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2000 REPORT - OKLAHOMA EXECUTIVE SUMMARY

Two thousand was an active year in Oklahoma for this New emerging Materials needs for program. Over 100 landowners participated in the program 2000 included: which provided tree planting in addition to enhanced existing þPropagation of culturally significant working with future forestland result in over 2,350 acres planted. As a result, the Muscogee (Creek) Nation nearly one million trees were planted. þPlant species established for bioengineering application Surveys in Oklahoma þPlant species evaluated for use as potential biofuels þPreservation of federally listed threatened plant species Conservation of and is an þEnhanced seeding preparation and techniques for native important part of all landuse in Oklahoma. The maps and soil Land, Water and People forbs and legumes Land, Water and People descriptions in soil surveys can help in identifying specific þReleased two superior highly adaptive legume species conservation problems in a given area and planning measures þWoody plant species evaluative for windbreak/ to reduce erosion, sedimentation, subsidence, slippage, wetness, plantings , and other hazards. Currently, modern published soil surveys are available For more information on the Plant Materials Program, visit in 75 of the 77 counties in Oklahoma. The Natural Resources the web site at: http://Plant-Materials.nrcs.usda.gov Conservation Service is the only agency with data that can provide these at no-cost to landowners, farmers and ranchers. Small Watershed Program “Soil is the fundamental entity for all living and nonliving things. The Watershed Protection and Prevention Act of It is like the human race, comes in variable colors, shapes, structures, 1954, and Public Law 83-566 (Small Watershed Program) provides and texture. If ill-treated, it will deteriorate and fall short of supporting broad authority to USDA agencies and other federal and state the living and nonliving things. So, handle it with care and respect.” agencies to cooperate in watershed planning, surveys, and Andy Piri, Soil Scientist investigations. The Conservation Service works Private Grazing Lands Technical Assistance with the natural resources districts as the local sponsor on watershed projects. Grazing lands, which include , pastureland, The Natural Resources Conservation Service uses the grazed , and grazed cropland are the backbone of Small Watershed Program to map flood hazard areas, reduce local Oklahoma’s agricultural industry. The Natural Resources flooding problems, develop guidelines for erosion control and Conservation Service provides assistance to landowners to runoff management, help landowners control erosion in high improve range and pasture conditions by managing for forage priority watersheds, and improve water quality to water bodies improvement, weed and brush control, erosion control, and and . revegetation. With many Oklahoma dam construction dates dating Partnerships with landowners and other organizations from the 1940s, several dams have exceeded their 50-year design help expand the management of grazing lands. The Grazing . A survey of rehabilitation needs of watershed dams in 2000 Oklahoma Land Conservation Initiative (GLCI) is a voluntary effort to Oklahoma was conducted. That survey indicated that 190 dams 2000 Oklahoma enhance privately owned lands. Hands-on workshops, tours, were in need of rehabilitation at an estimated cost of $52.7 million. and training sessions were conducted to over 5,000 customers Chief of the Natural Resources Conservation Service, this year through this process. Pearlie Reed, selected Oklahoma to establish a national pilot AnnualAnnual ReportReport In 2000, prescribed grazing was completed on 751,081 acres project on rehabilitation of aging flood control dams. The Sergeant in Oklahoma. Significant range assistance was provided after Major Creek Watershed was selected for this pilot project, and a the wildfires and tornadoes in the state. celebration was held in Cordell, Oklahoma, to mark the 50th anniversary of the nation’s first upstream flood control dam, NaturalNatural ResourcesResources ConservationConservation Plant Materials Cloud Creek, in Washita County, Oklahoma. This celebration Responsibility for plant science activities of the Natural raised to national attention the fact that many flood control dams Resources Conservation Service is a primary function of the Plant in Oklahoma and across the nation, would soon reach the end of ActivitiesActivities Materials Program. Oklahoma is served by three plant materials their 50-year designed life and many would require rehabilitation. centers, dedicated to providing vegetative solutions to Reconstruction of Sergeant Major Creek site was conservation problems. completed and dedicated in April 2000. The principal spillway The primary products produced by the Plant Materials was raised to provide sediment storage for the next 100 years. Program include the development of improved varieties of plants and plant science technology. The principal customers of the program include: wThe Natural Resources Conservation Service offices, who in turn serve both rural and urban land owners and managers wPublic agencies, universities, and private conservation related affiliations that utilize the technology developed by the program wCommercial seed and plant growers who receive seeds ““America’sAmerica’s goodgood fortunefortune and plants of selected superior species, then produce the material on a larger basis, and make it available to can’tcan’t possiblypossibly lastlast longerlonger the public thanthan herher naturalnatural resourcesresources.”.”

