|
Those in Attendance March 3, 1998 |
Howard Johnson, Chair Roger Banner, Secretary |
| Lynn Adair Dwight Bunnell Bruce Bunting N. Jerry Chatterton George Cook Mark Farmer |
Russ Hendricks Jake Jacobsen Tim Munns Tyce Palmer Wes Peterson Greg Radmall |
Val Samuelson Bob Sennett Brent Tanner Alan White |
| 1. Howard Johnson called the meeting to order and welcomed everyone. |
| 2. Howard asked everyone to introduce themselves and then reviewed the Utah GLCI Mission Statement to familiarize all in attendance of our purpose. Howard then reviewed our agenda. |
3. Roger Banner read the minutes of the November 25, 1997 meeting and they were approved |
4. Jake Jacobsen reported on the Outreach committee meeting, indicating that the group needs further instructions from the Steering Committee. The Outreach Committee specifically requested direction on the objectives of the outreach effort and the target audience(s). Jake reported that the outreach group members completed a short survey at their meeting to identify members' perceptions and knowledge of land management and technical issues. Jake proposed that the Steering Committee 1) involve the Outreach committee on the upcoming tour, 2) add an agenda item at the next meeting to discuss the outreach effort, 3) use funds from the EQIP grant to support the outreach effort, and 4) have the Steering Committee members complete the same survey as the information/media specialists completed. The group accepted Jake's proposal. Jake also reported on attending a National GLCI meeting and reported the following information. 1) There are 39 state coalitions. 2) The A#1 top priority of the National GLCI is to strengthen state coalitions. 3) Money funded by Congress for GLCI is suppose to be used to provide new technical assistance. 4) Gary Westmoreland, National GLCI Coordinator, offered to come and provide information on GLCI. The group agreed that we would invite Gary to our upcoming meeting and tour. Gordon Younker, UACD Executive Vice President, requested proposals from SCD's to support the activities they felt were important. These requests were to be included in a UACD request for $1,000,000 to the Utah Legislature. Howard Johnson (with the help of Jake and Roger) submitted a proposal supporting a UACD request to the Legislature for the funding and including a request for $12,500 at the UACD Zone or SCD level and $12,500 at the Utah GLCI Coalition steering committee level for GLCI coordination and education assistance. |
5. Bob Sennett, NRCS Wildlife Biologist, reported that EQIP educational program proposals should be determined by late April. An increase in EQIP funding for the coming year has been requested at the national level. Bob also reported on planting of shelterbelts/windbreaks, the Wetland Reserve Program (WRP) focus is on water control structures. There is a continuous sign-up Conservation Reserve Program (CRP) that can help with grazed pasture and rangeland to be used as riparian buffers. There was some discussion of the need for information and education of landowners and producers about these conservation programs. |
6. Tim Munns reported on efforts to gain acceptance of grazing as a maintenance option for required maintenance on CRP acres by the Natural Resource Conservation Service (NRCS) and the Farm Service Agency (FSA). Some program administrators (Richard Newman and Clark Shackleford) don't think it is discretionary yet grazing is acceptable in the riparian buffer/filter strip CRP program. Roger Banner will be representing Utah at a national technical meeting on grazing as an option for CRP maintenance, March 10-11, 1998. |
7. Mark Farmer coordinated our GLCI meeting/field tour planning with the following results.
*We will meet at the Juab County Center in Nephi at 0900 on May 5, 1998. *Vans will be provided by USU, UDAg & Food, NRCS as needed. *Rides from northern Utah will be available. Contact Roger Banner at (435) 797-2472 (Leave a message if I'm
not in) or rogerb@ext.usu.edu. Mark also reported that the 1995 Range Trend Studies report (NE Utah
including the Uinta Mountains and the Uinta Basin) has been published and is available from Utah |
8. Dwight Bunnell reported that the Division of Wildlife Resources, USU Extension and NRCS are sponsoring a satellite broadcast covering conservation programs such as CRP, WHIP, and WRP at 7:00 p.m. on March 17, 1998. He passed out a handout that identifies 13 broadcast locations (Extension Offices) around Utah that will be receiving the broadcast. Contact local USU Extension office for information or to request that the program be down linked to another county office. Dwight also reported that a new memorandum of understanding (MOU) on preserving open space and rangeland is in place with the Rocky Mountain Elk Foundation. Dwight also informed us that the Habitat Council Report has been published in the form of a calendar. He passed out copies to the members of the committee. |
9. Roger Banner passed out copies of the most current membership list available and requested that corrections be made relative to names, addresses, phone numbers and individuals representing organizations. He also asked for email addresses from all who have them so correspondence and communication can be done electronically saving paper and postage. |
10. Howard Johnson pointed out the need for the GLCI mission and activities to be implemented locally as we stated in our Utah GLCI Strategic Plan. Howard proposed that we need GLCI contacts locally to coordinate the GLCI program and to be located where ranchers and farmers can get information and help. Wes Peterson made a motion that the GLCI Steering Committee request from the UACD President that the seven local SCD Zone Coordinators be asked to take the lead in facilitating and coordinating the GLCI mission and activities, as stated in the Utah GLCI Strategic Plan, through the local Soil Conservation Districts. The motion was seconded by Tim Munns and it passed. |
11, Roger Banner asked for help with an educational effort on ranching, grazing, and environmental stewardship by ranchers that will be directed toward members of the Utah Society for Environmental Education (2000 teachers). Lynn Adair, Brent Tanner, and others offered information and help. Brent Tanner pointed out that Debra Spielmaker, Utah Ag in the Classroom coordinator has already laid much of the groundwork and will be able to help me a great deal. George Cook offered to host groups at his place in Wellington. |
12. The next GLCI Steering Committee meeting will be held on May 5, 1998 during the field tour. The meeting was adjourned lunch was provided by or as a result of Howard Johnson. Thank you Howard. |
. Action Items and responsible parties: