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USDA [Department of Agriculture]/AmeriCorps - Clinton Library Copies - 1995 Application (for FY96) to the Corporation for National Service 2 [2]
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USDA [Department of Agriculture]/AmeriCorps - Clinton Library Copies - 1995 Application (for FY96) to the Corporation for National Service 2 [2]
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FOIA Number: 2013-0661-F (3) FOIA MARKER This is not a textual record. This is used as an administrative marker by the William J. Clinton Presidential Library Staff. Collection/Record Group: Clinton Presidential Records Subgroup/Office of Origin: Americorps Series/Staff Member: General Files Subseries: OA/ID Number: 24220 FolderID: Folder Title: USDA [Department of Agriculture]/Americorps - Clinton Library Copies - 1995 Applications (For FY96) to the Corporation for National Service 2 [2] Stack: Row: Section: Shelf: Position: S 66 1 8 3 NORTH DAKOTA TITLE PAGE: A. Title of Project: Groundwater Protection B: Name of Organization: U.S. Department of Agriculture, NRCS C. Team Type: RDT D. State of Duty Station: North Dakota E. County of Duty Station: Grand Forks, Ramsey, Richland, and Stutsman F. Names of counties served Barnes, Benson, Cass, Eddy, Foster, Grand Forks, Griggs, Nelson, Ramsey, Ransom, Richland, Sargent, Steele, Stutsman, and Traill G. Congressional District: North Dakota H. Name of Site Supervisor: Jeffrey L. Printz I: Address, phone & fax numbers: USDA/NRCS 208 2nd Ave. SW Jamestown, ND 58402-2096 Ph: (701) 252-1460 FAX: (701) 252-9068 J: Name of State Project Director: Richard L. Bentaas K. Address, phone & fax numbers: USDA/NRCS 220 E. Rosser Ave., Rm. 278 P. O. Box 1458 Bismarck, ND 58502-1458 Ph: (701) 250-4761 FAX: (701) 250-4420 L. Number of Members in PL&E: 0 M. Number of Members in RDT: 5 1. TITLE PAGE: A. Title of Project: Trout Stream Renovation in the Mountains B. Name of Organization: NC RC&D Association C. Team Type: combined D. State of Duty Station: North Carolina E. County of Duty station: Buncombe F. Names of counties served: Cherokee, Clay, Graham, Swain, Jackson, Macon, Haywood, Buncombe, Henderson, Transylvania, Madison, Avery, Mitchell, Yancy, and Watauga. G. Congressional District: 11th H. Name of site supervisor: Sally Stokes I. Address, ph/fax number: 22 South Pack Sq, Suite 310 South Market Street Asheville, NC 28801. Ph: (704) 252-1675 FAX (704) 252-1675 J. Name of st Project Dir: Cecil Settle K. Address, ph/fax number: 4405 Bland Road, Suite 205 Raleigh, NC 27609. Ph: (919) 790-2909 FAX (919) 790-2881 L. Number of Members in PL&E: 5 members M. Number of Members in RDT: combined (see L above) 16 2. SUMMARY PAGE A. The specific needs to be met, particularly as they relate to the Environment and Community Service. Statewide, we are experiencing industrial and residential growth. This growth is perceived by some as positive while others view it as detrimental to our statewide ecosystems. Unfortunately, most citizens lack the knowledge to develop opinions supported by scientific facts. When problems or opportunities are cited in our state; such as, timber cutting in the national forest; or the construction of a superhighway; or the sitting of a nuclear waste storage facility; most citizens react out of fear, unable to understand that there are balances between environment and progress. The first two objectives of the overall plan are designed to achieve an informed citizenry. North Carolina is a state composed of 85% rural counties. In 1994, more than 100 citizens lost their lives to fire, while property losses exceeded 50 million dollars. One of the leading causes of this loss of life and property is the lack of an adequate supply of water to fight fires, since less than 20% of rural North Carolina counties have county-wide water systems. The NC Resource Conservation and Development Association plans to implement a statewide dry hydrant program to supply water resources for this public safety program. AmeriCorps participants are needed to achieve this goal. B. The key elements of the program design. A description of the administering organization and identification of primary program partners. Southwestern NC RC&D Blue Ridge RC&D Mountain Valleys RC&D NC Department of Transportation Trout Unlimited NC Wildlife Resources Commission Soil and Water Conservation Districts 17 Mission and objectives. A. Mission statement The mission of the North Carolina RC&D Association is to promote environmental protection and conservation with a concern and effort to insure sustainable economic growth in the state of North Carolina. B. Annual objectives 1. Assist with the development and improvement of tourism and recreation in the area. 2. Provide assistance in protection of the resource base. 3. Assist with programs for improvement in fishing and wildlife habitat. 18 4. Narrative: A. Needs to be met and appropriateness for national service. Needs: There is a need for renovation of these streams in order for the fish habitat to be restored. This will increase the carrying capacity of the streams and make more recreational fishing available to the general public. These streams not only serve the citizens of North Carolina but also the citizens of the adjoining states and beyond. Process: The streams that need improvement will be identified by members of the Trout Unlimited Chapters in Western North Carolina in consultation with local Wildlife and Fishing Clubs, local citizen groups as well as the local Soil and Water Conservation Districts and the Southwestern NC, Blue Ridge, and Mountain Valley RC&D Councils. B) DESIGN. The Trout Unlimited Chapter will be primarily responsible for identifying the streams needing improvement and provide some supervision of the daily cleanup activities. The local Soil and Water Conservation District will provide some needed office space and some supervision of the daily cleanup activities in their respective districts. The RC&D Council will supervise the overall cleanup and restorative activities, schedule and organize the cleanup activities in order that the work can progress in a timely and orderly manner. Fish enhancement structures will be installed at points identified by the NC Wildlife Resources Commission. Concept: To restore mountain streams to their original character. Service Activities: The participant or personnel involved in the actual cleanup will be carrying out the following activities: Pickup and removal from stream site all debris, trash, and materials that would lead to deterioration of the fish habitat. Also, they would be involved in making stream improvements in some instances such as constructing small rock dams to create pools and installing fish enhancement structures with outside assistance. Participants will work with the NC Department of Transportation to improve access areas at points designated for restocking trout. Relation to Need: The program success will be determined by the improvement of the fish habitat in the streams. This will be determined by monitoring by the Community Colleges and Trout Unlimited. Additional information as to the success of the cleanup project will be determined by members of Trout Unlimited in relation to the increased fish population and increase in the number of people fishing the streams. 19 Participant Training and Support: Training will be provided to the participants by the RC&D Councils in association with the members of the Trout Unlimited Chapter. Training will include the proper method of traversing the stream in a safe manner and removal of debris and other material. They will be instructed in the value of fish habitat improvement in relation to the environmental concerns as well as the economic benefits of the project. Participant Placement and Supervision: Supervision will be provided to the participants by a competent person, one of the participants or other person. At least 50% of the participants that are assigned to trout stream improvement projects will be Native Americans recruited from the Eastern Band of Cherokee Indians. 20 CORPORATION FOR NATIONAL SERVICE COMMUNITY SERVICE OBJECTIVES Objective 10 GRANTEE: USDA Natural Resources Conservation Service SITE: North Carolina Trout Stream (5 Members - Combined) SITE SUPERVISOR: Sally Stokes PHONE: (704) 252-1675 COUNTY: Buncombe COMPONENTS OF OBJECTIVE STATEMENT: Assist with the development and improvement of tourism and recreation in the mountains. 1. What work will be done? What service activities will your participants engage in? Stream cleanup to reduce pollution to native trout streams. Organic and inorganic pollutants such as paper, animal mortality, cans, bottles, tires, appliances, etc. will be removed from streams. 2. What is the hoped for result of the work/activities described above? Improved water quality and improved wildlife habitat will improve travel and tourism to the area. 3. How will you measure the quality of your product or impact of your service? By the number of miles of streams that can be restocked with trout once the cleanup work is complete. 4. By what standard will you gauge success? An effort will be made the first year to improve no less than 200 miles of streams. We realize this will not impact tourism by fisherman and recreational uses initially. 5. How many individuals will receive the benefit of the work your participants perform? All landowners adjacent to streams as well as all who visit the area and use these public waters for recreation. Off site benefits will be recognized downstream by all who take water for residential, municipal, industrial and other use. 30 CORPORATION FOR NATIONAL SERVICE COMMUNITY SERVICE OBJECTIVES Objective 12 GRANTEE: USDA Natural Resources Conservation Service SITE: North Carolina Trout Stream (5 Members - Combined) SITE SUPERVISOR: Sally Stokes PHONE: (704) 252-1675 COUNTY: Buncombe COMPONENTS OF OBJECTIVE STATEMENT: Improve fishing and wildlife habitat 1. What work will be done? What service activities will your participants engage in? Identify streams needing improvement (cleanup). Perform cleanup measures including the removal of trash, debris, and other pollutants. Build fish enhancement structures at locations identified by Trout Unlimited. It is estimated that a1/2 ton of debris will be removed from each mile of streams. Five fish enhancements structures are planned for FY 96. The removal of organic waste, heavy metals, and old tires (petroleum base) will improve water quality enough such that these streams will support trout which is very sensitive to pollution. 