications: TES – Threatened and Endangered Species Nursery Manual for Native Plants: A Guide for Tribal Nurseries The Rocky Mountain Research Station has the following publication available in single or multiple copies: Dumroese, R. Kasten; Luna, Tara; Landis, Thomas D., editors. 2009. Nursery Manual for Native Plants: A Guide for Tribal Nurseries. Agriculture Handbook 730, Volume 1: Nursery Management. Washington, DC: Department of Agriculture, Forest Service. 302 p. Color. This 17-chapter manual provides basic, easy-to-understand information for operating a native plant nursery. The first section, “Getting Started”, discusses planning a native plant nursery, understanding the “target plant concept”, and developing plant production protocols. The second section, “Developing Your Nursery”, includes information on proper propagation environments, types of growing media, and container selection. The third section, “Growing Plants”, is comprised of eight chapters that focus on collecting and processing seeds, seed germination, vegetative propagation, water quality and application, fertilization, hardening, plant storage and shipping, and application of beneficial microorganisms. The last section, “Problem Solving”, addresses pest management, overall nursery management, and how to properly install trials to improve nursery performance. Intended for use by Native Americans, the manual is well illustrated with photos and line drawings, includes many real-world examples, and would be useful to anyone that is considering starting a native plant nursery, or refining their current operation. There is NO charge for this publication and to order single or multiple copies: Email: rschneider@fs.fed.us (include full mailing address) FAX: 970-498-1122 Phone: 970-498-1392 Mail: Send your name and address in block format (as if you are addressing an envelope) to: Publications Distribution Rocky Mountain Research Station 240 West Prospect Road Fort Collins, CO 80526-2098 USA Submitted By: David Pivorunas, USFS/WO/WFW WATERSHED Wyland and USFS Launch Education Campaign On June 11, 2009, world renowned artist Wyland, the U.S. Forest Service and the National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration (NOAA) will launch a national Forest to the Sea in a Changing Climate education campaign. The kick-off event will take place at the People’s Garden on the National Mall with Wyland, students from the DC Commission on Arts and Humanities and local schools painting a series of murals exploring how kids can have a positive impact on local watersheds from the forests to the sea. Briefing Paper (85 KB) Wyland Foundation – official website Wyland Foundation – Wikipedia Submitted By: Jean Thomas, USFS/WO/WFW WILDLIFE Research Results on Lighting and Avian Collisions with Communication Towers (Excerpted from email by Dr. Gehring) Recent publication in the journal "Ecological Applications" reports on some of the work conducted in Michigan on avian collisions with communication towers.  Paul Kerlinger, Al Manville, and Joelle Gehring prepared this paper to focus on the relationship between avian collisions and tower lighting systems. The FAA has committed to conducting conspicuity tests this year to determine if pilot safety would be compromised by extinguishing the steady-burning lights on communication towers.  If they determine that this would be a safe lighting configuration they will likely revise their Obstruction Marking and Lighting Advisory Circular (AC 70/7460-1K), which would then give tower operators the option of extinguishing those steady-burning/non-blinking lights causing 70% of avian fatalities.  