The United States Department of (USDA) prohibits discrimination in its programs and activities on the basis of race, color, national origin, gender, , age, disability, political beliefs, sexual orientation, and marital or familial status. (Not all prohibited bases apply to all programs.) Persons with disabilities who require alternative WillWill RogersRogers means for communication of program information (Braille, large print, audiotape, etc.) should contact the USDA’s TARGET Center at 202-720-2600 (voice and TDD). To file a complaint of discrimination, write USDA, Director, Office of Civil Rights, Room 326W, Whitten Building, 14th and Independence Avenue, SW, Washington, DC, 20250-9410 (Oklahoma’s(Oklahoma’s favoritefavorite son)son) or call 202-720-5964 (voice or TDD). USDA is an equal opportunity provider and employer. 12/00 OK Printed on recycled paper 2000 REPORT - OKLAHOMA EXECUTIVE SUMMARY 2000 REPORT - OKLAHOMA EXECUTIVE SUMMARY

became the local unit of government in which the Soil activities that increase conservation of natural resources, Conservation Service was to operate through, and the support economic development, and enhance the Natural 100 USDA, Suite 206 partnership was born. environment and standard of living in local communities. Resources Stillwater, OK 74074-2655 Today the Natural Resources Conservation Service In this program, the local people in the Conservation (405) 742-1204 (NRCS) is a federal agency in the U.S. Department of community make the choices for their community – Service www.ok.nrcs.usda.gov Agriculture. The name change in 1994 from Soil whether they work on land conservation, water Dear Oklahomans: Conservation Service to Natural Resources Conservation management, environmental enhancement, community Welcome to our 2000 edition of “Land, Water, and People”, a highlight of annual Service was to better reflect the current role of the agency development, or something unique to their particular accomplishments for the USDA Natural Resources Conservation Service in Oklahoma. – to conserve all natural resources. The primary function area. In every case, local people are the decision-makers. This is a first hand look at what our Oklahoma farmers, ranchers, communities and of the agency is to provide leadership and assistance in landowners have accomplished. These conservationists utilize technical and financial the conservation of natural resources on private lands. Rural Abandoned Mine Program (RAMP) assistance from the Natural Resources Conservation Service (NRCS) to accomplish The Natural Resources Conservation Service works The purpose of the Rural Abandoned Mine voluntary conservation on the . This work has off site benefits that help through local conservation districts to solve natural Program is to reclaim the soil and of rural communities with clean water, clean air and sustainable soils. resource concerns by providing help to individuals, lands adversely affected by past coal practices. The accomplishments you will find in this publication are truly a partnership effort in action. The Oklahoma groups, organizations, cities, towns, and state Abandoned surface mines pose an “attractive Conservation Partnership extends to many groups such as: Oklahoma Association of Conservation Districts, government. An agency for the people, providing no- nuisance” to young people and others for swimming, Oklahoma Conservation Commission, and the Oklahoma State Resource Conservation and Development cost technical conservation assistance to America’s fishing, etc. Location of some of these next to county roads Association. Other conservation partners such as Oklahoma State University Cooperative Extension, Langston private lands. has resulted in vehicle accidents. The presence of the pits University, the American Indian Nations and many other local, state, and national partners play important roles in Emergency Watershed Protection (EWP) pose a life threatening risk to Oklahoman’s of all ages, helping people get conservation accomplished. with the majority of the pits located in the fastest growing This unique partnership effort brings talents and special assistance of each to the table to benefit the landscape Program county, Rogers County. Between 1980 and 1999, 52 and communities. This leadership accomplished projects such as: v The Natural Resources Conservation Service projects have been completed on 1,102 acres. Emergency Watershed Protection Program (EWP) – 1.5 million cubic yards of debris were removed from 16 provides emergency restoration for eligible projects that counties after $1 billion in insured loses due to tornado damage; Successes include: v relieve imminent threat to life and property due to EWP assistance to partners and landowners after the Binger and Shady Point wildfires that included aerial impairments to the watershed through the Emergency þThe Natural Resources Conservation Service seeding and erosion control for restoration work; v Watershed Protection program. received 1997 funding for a special Public Law 566 and Public Law 534 – Oklahoma’s Small Watershed Program - National legislation was Oklahoma committed over $15.1 million in EWP demonstration project to showcase the passed to rehabilitate aging watershed structures in which Oklahoma has over 2,000; program funds for 1999/2000. Some of the disasters cooperative efforts between the Natural vWetland Conservation – Over 115,511 acres of wetlands created; v covered under this funding were: Resources Conservation Service and the state Soil Survey–Much natural resource work starts with soils and many soil surveys are being digitized; w74 tornadoes that crossed through 16 counties Abandoned Mine Land program vOklahoma Buffer Partnership - Rolling out the state Buffer Program and related