2. What is the hoped for result of the work/activities described above? To restore mountain streams to their original character. 3. How will you measure the quality of your product or impact of your service? The program success will be determined by the improvement of the fish habitat in the streams. This will be determined by monitoring by the Community Colleges and Trout Unlimited. Additional information as to the cleanup project will be determined by members of Trout Unlimited in relation to the increased fish population and increase in the number of people fishing the streams. 4. By what standard will you gauge success? Water quality standards established by North Carolina Water Resources Division for trout waters of North Carolina. 5. How many individuals will receive the benefit of the work your participants perform? All landowners with property adjoining streams and visitors who use the public waters of North Carolina. All streams are public waters in North Carolina. 32 1. TITLE PAGE: 1. Title of Project: Dry Fire Hydrants B Name of Organization: NC Resource Conservation and Development Association C Team Type: combined D. StAte of Duty Station: North Carolina E County of Duty station: Alamance F Names of counties served: Randolph, Alamance, Guilford, Orange, Durham, Caswell, Rockingham, Davie, Forsyth, Stokes, Yadkin, and Surry. G Congressional District: 6th H Name of site supervisor: Calvin Evans I Address, ph/FAX number: 201 South Main Street Graham, NC 27253 Ph: (910) 227-5829 FAX (910) 227-6890 J Name of st Project Dir: Cecil Settle K Address, ph/FAX number: 4405 Bland Road, Suite 205 Raleigh, NC 27609 Ph: (919) 790-2909 FAX (919) 790-2881 L Number of Members In PL&E: 5 members M Number of Members in RDT: combined (see L above) 6 'UMMARY PAGE A. The specific needs to be met, particularly as they relate to the Environment and Community Service. This program will provide an essential tool which is needed to encourage economic development and sustain rural growth. This statewide system will provide water needed for road maintenance and construction, fire protection, and water intakes for agriculture and other uses. B. The key elements of the program design. A description of the administering organization and identification of primary program partners. Nine Regional RC&D's North Carolina Fire Fighters Association Fire Departments North Carolina Farm Bureau Federation AmeriCorps Members Natural Resources Conservation Service North Carolina Division of Energy 3. Mission and objectives. Mission statement Building support and leaders in our communities in the natural resource and human resource areas in order to address public environmental and economic concerns. Annual objectives: 1. Improve public safety on state-wide basis in rural areas. 2. Provide alternative sources of water for rural areas of the state. 3. Inventory sites for intake points for rural water supply. 7 4. Narrative: Needs: A state-wide survey was conducted, by the North Carolina Resource Conservation and Development Association , to determine the need for rural fire protection. These dry hydrants will serve small towns and rural volunteer fire departments that lack staff to process applications, perform needed accounting requirements for materials and placement of dry hydrants. AmeriCorps participants can provide this service to rural communities and fire departments. Process: The process of determining needs involved input from local and county government, fire departments, the North Carolina Farm Bureau Federation, the North Carolina Fire Fighters Association, and local soil and water conservation districts. Questionnaires were sent to every county in North Carolina. DESIGN. Concept: This program will be the responsibility of the North Carolina Resource Conservation and Development Association with administration assigned to the nine RC&D areas that serve the state. AmeriCorps participants assigned to the mini teams in the mountains, piedmont, and coastal plains will be pooled together to work on this project during late fall, winter and early spring. 8 'ervice Activities: Participants will work with landowners and fire departments with identifying and documenting both private and public water sources for the dry hydrants. They will review applications for dry hydrants submitted to RC&D by fire departments and set priorities on installation based on criteria to be developed by RC&D and other partners. They will schedule shipping of materials and installation of dry hydrants. AmeriCorps participants will be responsible for inventorying and accounting for materials shipped and received from vendors to fire departments. They will monitor and document installation of works, and the solicitation of volunteers to assist with the installation. 9 elation to Need: Provide a statewide rural fire protection program which will save lives and property. It will reduce fire insurance premiums for all citizens and businesses served by the system. It will be an added dimension which could be a major factor in bringing new businesses and light industry into a rural area. Participant Training and Support: Training will include a three day seminar conducted by the North Carolina Fire Fighters Association. Two days will include application processing, identification of water sources, and dry hydrant equipment design. One day will be spent installing and inspecting a dry hydrant. Participant Placement and Supervision: Each of the three mini groups requested in Objectives 1, 2, and 3 will be assigned a reasonable driving distance from their homebase which is as follows: Mini Team Location No. Participants Western North Carolina 5 Northern Piedmont North Carolina 5 Eastern North Carolina 5 15 Participants will be supervised by regional fire marshals. 10 CORPORATION FOR NATIONAL SERVICE COMMUNITY SERVICE OBJECTIVES Objective 4 GRANTEE: USDA Natural Resources Conservation Service SITE: North Carolina Dry Fire Hydrant (5 Members - Combined) SITE SUPERVISOR: County Fire Marshals PHONE: (910) 944-4787 COUNTY: State-wide COMPONENTS OF OBJECTIVE STATEMENT: Improve public safety on a state-wide basis in rural areas. 1. What work will be done? What service activities will your participants engage in? The long-term goal is to install 3,411 fire hydrants (non-pressurized) across the state. Of this number (3,411), twenty-five percent or 852 hydrants will be installed by the end of FY 96. 2. What is the hoped for result of the work/activities described above? Saving human lives and property from fire and fire-related accidents. 3. How will you measure the quality of your product or impact of your service? By the number and quality of the hydrants installed. 4. By what standard will you gauge success? By an overall reduction in insurance premiums due to availability of water for fire fighting purposes. 5. How many individuals will receive the benefit of the work your participants perform? All citizens of rural areas in North Carolina. 24 CORPORATION FOR NATIONAL SERVICE COMMUNITY SERVICE OBJECTIVES Objective 5 GRANTEE: USDA Natural Resources Conservation Service SITE: North Carolina Dry Fire Hydrant (5 Members - Combined) SITE SUPERVISOR: County Fire Marshals PHONE: (910) 944-4787 COUNTY: State-wide COMPONENTS OF OBJECTIVE STATEMENT: Provide alternative sources of water for rural areas of the state. 1. What work will be done? What service activities will your participants engage in? The long-term plan is to install 3,411 fire hydrants (non-pressurized) across the state. Install 852 hydrants by the end of FY 96. 2. What is the hoped for result of the work/activities described above? To provide users with access to a dependable, safe, and adequate supply of water that is within close proximity to the user. 3. How will you measure the quality of your product or impact of your service? By a 5 percent status review of intake points where hydrants have been installed. 4. By what standard will you gauge success? By the installation of 25 percent of the hydrants in FY96. 5. How many individuals will receive the benefit of the work your participants perform? All citizens of rural areas in North Carolina. 25 CORPORATION FOR NATIONAL SERVICE COMMUNITY SERVICE OBJECTIVES Objective 6 GRANTEE: USDA Natural Resources Conservation Service SITE: North Carolina Dry Fire Hydrant (5 Members - Combined) SITE SUPERVISOR: County Fire Marshals PHONE: (910) 944-4787 COUNTY: State-wide COMPONENTS OF OBJECTIVE STATEMENT: Inventory sites for intake points for rural water supply. 1. What work will be done? What service activities will your participants engage in? Coordinate a review of a minimum of 3,800 intake points in the statewide inventory. Not all points identified initially will be available for use due to ownership, proximity to community needs, etc. 2. What is the hoped for result of the work/activities described above? To insure that points identified in the state-wide inventory are accessible and that the supply and quality of water is acceptable. 3. How will you measure the quality of your product or impact of your service? By a 5 percent status review of intake points approved for hydrant installation. 4. By what standard will you gauge success? By reviews and approval ratings by rural fire departments on a site-by-site evaluation. 5. How many individuals will receive the benefit of the work your participants perform? All citizens of rural areas in North Carolina. 