If applied at a national level it is estimated that millions of bird collisions would be prevented every year. Article (711 KB PDF) – available to USDA employees via DigiTop. Submitted By: Jina Mariani, USFS/WO/WFW Training and Tools: TES – Threatened & Endangered Species Partnership with Ravenswood Media produces Video Ravenswood Media, US Forest Service and US Fish & Wildlife have produced a short video on White Nose Syndrome, The Battle For Bats. It can be viewed and downloaded at www.cavebiota.com. Please share. Submitted By: David Pivorunas, USFS/WO/WFW WFW Continuing Education Program 2010 Training Coming Soon! We are still gathering and processing the 2010 dates and information. You can “request” the usual training in AgLearn. We plan on having the information in AgLearn before June 12th. There are a number of “new” offerings this year – new to WFW Continuing Education program. Sharing Success: Read success stories at our USFS Success Story Reporting System. Have a USFS Success? Share it through the USFS Success Story Reporting System. http://www.fs.fed.us/r9/ssrs/index.php - NOW ON WWW! REGION 6 US Forest Service, Pacific Northwest Region, Natural Resources Staff Accomplishment Report Region 6 just completed and released their FY08 Legacy Roads and Trails Accomplishment Report. For more information and to review the document, please access the following site: http://www.fs.fed.us/r6/ Submitted By: Brian Staab, USFS/R6/WFW Bald Eagle Chick hatches on Live Cam! We had a successful hatch on our live bald eagle nest cam on the Deschutes National Forest! Watch the parents feed the chick. The chick is growing fast. The excitement from so many folks who watch the cam is off the charts. Our partner, Marcia Langhorst, has posted some of the video on YouTube, where she said her discussion group has had over 75,000 hits - and this was before the chick even hatched! We hope to get the clips on the FS site soon. Watching this live is wonderful. This is great positive visibility for the Forest Service and our NatureWatch Program/Website. Having our National Symbol on our National Forests, Live on Camera for the world to watch the birth and raising of a new Bald Eagle chick is very special. Watch the eagle family at the Live Cam (URL link) Software requirements for video watching: Need Quicktime Player software to view the live cam. Most FS computers have it. If not, get it from the Apple Quicktime website. FS employees will need to access the FS "gadgets" website to get administrative permission. You can then download it free of charge. Immense thanks to all who made this happen! Enjoy and please distribute this success story to family and friends. Submitted By: Don Virgovic, USFS/WO-R6/WFW Vacancies/Employment Opportunities: www.usajobs.gov REGION 1 Vacancy: Regional Wildlife Program Leader Application Date: June 12, 2009 GS-12/13 - announcement ADS09-WWFR-5100G (P-KL) Duty station: Missoula, MT Duties: * Manages, coordinates, or provides technical support to wildlife, vegetation and biological resource programs and projects. * Provides technical advice and assistance in the implementation and evaluation of wildlife resource management programs and projects. Consultations involve assessment of wildlife resources, species, habitats, environmental impacts, biological evaluations, and related regulatory requirements and compliance guidelines. * Establishes or maintains professional contacts to exchange information, plan, coordinate, advise, or consult on wildlife resource management matters. Promotes cooperation and partnerships in managing multi-use wildlife resources. * The incumbent performs work involving the gathering, analysis and interpretation of scientific data. Apply: www.usajobs.gov REGION 3 Outreach Notice: Wildlife Biologist – Carson NF, Jicarilla RD GS – 486-9; EPAct Pilot Project Team Duty Station: Bloomfield, New Mexico Vacancy Announcement: Expected to be posted in June, 2009 Contact: Jimmy Dickerson, FS Liaison, jwdickerson@fs.fed.us or 505- 599-6344 Information Document (124 KB PDF) Outreach - Detailer General: 3 positions in fuels, wildlife and silviculture – 4 Forests Project Implementation Team Members 4-Forest Restoration Initiative: Apache-Sitgreaves, Coconino, Kaibab, Tonto National Forests * Fuels Management Specialist, GS-0401-11/12 * Silviculturist, GS-0460-11/12 * Wildlife Biologist, GS-0486-11/12 Information Document (20 KB PDF) Vacancy: Hydrologist GS11 - SouthWest Region, Lincoln National Forest, Alamogordo NM Application Date: June 8, 2009 GS11 Hydrologist on the Lincoln National Forest This is an Open Continuous vacancy announcement with no closing date. The duty station is located in Alamogordo, NM, but the area covers the Capitan Mountains, the Sacramentos and the Guadalupe Mountain Ranges. High elevations above 10,000 feet in the Capitans