North Dakota State Soil Conservation Committee
North Dakota State University - NDSU Extension Service
NORTH DAKOTA
STATE SOIL
CONSERVATION COMMITTEE
2718
Gateway Ave., #104 - Bismarck, ND 58503
Phone: (701) 328-9718 - Fax: (701) 328-9721
MINUTES
of the
State Soil Conservation Committee meeting
A meeting of the North Dakota
State Soil Conservation Committee was held at the Comfort Inn, Bismarck, North
Dakota. The meeting was called to order at 1:00 p.m.,
on January 11, with Chair Thomas Christensen presiding. The following persons
attended all or a portion of the meetings:
committee members present
Robert Blegen, Supervisor, Area I
Keith Bartholomay, Supervisor, Area II
Duane Hawk, Supervisor, Area III
Lynette Wood, Supervisor, Area IV
Lowell Disrud, Appointee
Thomas Christensen, Appointee
advisors present
J.R. Flores, State Conservationist, USDA-NRCS
Gary Puppe, Executive Vice President, NDASCD
Dwight Comfort, Water Resources Engineer, ND State Water Commission
Doug Howie, Assistant Private Lands Program Section Leader, ND State Game and
Fish
Gerald Sturn, District Director, NDSU Extension Service
others present
Scott Hochhalter, Soil Conservation Specialist, NDSU Extension Service
Roxanne Johnson, President, NDASCD
Sharon Clancy, Coordinator, Conservation Agriculture
EASTERN GRAND FORKS CO.
SCD AND WESTERN GRAND FORKS CO. SCD CONSOLIDATION UPDATE
Scott Hochhalter reported that the Western Grand Forks County and Eastern Grand
Forks County Soil Conservation Districts have petitioned the State Soil
Conservation Committee to consolidate. He noted that the State Soil
Conservation Committee’s responsibility is to review the petitions and set a
referendum date.
IT WAS MOVED BY COMMITTEE MEMBER WOOD, SECONDED BY COMMITTEE MEMBER HOERAUF, AND CARRIED ON A ROLL CALL VOTE TO ACCEPT THE CONSOLIDATION PETITIONS AND SET THE CONSOLIDATION REFERENDUM DATE FOR JUNE 13, 2006. Committee Members Blegen, Bartholomay, Disrud, Hawk, Wood, Hoerauf and Christensen voted “Aye.” No negative votes were cast.
2007 LEGISLATIVE SESSION
The State Soil Conservation Committee Members discussed the need for a base line
funding for soil conservation districts. The need is to provide a core staff
position in each soil conservation district.
Scott Hochhalter and Gerald Sturn lead a discussion on the NDSU Extension Service natural resource education initiative for the next budget process. The initiative will focus on the establishment of two new state extension specialist positions.
IT WAS MOVED BY COMMITTEE MEMBER BLEGEN, SECONDED BY COMMITTEE MEMBER BARTHOLOMAY, AND CARRIED ON A ROLL CALL VOTE TO LEND SUPPORT TO THE NDSU EXTENSION SERVICE NATURAL RESOURCES EDUCATION INITIATIVE FOR THE 2007 LEGISLATIVE SESSION. Committee Members Blegen, Bartholomay, Disrud, Hawk, Wood, Hoerauf and Christensen voted “Aye.” No negative votes were cast.
USDA-NRCS
J.R. Flores reviewed wetland classifications with the State Soil Conservation
Committee. He indicated that the budget is very lean. He will make available
additional funding for more contribution agreements with individual Soil
Conservation Districts.
NDASCD
Gary Puppe mentioned that the Board of Directors will be discussing and working
on the 2006 NDASCD Committee structure. The NACD National Meeting will be held
in Huston Texas. The NDASCD Area II meeting is being planned for February 23.
ND STATE
WATER COMMISSION
Dwight Comfort reviewed water levels in Devils Lake, Stump Lake and Lake
Sakakawea. The outlet project was winterized in November. He provided updates
on the Southwest Pipeline and Northwest Area Water Supply contracts.
The State Soil Conservation Committee will be scheduling a meeting for March 7, 2006. There being no further business to come before the Committee, the meeting was adjourned at 3:15 p.m.
Scott Hochhalter, Soil Conservationist Specialist
Recording Secretary
To review the complete listing of all the Soil District Minutes
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Conservation Committee
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Dakota State University
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