26 1. TITLE PAGE: A. Title of Project: Learning Centers on Public Properties B. Name of Organization: NC RC&D Association C. Team Type: combined D. State of Duty Station: North Carolina E. County of Duty station: Chowan F. Names of counties served: Currituck, Camden, Hyde, Pasquotank, Hertford, Perquimans, Chowan, Washington, Terrell, Dare, Pitt, Bertie, Martin, Beaufort, and Gates. G. Congressional District: 1st H. Name of site supervisor: Rodney Johnson I. Address, ph/fax number: 412 West Queen Street Edenton, NC 27932. Ph: (919) 482-7437 FAX (919) 482-3428 J. Name of st Project Dir: Cecil Settle K. Address, ph/fax number: 4405 Bland Road, Suite 205 Raleigh, NC 27609. Ph: (919) 790-2909 FAX (919) 790-2904 L. Number of Members in PL&E: 5 members 1. Number of Members in RDT: combined 11 2. SUMMARY PAGE - on one page provide an overview of: A. The specific needs to be met, particularly as they relate to the Environment and Community Service. This program will include adding new trails and facilities as well as utilizing and improving existing facilities that promote environmental education. The installation of conservation measures to solve existing problems and complement the ecosystem educational efforts in the park will be completed by participants. B. The key elements of the program design. A description of the administering organization and identification of primary program partners. Pasquotank Recreation Area Englehard Creek Boardwalk Goose Creek State Park Hope Heritage Forest Albemarle RC&D Mid East RC&D State Park Service Local Recreation Commissions NC Forest Service Natural Resources Conservation Service 3. Mission and objectives. Mission statement The mission of the North Carolina RC&D Association is to promote environmental protection and conservation with a concern and effort to insure sustainable economic growth in the state of North Carolina. B. Annual objectives 1. Pilot Test Ecosystem Management and Education Activities in North Carolina parks. 2. Promote resource conservation and development using state parks and public lands. 3. Encourage travel and tourism to rural areas through improved recreational facilities and services. 4. Narrative: Needs Needs: Introducing ecosystem management and educational tools will add a new dimension to the experience (s) of users of North Carolina parks. AmeriCorps participants working in these ten parks will serve as a catalyst to demonstrate the value and need for implementing a statewide ecosystem program in all parks. 12 Process: Needs were identified by public meetings and by public mailings 'uring the process of updating RC&D area plans. Each RC&D area in North Carolina has recently (last two years) gone through a thorough process to identify community and regional needs. Questionnaires were sent to homes and businesses in the state. Out of these questionnaires came the ideas of developing rural areas of the state for industry and recreation. Environmental education projects are planned for Hanging Rock State Park, Pasquotank Multi-purpose Recreation Area, Englehard Far Creek cleanup and boardwalk, Goose Creek State Park environmental education trails, and Hope Heritage Forest nature trails. B) DESIGN. Concept: The ecosystem program at each park will be structured such that it can be used by individual (s), families, school groups, and others. Activities and learning experiences will be designed for independent study as well as institutional study. The improvement of trails and the installation of conservation measures will provide a pleasing and safe environment for users. The concept for the design of the program is to provide installation labor for projects where partners cannot afford the expense of contracting this work to a private company. 13 `ervice Activities: Participants will be involved in laying out the planned Lacilities which will include trails, amphitheaters, exhibit stations, constructing and/or installing exhibits, organizing environmental field days, manning exhibit stations and giving educational programs. Program participants will be assigned a project location for a given week. They will report to that site each day using a vehicle provided by the NRCS, which will be kept centrally located within the project area. Daily supervision will be provided by the local project sponsor for work to be accomplished each day. These activities will serve to foster an informed citizenry on the environment. 14 Relation to Need: Goals for construction and implementation will be stablished for the short term and monitored by the state park staff. A questionnaire will be developed by the project team(s) to evaluate user satisfaction once the ecosystem plan and facilities are in place. Participant Training and Support: Training will include a two day overview of the program. Fifty percent of this training orientation will be on site. This will be followed by three days of service learning curriculum. Each participant should complete their tour of service well informed in ecosystem based management. Beyond that accomplishment, each participant will better understand the needs and value of community and public service. This method of training will be used on all three objectives. Participant Placement and Supervision: Participants will work in teams of five, one-of-which will serve as a team leader. Participants will be supervised by state park staff. 15 CORPORATION FOR NATIONAL SERVICE COMMUNITY SERVICE OBJECTIVES Objective 7 GRANTEE: USDA Natural Resources Conservation Service SITE: North Carolina Ecosystem Mgmt & Education (5 Members - Combined) SITE SUPERVISOR: Rodney Johnson PHONE: (919) 482-7437 COUNTY: Pasquotank COMPONENTS OF OBJECTIVE STATEMENT: Pilot test ecosystem management and educational activities in North Carolina parks. 1. What work will be done? What service activities will your participants engage in? This program will include adding four new trails with each trail being approximately one mile in length as well as utilizing and improving existing facilities that promote environmental education. The installation of conservation measures to solve existing problems and complement the ecosystem educational efforts in the park will be completed by participants. 2. What is the hoped for result of the work/activities described above? An informed public that will promote development of similar ecosystem projects in all state parks. 3. How will you measure the quality of your product or impact of your service? By public comments on ecosystem educational development within the parks and public lands. 4. By what standard will you gauge success? By the reaction of those state officials responsible for establishing programs and improvements in state parks relative to pilot testing ecosystem management (no standard has been set for this program in North Carolina). 5. How many individuals will receive the benefit of the work your participants perform? All uses of the parks and public lands identified in the objective. 27 COMMUNITY SERVICE OBJECTIVES GRANTEE: USDA Natural Resources Conservation Service SITE: North Carolina SITE SUPERVISOR: Rodney Johnson COUNTY: Pasquotank OBJECTIVE STATEMENT: Promote resource conservation and development using state parks and public lands. 1. What work will be done? What service activities will your participants engage in? The ecosystem program at each park will be structured such that it can be used by individuals, families, schools and others. Design activities for independent study and institutional study; improve trails and install conservation measures to provide a pleasing and safe environment. Construct water bars, short diversions, small waterways, and other BMPs. 2. What is the hoped for result of the work/activities described above? To provide technical assistance where partners cannot afford the expense of contracting with a private company. To develop an environment for demonstrations and education purposes to show students and adults the ecological and environmental value of practicing good land and water conservation management. 3. How will you measure the quality of your product or impact of your service? Site inspections and evaluations will be conducted for improvements made to trails, signs and exhibit stations. 4. By what standard will you gauge success? Improvements will be made at five parks. 5. How many individuals will receive the benefit of the work your participants perform? Estimated 32,000 users per year. COMMUNITY SERVICE OBJECTIVES GRANTEE: USDA Natural Resources Conservation Service SITE: North Carolina SITE SUPERVISOR: Rodney Johnson COUNTY: Pasquotank OBJECTIVE STATEMENT: Encourage travel and tourism to rural areas through improved recreational facilities and services. 1. What work will be done? What service activities will your participants engage in? Members will complete a list of activities available to children, adults, and groups at the parks where improvements will be made. This information will be provided to local Bureaus of Travel and Tourism. This information will help support travel bureaus' efforts to promote tourism. 2. What is the hoped for result of the work/activities described above? Encourage travel and tourism to rural areas by improving recreational facilities and services. 3. How will you measure the quality of your product or impact of your service? The number of average users will be compared in the past three years to the number of users in 1996, 1997 and 1998. 4. By what standard will you gauge success? A list of activities will be compiled for five parks. Average use will increase by 15% or 4800 people. 