and Sacramentos often contain mesic mountain meadows, and limestone seeps/springs are not uncommon. Vacancy Announcement: ADS07-R5-HYDRO-0911G and ADS07-R5-HYDRO-0911DP Link Those that wish to be considered for this position must apply to the vacancy announcement by June 8, 2009. The Referral List for this position will be issued to the selecting official on June 12, 2009. All applicants who have applied to the announcement on or before the listed dates and are found to be qualified and in the quality group will be referred for consideration. Be sure to list ALAMOGORDO NM as the preferred duty station to be considered for hiring on the Lincoln National Forest. REGION 5 Detail Outreach & Vacancy: GIS Specialist - Klamath NF, Goosenest RD Data Services Specialist (GIS), GS-0301-09 The Klamath National Forest in northern California needs to fill a vacancy with a 120-day Detail for a GS-9 GIS Specialist. This is a temporary promotion opportunity for GS-7 employees. Duty station: Goosenest Ranger District in Macdoel, California. Contact: Goosenest RD, 530-398-4391 or klamathinfo@fs.fed.us REGION 9 District Ranger Opportunities on the Monongahela Application Date: June 11, 2009 The Monongahela will soon be advertising two Ranger vacancies. Please share these opportunities with as many candidates as possible. Duty Location #1: Petersburg, West Virginia - Cheat-Potomac Ranger District. Information Document - Cheat-Potomac RD (127 KB PDF) Duty Location #2: Richwood, West Virginia - Gauley Ranger District. Information Document - Gauley RD (268 KB PDF) OTHER National Park Service Vacancy: Fisheries Biologist – Fort Collins, CO Application Dates: May 8, 2009 - June 4, 2009 GS-0482-12 Water Resources Advertised as both merit promotion eligible and all sources and can be found on USA JOBS Vacancy Announcement: # NPSWASO-CO-09-257122. Weblink to the job announcement: http://jobsearch.usajobs.gov/ftva.asp?seeker=1&JobID=80870949   Vacancy: Natural Resources Program Chief in the Pacific West Regional Office Applications Due: June 2, 2009 Duty Station: Oakland, CA GS 14; Pacific West Region, Oakland, CA; government wide Posted on USA Jobs WFW Newsletter Contact Information: Disclaimer – Non Discrimination Statement WFW Newsletter is a monthly newsletter without a clever name and is provided by the National Forest System Watershed-Fish-Wildlife-Air-Rare Plants staff (including Soils and Meteorology) of the USDA Forest Service. Contributions are welcome and should be submitted to Netta Grant at agrant@fs.fed.us or your favorite Program Leader no later than the 20th of each month. We reserve the right to edit contributions for clarity and brevity. Emphasis is on brevity. Links to detailed URLs or documents are great – include them in your information contribution. If photos are included in your submission, please provide alternative text with each photo. Alternative text should not repeat captions but describe the scene shown in the photo. If brevity and clarity are a struggle for you, we recommend the “Plain & Simple! Document Writing” workshop instructed by Dr. Jud Monroe. Vacancy Positions listed are for outreach purposes only and are not full announcements. Interested individuals should contact the units referenced or consult the USAJOBS website. "The U.S. Department of Agriculture (USDA), prohibits discrimination in all its programs and activities on the basis of race, color, national origin, age, disability, and where applicable, sex, marital status, familial status, parental status, religion, sexual orientation, genetic information, political beliefs, reprisal, or because all or a part of an individual's income is derived from any public assistance program. (Not all prohibited bases apply to all programs.) Persons with disabilities who require alternative means for communication of program information (Braille, large print, audiotape, etc.) should contact USDA's TARGET Center at (202) 720-2600 (voice and TDD). To file a complaint of discrimination write to USDA, Director, Office of Civil Rights, 1400 Independence Avenue, S.W., Washington, D.C. 20250-9410 or call (800) 795-3272 (voice) or (202) 720-6382 (TDD). USDA is an equal opportunity provider and employer." WFW Newsletter Page 1 of 11