promotional actions; þ v with additional tornadoes occurring in The Natural Resources Conservation Service Grazing Lands Coalition – Providing livestock producers technical assistance through range conservationists Comanche, Cherokee, and LeFlore Counties personnel incorporate designs, construction and grazing lands specialists. wFlooding events that occurred affecting 48 drawings, and specifications into construction The natural resource challenges ahead will become more complex. There will be a need for our conservation counties contracts partnership to work diligently on the voluntary approach to conservation on private lands. There are also the wWildfires that ravaged 40,000 acres in þThe Natural Resources Conservation Service challenges of having the resources to get the job done. The funds spent on private land conservation today do not Oklahoma provides engineering support to the partnership have the buying power of what was spent on efforts in the 1940s. For example, for every $5 spent on public lands As a result of these disasters, there were 44 fatalities þThis partnership was awarded the “Mid- today there is only $1 spent on private land. Over 70 percent of the U. S. is private land and over 95 percent of and 795 persons injured. Approximately 3,150 homes Reclamation Award” by the Office of Oklahoma is privately held. This land and the people of the land provide us with water, and fiber for daily were destroyed and a total of 4,870 were determined to Surface Mining. survival. be unlivable. The total insured losses were reported to The investment in conservation is an investment for the next generation and sustainable communities. be one billion dollars. It would be virtually impossible Locations and Needs: Oklahoma has a rich history of responding to conservation challenges such as the “ Bowl”. Oklahoma will to put a dollar amount on the natural resources loss. More FThere are approximately 120 abandoned mines again respond to the conservation challenges we have today. than one-third of the Oklahoma Natural Resources in Oklahoma I hope you will reflect with pride on these conservation accomplishments for Oklahoma. By Listening...Joint Conservation Service staff worked on the flooding and FOffice of Surface Mines estimates reclamation Decision-Making...and ACTION we can make even further strides for 2001. Thank you for being a part of the best tornado related EWP restoration work. costs to be over $56 million conservation partnership and for being a steward for conservation of Oklahoma’s natural resources. FProjects are designed and ready for contracting, Projects that Oklahoma Natural Resources pending fund approval. Conservation Service accomplished: Darrel Dominick v Forestry Incentive Program (FIP) Oklahoma State Conservationist Stream bank restoration projects due to flooding in Lincoln, Oklahoma, Carter, Logan, Okmulgee, Oklahoma’s forestlands are a valued renewable Tulsa, Creek, Kay, Kiowa, Blaine, and Alfalfa natural resource dependent upon harvesting results and reforestation techniques. Pressure placed on this resource the first of which was established in Guthrie, Oklahoma. Counties totaled $3 million. A Short History of the Natural Resources vDebris removal due to tornadoes covering may result in less forested acreage, dwindling Conservation Service in Oklahoma In 1934, the first great dust storm swept fine particles production, and deterioration of the forest ecosystem. of soil from the Great Plains over Washington, D.C., and Cleveland, Lincoln, Grady, Oklahoma, McClain, When settlers first came to Oklahoma, they found Canadian, Noble, Payne, Logan, Comanche, Oklahoma has approximately 2.6 million acres 300 miles out into the Atlantic . This storm, along of timberland, of which less than 60 percent is stocked lush native and productive soils. Settlers with Dr. Bennett’s urging, convinced Congress to form the Cherokee, Pottawatomie, Kingfisher, and LeFlore Counties totaled $10.3 million. with desirable trees necessary to meet the timber plowed up the grasslands to raise crops and food, not Soil Erosion Service (SES) in the Department of Interior. In v realizing how fragile the land was in the state. After only Dead bird disposal from the January 2000 production needs of our growing nation. Another 500,000 1935, the second great dust storm occurred and Congress acres of cleared marginal agriculture production land a few years of cropping, the land felt the effects of transferred the Soil Erosion Service to the U.S. Department snowstorms in McCurtain County totaled $48,000. would be better suited for trees. Landowners have droughts and high winds. of Agriculture. Dr. Bennett was named chief of the Soil v By the early 1930s, Oklahoma was in the heart of And the work continues! applied for over $273,000 in Forestry Incentive Program Conversation Service. funding. The Natural Resources Conservation Service the “Dust Bowl.” Dr. Hugh Hammond Bennett (later to By 1937, the President sent a letter to all governors Resource Conservation and Development become the first chief of the Service) developed contracts which obligated nearly $141,000 of urging them to pass legislation to effect a soil conservation federal cost-share assistance for 2000. Several of these had preached for years about the dangers to come. He service program. Oklahoma was one of the first states to (RC&D) Program presented facts to Congress in 1927, which lead to the contracts were only funded due to emergency FIP funds pass such legislation. The McIntosh Soil Conservation Resource Conservation and Development allocated from natural disaster damages. establishment of 10 erosion control experiment stations, District was the first to organize. Conservation districts programs help people in rural areas plan and carry out