5. How many individuals will receive the benefit of the work your participants perform? Estimated at 32,000 users per year. NORTH DAKOTA TITLE PAGE: A. Title of Project: Groundwater Protection B: Name of Organization: U.S. Department of Agriculture, NRCS C. Team Type: RDT D. State of Duty Station: North Dakota E. County of Duty Station: Grand Forks, Ramsey, Richland, and Stutsman F. Names of counties served Barnes, Benson, Cass, Eddy, Foster, Grand Forks, Griggs, Nelson, Ramsey, Ransom, Richland, Sargent, Steele, Stutsman, and Traill G. Congressional District: North Dakota H. Name of Site Supervisor: Jeffrey L. Printz I: Address, phone & fax numbers: USDA/NRCS 208 2nd Ave. SW Jamestown, ND 58402-2096 Ph: (701) 252-1460 FAX: (701) 252-9068 J: Name of State Project Director: Richard L. Bentaas K. Address, phone & fax numbers: USDA/NRCS 220 E. Rosser Ave., Rm. 278 P. O. Box 1458 Bismarck, ND 58502-1458 Ph: (701) 250-4761 FAX: (701) 250-4420 L. Number of Members in PL&E: 0 M. Number of Members in RDT: 5 APR-25-95 12:42 FROM: SCS ADS ID: 701 250 4420 PAGE 2 NORTH DAKOTA 2. SUMMARY PAGE A) AmeriCorps members have completed scope and effect on 57 of the 160 targeted areas having the greatest potential to reduce downstream flooding of rural and urban communities. AmeriCorps members promotional efforts, which included well sealing demonstrations, has succeeded in generating renewed interest by rural and urban residents to seal abandoned wells. AmeriCorps members assisted Ramsey County Emergency Management personnel by surveying current and projected water levels in Devils Lake. This information will be used by community residents and businesses to implement protective measures as Devils Lake continues it's rise to record levels. AmeriCorps members assisted the community of Harwood, ND clean up a trailer court that was abandoned because of severe flood damage. AmeriCorps members have received training on Civil Rights, AIDS awareness, first aid, CPR, hazardous materials, defensive driving and basic survey techniques. Perhaps most noticeable has been their improved interpersonal skills attained through "on-the- job" training, working with the general public. B) The FY 96 AmeriCorps project objective will be more focused on the flood prone area of southeastern North Dakota. This area is undergoing considerable economic and urban development in an area that is sensitive to ground water contamination as well as being environmentally sensitive. AmeriCorps members will be working directly with communities in this area to promote ground water protection. Members will also be providing outreach to urban and rural communities, including informational meetings, to increase awareness of environmentally sensitive issues. COMMUNITY SERVICE OBJECTIVES GRANTEE: USDA Natural Resources Conservation Service SITE: North Dakota SITE SUPERVISOR: Steve Fischer COUNTY: OBJECTIVE STATEMENT: Promote increased community awareness of the needs for ground water protection measures and the development and or implementation of well head protection plans for urban and rural water systems. 1. What work will be done? What service activities will your participants engage in? Members will work with leaders of local government, community groups, and one-on-one in an effort to educated and provide information on the Best Management Practices (BMP) to protect ground water from chemical pollutants. 2. What is the hoped for result of the work/activities described above? Increased awareness to the dangers of ground water pollution and an increase in the application of "Best Management Practices", especially in well head areas. 3. How will you measure the quality of your product or impact of your service? Progress will be measured by the number of BMPs applied and the number of well head plans developed for new areas. Site supervisors will review accomplishments to ensure policies are followed. 4. By what standard will you gauge success? 20 group presentations will be made; 22 well head plans developed and 30 BMPs installed. 5. How many individuals will receive the benefit of the work your participants perform? Estimated 3,000 rural residents who depend upon rural water systems for household water use will benefit. COMMUNITY SERVICE OBJECTIVES GRANTEE: USDA Natural Resources Conservation Service SITE: North Dakota SITE SUPERVISOR: Steve Fischer COUNTY: OBJECTIVE STATEMENT: To provide information to communities and residents on the negative impacts to ground water quality from intensified agricultural uses within the Sheyenne Delta area. 1. What work will be done? What service activities will your participants engage in? Members will conduct community meetings and make one-on-one contact with rural and urban residents to provide information on the impact of pesticides and herbicides being used in ever increasing amounts on specialty crops in the targeted area. They will emphasize impacts on potential for ground water contamination, threatened and endangered species, and soil health concerns. 2. What is the hoped for result of the work/activities described above? Awareness of the dangers of ground water contamination by chemicals and voluntary protection of threatened and endangered species habitat. Overall improvement in soil health, and an increased awareness of resource concerns associated with production of specialty crops. 3. How will you measure the quality of your product or impact of your service? Members will develop periodic progress reports on number of meetings conducted and the number of groups contacted. 4. By what standard will you gauge success? 50 groups contacted, 25 presentations made. 5. How many individuals will receive the benefit of the work your participants perform? 3,000 rural residents who depend upon rural water systems for household use. OHIO TITLE PAGE: A. Title of Project: Urban Ecosystem Awareness Project B: Name of Organization: U.S. Department of Agriculture, NRCS C. Team Type: RDT D. State of Duty Station: Ohio E. County of Duty Station: Medina, Hamilton, Franklin F. Names of counties served Franklin, Cuyahoga, Lorain, Medina Summit, Portage, Geauga, Lake Hamilton G. Congressional District: 15, 11, & 1 H. Name of Site Supervisor: Michelle Lohstroh I: Address, phone & fax numbers: 1534-3 North Bridge St. Chillicothe, OH 45601-4104 Ph: (614) 773-4090 FAX: (614) 773-4091 H. Name of Site Supervisor: Melvin Womack Address, phone & fax numbers: 2288 Grange Hall Rd Building H Beaver Creek, OH 45431-2331 Ph: (513) 426-0301 FAX: (513) 426-9632 H. Name of Site Supervisor: Edward Wright I: Address, phone & fax numbers: 801 E. Washington St. Suite 150 Medina, OH 44256-2127 Ph: (216) 725-4176 FAX: (216) 725-5990 J: Name of St Project Director: Wayne Maresch K. Address, phone & fax numbers: NRCS 200 N. High St. Columbus, OH 43215 Ph: (614) 469-6962 FAX: (614) 469-2083 L. Number of Members in PL&E: 12 M. Number of Members in RDT: $3 Summary Page Overview A. This project is designed to meet the needs expressed by individuals and groups in three geographic areas in Ohio. Those needs meet the national goals of environment and education. The key elements in program design are based on the concept of locating three teams, made up of five participants each, in the urban portions of the State of Ohio. Teams will work out of three SWCD offices. Emphasis was placed on the willingness of the local sponsoring organizations to participate and to share their ideas so the NRCS could act as a facilitator in the design process. The administering organization is the USDA's, Natural Resources Conservation Service located in the State of Ohio. The primary program partners are the soil and water and conservation districts as follows: Columbus Franklin leveland Cuyahoga, Lorain, Medina, Summit, Portage, Geauga and Lake Counties Dayton Hamilton, Clermont Mission Statement The mission of this project is to make people more aware of the effect of their presence in the environment in both rural and urban landscapes. Annual Objectives The participants will work in local communities to: 1. Increase awareness of the human relationship to the ecosystem (Urban/Rural) 2. Enable minority and economically limited individuals easier access to USDA/ODNR programs. 3. Create neighborhood stream teams with unofficial river keepers. 4. Link ecosystem restoration methods to economic development activities using netural groups such as the (Ohio Historical Society and the USDA Resource Conservation and Development Program (RC&D) to increase the interest in cultural preservation activities. Project Objectives Increase awareness of the human relationship to the ecosystem (urban/rural). 2. Enable minority and economically limited individuals easier access to USDA/ODNR programs. 3. Create neighborhood stream teams with unofficial river keepers. 4. Link ecosystem restoration methods to economic development activities using neutral groups such as the (Ohio Historical Society and the USDA Resource Conservation & Development Program (RC&D) to increase the interest in cultural preservation activities. Narrative A. Needs to be met and appropriateness for national service. Needs: The needs expressed were provided by the project contributors. There is a need to use AmeriCorps participants in a way that enables local individuals to be informed, aware, involved, and implement environmental rojects that are highly visable, and have been locally identified problems. le participants will carry out the items listed under the objective section of this document. Process: The process by which the needs were identified was as follows. Wayne Maresch and Wes Bery with NRCS were aware of the AmeriCorps 1995 criteria for submitting proposals for new projects. Based on their experience with the Big Darby Project they met and discussed with NRCS State Conservationist, Lawrence Clark, and from past conversations with Kitty Burcsu, Executive Director wih the Ohio Governor's Community Service Commission, validated the need for an Urban Ecosystem Awareness Project. NRCS District Conservationists and the Division of Soil and Water Conservation Districts at Ohio Department of Natural Main Objectives were identified and a notice was sent to the field. SWCD boards of supervisors are very representative of the general county demographics and make up a good cross section of the communities residents. Design: There is a need for individuals who have skills that existing NRCS staff either does not have or is unable to obtain in order to assist communities to overcome the environmental problems outlined. 