NRCS Alaska News

January 6, 2006

In this Issue:

Impostor Exposed

There is one soil type in every state that is designated as the "State Soil."  Normally it is one of the most productive soils in the state or one of the most extensive.  In some states, the designation of a state soil is unofficial.  The soil has been designated by local partners of the National Cooperative Soil Survey, but has no official designation from the state legislature.  In other states, the legislatures have recognized the state soil and it is just as official as the state song or flag.

Alaska has an unofficial state soil – Tanana silt loam.  Years ago, the National Cooperative Soil Survey partners in Alaska made this designation.  Maybe, someday, it will become official (anyone have clout with some of the state legislators?).

Well, if Tanana is the State Soil, then who is this impostor Estelle showing up on numerous web pages?  During the Soil Survey Centennial in 1999, each state was asked to send a monolith or ‘slice’ of their state soil to Washington D.C. for display.  Tanana is a permafrost soil and NHQ wouldn’t consider the cost of refrigeration.  So a monolith of the Estelle series was sent off with explicit instructions that it was not the state soil, but just one of many major soil types in the state.  The rest is history.  Estelle was put up on the national web page as Alaska’s state soil.  This information was then copied onto numerous educational and informational websites around the country.

Now that Estelle has been exposed as an impostor, work is underway to restore Tanana to its’ rightful place.  The national webpage has been updated and provides full information on Tanana silt loam.  Dennis Mulligan and Casey Schroeder prepared a monolith of a thawed phase of Tanana.  The monolith has been sent to NHQ and will be displayed in the Smithsonian soils exhibit along with all the other state soils.

What remains is to correct all the various websites out there that promote Estelle.  It is a lot like stopping a popular rumor.  So, when someone asks you what the state soil is – it’s Tanana.  If you see Estelle listed on a website, notify them that the proper information with pictures is available at http://soils.usda.gov/gallery/state_soils/#list.  We’ll all sleep better!

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Up to $4 Million Available for Cooperative Conservation Partnership Initiative―Proposals Due March 7, 2006

NRCS announces the release of up to $4 million dollars for the Cooperative Conservation Partnership Initiative (CCPI). This nationwide competition fosters the development of conservation partnerships to focus technical and financial resources on conservation priorities in watersheds and airsheds of special significance.  More information is available at http://www.nrcs.usda.gov/programs/ccpi/.

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Up to $20 Million Available for Conservation Innovation Grants—Proposals Due March 20, 2006

NRCS announces the release of up to $20 million dollars for Conservation Innovation Grants (CIG). This nationwide competition promotes the development and adoption of innovative conservation technologies and approaches. More information is available at http://www.nrcs.usda.gov/programs/cig/.

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Retirement Planning Assistance

The USDA Self Service Dashboard provides assistance with calculating retirement.  The Website is https://asp.gdcii.com/dashboard/usdaoa/.  Users must first request a password which will be mailed to their home address.

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CFC Complete

The Combined Federal Campaign is an organized program through which federal employees can give to charitable organizations and was held October 3 through December 2, 2005.  Of 65 Alaska NRCS employees, 17% participated and contributed a total of $3,427.  

Thanks to all who participated!

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More Photo Contest Entries

Click on the thumbnails to enlarge photos. Photos by (from left to right) Mike Mungoven, Joe Moore, Jane Standifer-Trenton, Ryan Maroney, Jane Standifer-Trenton, Mitch Michaud, Ronnie Maurer, Jeff Knutson, Mike Mungoven, Catherine Hadley, Arlene Rosenkrans, Ronnie Maurer, Karin Sonnen, Mike Mungoven, Crystal Leonetti, Ryan Maroney, Mark Clark, Dan Fisher, Bill Wood, Andy Oxford, Dennis Mulligan.