'ervice Activities: The service activities will be based on the type of work needed by the county in which the participants are assigned. A majority of the time will be spent on working SWCD's and local sponsors on river cleanups, storm drain stencilling, data collection for short term environmental projects, etc. Relation to need: All scheduled activities are developed in relation to the type of project that is being worked on. A project plan will be developed locally with help from those involved and all steps will be checked on as the project is carried out. This will be the responsibility of the site manager and site crew leader. Participant training and support: The 15 individuals recruited to serve 1832 hours will have the basic skills required to carry out the work items already identified. The first month of service will be dedicated to training by NRCS and other support staff. Team meetings, problem identification, equipment needs, esprit de corps, and participant needs will be provided and scheduled if they are not already available. One-half day every two weeks for the remainder of the year will be dedicated to team meetings, where ongoing training will be offered. Participant Placement and Supervision: Participants will be placed in teams and matched with assignments based on their skill and desire to be involved in carrying out a based on their skill and desire to be involved in carrying out a based on their skill and desire to be involved in carrying out a roject. Supervision will be done via a crew leader and by the local project sponsor. The AmeriCorps project manager and director will provide overall supervision through the field staff. Objectives: The objectives section is written based on the common points for the three site locations. The participants will be in three five member teams, located at three SWCD offices. Teams will be linked together with E Mail and the Telephone system for information sharing. The site supervisor is the primary supervisor the other two sites wil be carrying out similar activities. CORPORATION FOR NATIONAL SERVICE COMMUNITY SERVICE OBJECTIVES Objective 1 GRANTEE: USDA Natural Resources Conservation Service SITE: Ohio Urban Ecosystem Team (15 Members - 3 RDT/12 PL&E) OBJECTIVE STATEMENT: Use the Milidale/Dunlop Hollows Project as a pilot to demonstrate stream restoration and to encourage community involvement. 1. What work will be done? What service activities will your participants engage in? Create neighborhood stream teams involve the community in cleanups and to track debris accumulation after major storm events. 2. What is the hoped for result of the work/activities described above? Sections of this stream will be restored by working through local groups; ongoing community involvement and appreciation for neighborhood natural resources. 3. How will you measure the quality of your product or impact of your service? By the number of stream teams organized. Each team will evaluate their role in the community. A facilitator will be used to help the group to build a team and identify opportunities. 4. By what standard will you gauge success? At least nine stream teams will be organized. 5. How many individuals will receive the benefit of the work your participants perform? Estimated 1,000 people will benefot from this work. CORPORATION FOR NATIONAL SERVICE COMMUNITY SERVICE OBJECTIVES Objective 2 GRANTEE: USDA Natural Resources Conservation Service SITE: Ohio Urban Ecosystem Team (15 Members - 3 RDT/12 PL&E) COMPONENTS OF OBJECTIVE STATEMENTS: Work with local community to improve the environment along urban stream corridors. 1. What work will be done? What service activities will your participants engage in? Develop and implement educational programs with urban, suburban and rural schools on natural resources conservation. Identify sites along streams that have been used for the disposal of trash and have local groups adopt a site for clean up. Identify potential sites along or near streams for trash dumpsters and carry out clean up activities. Provide leadership in obtaining trash dumpsters with local groups, agencies, and organizations. Link ecosystem management to developing sustainable communities using groups to raise interest in clutural preservation. 2. What is the hoped for result of the work/activities described above? Communities will develop an ownership in their areas and local groups will keep areas clean of trash and pollution. People will become aware of how their community effects the surrounding communities and how they can manage their own areas. 3. How will you measure the quality of your product or impact of your service? All work items will be measured by using quality reviews by community leaders. 4. By what standard will you gauge success? 30 communities approached to be involved in the processes. 75% of the communities approached are involved and carry out clean up activities. 5. How many individuals will receive the benefit of the work your participants perform? Estimated 1000 CORPORATION FOR NATIONAL SERVICE COMMUNITY SERVICE OBJECTIVES Objective 3 GRANTEE: USDA Natural Resources Conservation Service SITE: Athens & Marietta Ohio Urban Ecosystem Team (15 Members - 3 RDT/12 PL&E) OBJECTIVE STATEMENT: Conduct storm sewer stenciling and supplemental education program. 1. What work will be done? What service activities will your participants engage in? Conduct a stenciling project of all storm sewers in the communities and supplement it with an education program. Complete a neighborhood survey of the public's perception of the stream. 2. What is the hoped for result of the work/activities described above? Involve students and the community in restoring local streams. Increase awareness of the function of storm sewers, reduce the amount of pollution that enters the waterways through urban storm systems. 3. How will you measure the quality of your product or impact of your service? The number of communities that complete stenciling projects. On site inspection by site supervisor. Results of community survey. 4. By what standard will you gauge success? Stenciling projects will be completed in a minimum of 2 communities. 100 people in each community will be surveyed. 5. How many individuals will receive the benefit of the work your participants perform? The priority urban sites in Athens County would be Athens, Nelsonville and The Plains. All residents in these areas would be affected. A maximum of 10,000 people CORPORATION FOR NATIONAL SERVICE COMMUNITY SERVICE OBJECTIVES Objective 6 GRANTEE: USDA Natural Resources Conservation Service SITE: Ohio Urban Ecosystem Team (15 Members - RDT/13 PL&E) SITE SUPERVISOR: PHONE: 12 COUNTY: Lorain COMPONENTS OF OBJECTIVE STATEMENTS: This project area has divided the objectives up into the following five areas. Act as project broker to assist local groups, agencies and organizations with mini-projects (One to two weeks in length). Increase public awareness of local resources. (Black River, Lake Erie, City/County Parks etc.) Improve Black River corridor for both educational and recreational use. Assist local minority population in Elyfia, Oberlin and Lorain with community action projects. Provide stream improvement projects in urbanized areas. 1. What work will be done? What service activities will your participants engage in? Conduct Clean-up activities in and along Lake Erie, Black River, and the Black River Harbor. Assist with clean-up activities in Cascade Park and also educate adjoining landowners about dumping trash in the park. Assist minority neighborhoods with clean-up activities, planting, maintenance and park development. Conduct park clean-up, planting, restoration, streambank and trail maintenance activities. 2. What is the hoped for result of the work/activities described above? All action items are set up to have citizen involvement and act as ecosystem awareness activities in areas of the county where little assistance had been previously provided. 3. How will you measure the quality of your product or impact of your service? The quality of service will be measured by evaluations made by the public effected by the project. Impact will be measured by the number of requests for assistance these project activities generate. 4. By what standard will you gauge success? Success will be measured by the diversity of the groups involved and by exceeding any technical standards provided by groups involved in the activities 100% of the time 5. How many individuals will receive the benefit of the work your participants perform? CORPORATION FOR NATIONAL SERVICE COMMUNITY SERVICE OBJECTIVES Objective 7 GRANTEE: USDA Natural Resources Conservation Service SITE: Ohio Urban Ecosystem Team (15 Members - pm RDT/13 PL&E) COMPONENTS OF OBJECTIVE STATEMENTS: To increase awareness of human relationship to the ecosystem in urban and urban/rural transition areas. 1. What work will be done? What service activities will your participants engage in? Participants will work several projects: Storm drain stenciling, stream monitoring, Annual "Water Fest" and Land Lab. Organize a stream team in each watershed. Use local historians who are knowledgeable in land use changes to make the eco system management experiences more meaningful. We already have a water coalition formed for our "WaterFest" that includes 25 local organizations involved with water. Assist the SWCD to monitor streams, stencil storm drains, provide simple presentations, collect seeds for Division of Forestry. Help staff the 12 different public events where we provide displays and assist in implementing our two large events each year. 2. What is the hoped for result of the work/activities described above? More awareness among the minority communities toward activities that can be used to improve the environment they live in. Broaden the scope of activities the SWCD is involved in. 3. How will you measure the quality of your product or impact of your service? Quality of product will be measured by having the communities evaluate the amount of involvement they have had in the carrying out of the project and the number of requests for projects duplicating the ones listed above. 4. By what standard will you gauge success? The standards and criteria made available from local sponsoring groups. 85% of planned activities will be completed. OHIO TITLE PAGE: A. Title of Project: Darby Creek Watershed Restoration B: Name of Organization: U.S. Department of Agriculture, NRCS C. Team Type: RDT D. State of Duty Station: Ohio E. County of Duty Station: Madison F. Names of counties served Logan, Union, Champaign, Franklin, Madison, Pickaway G. Congressional District: 7 H. Name of Site Supervisor: Mary Ann Core I: Address, phone & fax numbers: NRCS - Madison County 1375 US Rt. 42 SE London, OH 43140 Ph: (614) 852-4004 FAX: (614) 852-4771 J: Name of St Project Director: Wayne Maresch K. Address, phone & fax numbers: NRCS 200 N. High St. Columbus, OH 43215 Ph: (614) 469-6962 FAX: (614) 469-2083 L. Number of Members in PL&E: M. Number of Members in RDT: 5 OHIO - Darby Creek Watershed Restoration Project UMMARY PAGE: A. Exactly what specific accomplishments were achieved in the first half year of the project in meeting the community service objectives and boosting the personal development of the Members? A. Specific Accomplishments by Objective. Objective 1 - GIS Progress Tracking All team members have participated in entering land use information into the Darby Creek GIS. Two individuals have been working in Pickaway, Madison and Union Counties with soil and water conservation districts to update the field office watershed data base. The team member assigned to the ODNR Division of Forestry office has entered additional land use data. For Big and Little Darby Creek in Franklin County, the Darby Riverkeeper has intentoried riparian areas of several tributaries in the watershed and other team members have entered the data. This data has been presented to the NRCS and SWCD offices to be used as a sis for providing services to landowners who have lands along the river or ributaries and are effecting the aquatic system. Objective 2 - Best Management Practices. Three team members have been directly assisting the field offices with survey and design of conservation practices for installation this spring and summer. Two participants are assisting the completion of three educational videos featuring installing conservation practices that will protect the stream system and will be shared with the Darby Partners at appropriate meetings. Objective 3 - Establishment of Riparian Corridor The forestry team member has completed a survey of interested landowners who want to establish riparian buffer areas. She has assisted ODNR in their effort to gather data for a riparian corridor 319 grant and has helped update the soils data base for woodland and urban used as the basis for planning efforts for the SIP and WPCLF project by NRCS and the Darby Filter Strip committee. bjective 4 - Scenic River Coordination e river keeper completed identification of critical areas along Darby eek and has established a network of contacts to aid in spring cleanup activities. He has directly worked with potential pollution sources to prevent pollution by instituting measures. Personal Participant Development: Al participants have completed Total Quality Management training. B. The key elements of the program design for next year. Specifically describe each new service project performed by the members. Describe any major changes in management structure or partner organizations. The design elements are the same as those used last year. As an ecosystem project the work needed is ongoing as the watershed land use changes. New Service Projects. The new service project is in the development of high quality educational materials in both paper and video format to be used across the watershed with priority given to urbanizing areas. Management Structure. The Darby rural Development Team is self directed and files all reports via the crew leader. Review is done by the site manager nd the program manager. CORPORATION FOR NATIONAL SERVICE COMMUNITY SERVICE OBJECTIVES Objective 8 GRANTEE: USDA Natural Resources Conservation Service SITE: Ohio Darby Creek Watershed (5 Members - RDT) SITE SUPERVISOR: Mary Ann Core PHONE: (614) 852-4004 COUNTY: Madison COMPONENTS OF OBJECTIVE STATEMENTS: One member will assist the Darby Creek ODNR Scenic River Coordinator in the protection of Darby at the field level. 1. What work will be done? What service activities will your participants engage in? A. The participant will assist the Darby Creek ODNR Scenic River Coordinator at the field level by acting as "eyes on the river". B. Coordinate and assist in the inventory of 50 miles of Big and Little Darby Creeks and prinicipal tributaries. C. The participant will also conduct 6 educational demonstrations for schools and groups and conduct macroinvertbrate sampling along the river. D. Work to develop a private sector enterprise that will provide environmental friendly stream maintenance service to those living in the watershed. 2. What is the hoped for result of the work/activities described above? A. Provide more protection to the river by making groups more aware of problems on the river by making groups more aware and making their reactions more prompt. B. Provide usable data base for riparian corridor protection efforts. C. Involve younger people in river protection efforts. D. Provide assistance to landowners who want to manage the riparian corridor properly but do not have the time or ability to do so. 3. How will you measure the quality of your product or impact of your service? All work items will be measured in quality by using quality reviews by internal and external customers. NRCS criteria will be used for data entry work and ODNR criteria will be used for public involvement and demonstration work. 4. By what standard will you gauge success? All NR. ODNR, and TNC planning and planting cr ria met or exceeded. 85% of all work i 3 accomplished. 5. How many individuals will receive the benefit of the work your participants perform? Estimated 1,000 CORPORATION FOR NATIONAL SERVICE COMMUNITY SERVICE OBJECTIVES Objective 9 GRANTEE: USDA Natural Resources Conservation Service SITE: Ohio Darby Creek Watershed (5 Members - RDT) SITE SUPERVISOR: Mary Ann Core PHONE: (614) 852-4004 COUNTY: Madison will work COMPONENTS OF OBJECTIVE STATEMENTS: Two participants to develop high quality educational materials in both paper and video format to be used across the watershed with priority given to urbanizing areas. 1. What work will be done? What service activities will your participants engage in? A. Develop, by working with other agency personnel, a CD Rom format that can be used for the development of materials to be used in three watershed schools relating to the protection of endangered species. B. Teach in three urban and three rural schools to using materials with students to make them aware of the value of endangered species and how to protect their habitats. C. Assist the OSU Union of Natural Resource students in activities that offer protection to the watershed and on projects that involve the University at a multi-disciplinaray level in Darby Projects. 2. What is the hoped for result of the work/activities described above? A. This type of format will widen the interest in the project at the student level and provide high quality media releases. B. The awareness of endangered species habitats will make the urban and rural sector students aware that these things live in the area and increase interest levels. C. The college level students will develop a "hands on experience" and their volunteer efforts will aid in watershed protection. 3. How will you measure the quality of your product or impact of your service? All work items will be measured in quality by using quality reviews by internal and external customers. Media releases will be evaluated by the Darby Communication Committee. 4. By what standard will you gauge success? All cr. ria met or exceeded. No external custo. complaints. 5. How many individuals will receive the benefit of the work your participants perform? Estimated 5,000. CORPORATION FOR NATIONAL SERVICE COMMUNITY SERVICE OBJECTIVES Objective 10 GRANTEE: USDA Natural Resources Conservation Service SITE: Ohio Darby Creek Watershed (5 Members - RDT) SITE SUPERVISOR: Mary Ann Core PHONE: (614) 852-4004 COUNTY: Madison COMPONENTS OF OBJECTIVE STATEMENTS: Two participants will assist the SWCD to do survey work and obtain information for the design of Best Management Practices in the rural portions of the watershed. 1. What work will be done? What service activities will your participants engage in? A. Two participants will assist the Soil and Water Conservation Districts by doing survey work, and designing 35 Best Management Practices. B. Two participants will work in urbanizing areas in Union, Franklin, and Madison counties, with units of government, and assist on checking the implementation of urban best management practices (UBMP). C. Assist the Ohio State University (OSU) student volunteers to carry out their activities related to the Tillage Transect and, stormwater stenciling projects in the urban part of the watershed. 2. What is the hoped for result of the work/activities described above? A. An increase in designed and installed best management practices in critical watershed areas. B. Assistance given to ensure that UBMP's are installed as designed. C. Continue to monitor the conversion to residue management and encourage more awareness in the urban areas of where the water goes after it runs off the urban landscape. 3. How will you measure the quality of your product or impact of your service? All work items will be measured in quality by using NRCS and appropriate UBMP criteria. 4. By what standard will you gauge success? All criteria met or exceeded 85% of the time. No external customer complaints. 5. How many individuals will receive the benefit of the work your participants perform? Estimated. 300 CORPORATION FC ATIONAL SERVICE COMMUNITY SERVICE OBJECTIVES Objective 11 GRANTEE: USDA Natural Resources Conservation Service SITE: Ohio Darby Creek Watershed (5 Members - RDT) SITE SUPERVISOR: Mary Ann Core PHONE: (614) 852-4004 COUNTY: Madison COMPONENTS OF OBJECTIVE STATEMENTS: GIS Progress Tracking 1. What work will be done? What service activities will your participants engage in? A. The participant will keep all Darby Watershed field maps (GIS base maps) updated and loaded into the computer based GIS AGNPS system. B. Assist NRCS, and CES to collect, type of landownership, development patterns and the location of livestock operations in high priority areas. C. Assist with survey component of objective number two. 2. What is the hoped for result of the work/activities described above? A. Provide current information on which watershed protection efforts can be based so service is targeted. B. Provide current information so Water Pollution Loan fund monies can be provided to landowners who are creating the most harmful environmental pollution. C. To provide backup support for the survey and design team. 3. How will you measure the quality of your product or impact of your service? All work items will be measured by using quality reviews by internal customers. NRCS and participating agency criteria will be used for data entry work. 4. By what standard will you gauge success? All criteria met or exceeded. No external customer complaints. All data in critical areas entered into data base. 5. How many individuals will receive the benefit of the work your participants perform? Estimated 200 CORPORATION FC ATIONAL SERVICE COMMUNITY SERVICE OBJECTIVES Objective 12 GRANTEE: USDA Natural Resources Conservation Service SITE: Ohio Darby Creek Watershed (5 Members - RDT) SITE SUPERVISOR: Mary Ann Core PHONE: (614) 852-4004 COUNTY: Madison COMPONENTS OF OBJECTIVE STATEMENTS: Establishment of Riparian Corridor 1. What work will be done? What service activities will your participants engage in? A. The participant will assist with the T.R.E.E.S. Turn Key Program and work with 15 landowners to promote the establishment of riparian corridor buffer strips. B. the participant will work with the T.R.E.E.S. vendor in establishing riparian corridor buffer strips and doing tree planting on nonriparian areas. C. The participant will assist on streambank stabilization projects using native species. D. The participant will coordinate the local ODNR Division of Forestry seed pick-up program. E. The participant will work with the Ohio Chapter of the Nature Conservancy Stewardship and Protection Assistant on protection of the Darby and stewardship work on related preserves. 2. What is the hoped for result of the work/activities described above? A. Complete 15 tree planting plans of the corridor or in critical areas. B. Gain tree planting skills and help establish tree plantings in the critical areas. C. Learn the basics of streambank stabilization and repair areas on the Darby. D. Collect native species seed for use on watershed planting efforts. E. Work on TNC preserves on plant classification and help protect terrestrial elements in the Darby Watershed. 3. How will you measure the quality of your product or impact of your service? All work items will be measured in quality by using quality reviews by internal and external customers. NRCS, ODNR Division of Forestry, and TNC criteria will be used. 4. By what standard will you gauge success? All criteria met or exceeded. No external customer complaints. 5. How many individuals will receive the benefit of the work your participants perform? Estimated 1000. TEMPLATE FOR RENEWAL FY96 NRCS AMERICORPS APPLICATIONS (PRIVATE) WINDBREAK RESTORATION - ENVIRONMENT CORPS, OKLAHOMA 1. TITLE PAGE: A) Windbreak Restoration B) USDA-NRCS C) PL&E D) Oklahoma E) Alfalfa F) Alfalfa, Woods, Major G) Congressional District Six (LUCAS) H) Robert Dotson, District Conservationist, Project Manager I) Cherokee Field Office, 401 W. Cherokee, Cherokee, Oklahoma, 73728, (405) 596-3402, FAX (405) 596-2883. J) LeRoy Tull, Project Director, USDA-NRCS K) State Office, 100USDA Suite203, Stillwater, Oklahoma, 74074-2655, (405) 742-1207, FAX (405) 742-1201 L) Environment Corps ( 1-RDL and 4-EC Members) 1. TITLE PAGE: A) Windbreak Restoration B) USDA-NRCS C) FL&E D) Oklahoma E) Woodward F) Woodward, Harper, Ellis, Dewey C) Congressional District Six (LUCAS) H) Jim Shearhart, District Conservationist, Project Manager T) Woodward Field Office, 2411 Williams Ave Suite 115, Woodward, Oklahoma, 73801, (405) 256-5320, FAX (405) 256-3059 J) LeRoy Tull, Project Director, USDA-NRCS K) State Office, 100USDA Suite203, Stillwater, Oklahoma, 74074-2655, (405) 742-1207, FAX (405) 742-1201 L) Environment Corps ( 1-RDL and 4-EC Members) IV 3 4, 2. SUMMARY PAGE - OVERVIEW of the PROJECT A) Accomplishments achieved in first half a year of the project in meeting the community service objectives and boosting the personal development of the members is already progressed past that goaled. objective 1 Restore 30 Windbreaks and plant 5000 trees - 28 windbreaks have been restored or renovated for a total of 14 miles in 8 counties of the 23 counties in the project area. 12 windbreaks have soil loss reductions and 16 have potential for soil loss reductions. 20,000 trees have been planted in shelterbelts/windbreaks, eroded and gullied areas, outdoor classrooms and special community projects that met the objectives of AmeriCorps. Members have performed all these activities. objective 2 Increase public awareness, support and coverage - Participation is evident with over 300 requests for AmeriCorps assistance by landowners. AmeriCorps Members have been involved and presented programs, handed out information materials, written a quarterly newsletter, been the subject for two feature stories and were main participants in the 60th Celebration of the first shelterbelt in the nation. Three TV Coverages of AmeriCorps events involved over 800 people that showed public awareness and positive media coverage. objective 3 Increase public awareness and informational materials - Numerous articles and informational materials have been developed as a result of members activities such as a newsletter, handouts for outdoor classrooms, news articles for local papers and pictures taken by the members. Approximately 40% of the 23 western counties have received requests. Eight counties are actively involved in the project because of learning about the program from others. B) Key elements for next year and how service will be performed Most of the work will be on private lands with some on public areas. There are almost 3000 shelterbelts/windbreaks in western Oklahoma. This project will be a cooperative effort between several public and private partners, federal and state agencies, and numerous communities. AmeriCorps Members will be located at four sites working in adjoining counties in the twenty-three county project area. They will be restoring or renovating shelterbelts/windbreaks planted in the 1930's and 1940's by CCC/WPA workers. Forty windbreaks and twenty-thousand trees will be planted. These historical natural resource landmarks if not taken care of will deteriorate, disappear and eventually leave the land unprotected. This would allow the wind to blow the soil much as it did in the 1930's. The management structure and partnerships established in the present project will remain the same in the renewal project. 3. OBJECTIVES: (All ENVIRONMENT TEAMS HAVE THE SAME OBJECTIVES FOR WINDBREAK RESTORATION) COMMUNITY SERVICE OBJECTIVE #1 GRANTEE: NRCS SITE: Oklahoma, SITE SUPERVISOR: PHONE: Robert Dotson (Cherokee) (405) 596-3402 Jim Shearhart (Woodward) (405) 256-5320 Greg Allen (Cheyenne) (405) 497-2272 Tom Wilson (Sentinel) (405) 393-4321 COMPONENTS OF OBJECTIVE STATEMENT: Protect the Great Plains ecosystem by restoring forty windbreaks and planting 20,000 trees and/or shrubs that reduce soil erosion and enhance wildlife according to an approved conservation, wildlife enhancement and forestry plan. 1. The work to be done is restoring windbreaks and planting trees and/or shrubs. 2. The result to be achieved is forty windbreaks restored and 20,000 trees and/or shrubs planted. 3. The measure of quality is reduced soil erosion and enhance wildlife according to an approved conservation plan. 4. The standard of success is the amount of soil erosion (tons per acre) reduced before and after in adjoining fields after restoration or renovation. 5. Benefits will be received by the landowner, landuser, community, county, state and adjoining states. 3. OBJECTIVES: (All ENVIRONMENT TEAMS HAVE THE SAME OBJECTIVES FOR WINDBREAK RESTORATION) COMMUNITY SERVICE OBJECTIVE #2 GRANTEE: NRCS SITE: Oklahoma, SITE SUPERVISOR: PHONE: Robert Dotson (Cherokee) (405) 596-3402 Jim Shearhart (Woodward) (405) 256-5320 Greg Allen (Cheyenne) (405) 497-2272 Tom Wilson (Sentinel) (405) 393-4321 COMPONENTS OF OBJECTIVE STATEMENT: Increase public awareness in the twenty-three western counties about the value of windbreaks and the need for long-term maintenance by encouraging four hundred people to participate in requests for AmeriCorps Teams assistance. 1. The work to be done is increase public awareness in the twenty three western counties about the value of windbreaks. 2. The result to be achieved is support and participation of the public in AmeriCorps activities and support of the Environment Corps efforts. 3. The measure of quality will be 25% increase in participation levels, 25% increase for assistance requests and 25% increase of news articles that support the program. 4. The standard of success will be achieved with one hundred people at each site requesting assistance, 70% positive responses to services of the teams. 5. Benefits will be received by all persons within the twenty-three western counties and the state of Oklahoma. 3. OBJECTIVES: (All ENVIRONMENT TEAMS HAVE THE SAME OBJECTIVES FOR WINDBREAK RESTORATION) COMMUNITY SERVICE OBJECTIVE #3 GRANTEE: NRCS SITE: Oklahoma, SITE SUPERVISOR: PHONE: Robert Dotson (Cherokee) (405) 596-3402 Jim Shearhart (Woodward) (405) 256-5320 Greg Allen (Cheyenne) (405) 497-2272 Tom Wilson (Sentinel) (405) 393-4321 COMPONENTS OF OBJECTIVE STATEMENT: Increase public awareness of local, state and federal agencies availability for resource problems through the development and implementation of informational materials and activities in the twenty-three western counties. 1. The work to be done is to develop and implement informational materials and activities that shows agency efforts in windbreak restoration and resource protection. windbreaks. 2. The result to be achieved is increased requests for information and/or assistance to participating agencies in AmeriCorps Program. 3. The measure of quality will be positive requests that lead to increased assistance to the twenty-three western counties related to windbreaks, forestry, wildlife or other natural resource conservation needs. In 4. The standard of success will be 50% of the twenty- three counties receive an increase in requests and a 10% increase in program participation of landowners or landusers. 5. Benefits will be received by all persons within the twenty-three western counties. TEMPLATE FOR NEW FY96 NRCS AMERICORPS APPLICATIONS (PRIVATE) MULTI-CULTURAL RESOURCE AWARNESS PROJECT (ENVIRONMENT TEAM - OKLAHOMA) 1. TITLE PAGE: A) MULTI-CULTURAL RESOURCE AWARNESS PROJECT B) USDA-NRCS C) PL&E D) Oklahoma E) Rogers F) Rogers, Tulsa, Wagoner, Mayes, Wasington G) Congressional District One and Two H) Arnold Hamilton, District Conservationist, Project Manager I) Claremore Field Office, Federal Building, Room 103, 120S. Missouri, Claremore, Oklahoma, 74017, (918) 341-0536, FAX (918) 343-2807. J) LeRoy Tull, Project Director, USDA-NRCS K) State Office, 100USDA Suite203, Stillwater, Oklahoma, 74074-2655, (405) 742-1207, FAX (405) 742-1201 L) Environment Corps ( 1-RDL and 4-EC Members), could use (2-RDL and 8-EC Members). We are grateful for the team of five and will accept more members if funding allows for at a later time. Blending Cultures and the Environment: A Multi-Cultural Resource Awareness Project Needs to be met and appropriateness for national service A) Needs Specific needs of the community As more and more young people grow up in urban areas and do not have the opportunity to experience nature, youth have less concern for the environment and for the conservation of natural resources. They do not understand that the condition of the environment affects them or that their actions impact the environment. Therefore, there is a need for an environmental education program that will teach urban school children about the environment and about the conservation and wise use of natural resources. There is a large minority population in the Tulsa metropolitan area. The Metropolitan Tulsa Chamber of Commerce estimated that in 1994 the population was 77.4 percent white, 15 percent black, 5.1 percent American Indian, 2.9 percent Hispanic, 1.6 percent Asian, and 1.1 percent other. They also estimated that 25 percent of the households in Tulsa had yearly incomes of less than $15,000. In the metropolitan area, there is a great need for a program that will give inner-city young people, particularly minorities, the opportunity to further their education and to develop self-confidence. leadership and increased desire to succeed. Benefit of the project to the community This AmeriCorps project will directly address these needs by providing an opportunity for inner-city young people to provide service to their community by teaching school children about the environment. By helping present educational programs at a conservation education reserve and at urban schools, the AmeriCorps members will help teach youth about problems facing the environment. how their actions impact the environment, and about the many diverse ecosystems. The AmeriCorps program will provide the opportunity to bring together a diverse group of mostly young people who can identify with the target audience, school children in urban areas. AmeriCorps participants will develop leadership skills, pride in their work, and the desire to perform community service. By working with team members from different ethnic backgrounds, the AmeriCorps members will develop understanding and respect for people of other cultures. The community will directly benefit from the project because the team will develop new nature trails, learning stations and educational programs at the Reserve which will benefit local youth for many years to come. The community will also benefit from the school children's increased knowledge of and respect for the environment and from the conservation practices the children put to use. Process Process by which the needs were identified Rogers State College, Rogers County Conservation District, USDA Natural Resources Conservation Service, and Claremore and Tulsa school teachers recognized the need to educate urban youth about the environment and about the conservation and wise use of natural resources. In 1989, the college donated 120 acres adjoining the campus for the development of a conservation education reserve. The joined with the conservation district and Natural Resources Conservation Service to develop the Reserve. The Reserve has been operational for less than five years. The long-term goals for the Reserve include the development of new nature trails and learning stations and the expansion and improvement of existing educational programs. The goals also include attracting a more diverse audience to the Reserve and implementing an environmental outreach program that will target disadvantaged inner-city youth. Another goal is to involve patients from the neighboring Claremore Veterans Hospital in programs at the Reserve. Narrative Oklahoma Conservation Commission Employees of the Oklahoma Conservation Commission will train the AmeriCorps members in environmental education programs and will assist with water quality and wetlands training. Oklahoma Department of Wildlife Conservation The Oklahoma Department of Wildlife Conservation will provide training on wildlife identification and habitat management and will provide technical assistance in the planning of children's education programs. Oklahoma Department of Agriculture The Oklahoma Department of Agriculture Forestry Services will help provide forestry training for the participants and will provide technical assistance in the planning of educational programs to present to school children. B) Design Concept Recruitment USDA Natural Resources Conservation Service will recruit a diverse group of participants from all ethnic and socio-economic backgrounds. By working with the Tulsa Chapter of the National Association for the Advancement of Colored People, the Greater Tulsa Area Hispanic Affairs Commission, and teachers at McLain High School, USDA Natural Resources Conservation Service will reach disadvantaged youth from inner-city Tulsa. They will also recruit through newspapers and other publications throughout eastern Oklahoma, including minority publications. Leadership and supervision One team member will be a Rural Development Corps member and will serve as the crew leader. This member will meet the requirements of the Rural Development Corps and will demonstrate leadership ability. This leader will coordinate daily activities and will handle minor problems as they occur. A USDA Natural Resources Conservation Service employee and a conservation district employee will supervise the team. Other USDA Natural Resource Conservation Service and conservation district employees will assist as needed. Work site The Reserve, located at Rogers State College in Claremore, Oklahoma, 15 miles from Tulsa, will serve as the daily meeting place and the primary work area for the team. The Reserve is a 120-acre area of undeveloped wilderness set aside for conservation education. Its main features include nature trails, an amphitheater and picnic area, a butterfly garden, pond and wetlands habitats, an aquatic laboratory, a fishing dock, a ropes course, and a working demonstration farm. Team projects The work on the Reserve will include building new nature trails, conducting water quality testing at the pond, expanding the butterfly garden, maintaining existing trails, building bird houses and nesting boxes, developing a composting demonstration site, designing new educational stations, and helping present environmental education programs to groups of school children. In addition to working at the Reserve, participants will assist USDA Natural Resource Conservation Service and conservation district employees present conservation education programs to schools in Tulsa and throughout northeastern Oklahoma. Agency partners will assist in the development of these educational programs. Training and self-improvement Training and self-improvement workshops will be held in classrooms at Rogers State College and in facilities on the Reserve. Approximately 20 percent of the time will be spent in training and self-development. Agency partners will provide natural resource training in their fields of expertise. The Tulsa NAACP, the Greater Tulsa Area Hispanic Affairs Council, and McLain High School teachers will help plan and present leadership and self- development training. Narrative The program will build on existing service programs of the NAACP and the Hispanic Affairs Commission by encouraging members of these service programs to serve as role models and mentors for the AmeriCorps participants and by regularly including them in AmeriCorps activities. Service activities Part of the team's service activities will be to develop new programs and to improve existing educational sites at the conservation education reserve. The AmeriCorps members will build a new hardwood forest nature trail; improve existing nature trails; build new learning stations; help develop and present new educational programs on soils, water quality, wildlife, and wetlands; help plan the annual Earth Day Celebration and Fall Festival; and lead school children on tours through the Reserve. The other part of the service will be to develop an environmental education outreach program to reach school children in urban areas. The AmeriCorps participants will help develop educational programs on natural resource conservation which they will present to urban elementary school children. They will use their creativity to plan unique environmental education programs by putting the technical information they receive from resource people into their own words and into a format that will be well-accepted by inner-city school children. A typical work week In a typical work week, the team will meet to discuss the goals for the week and participate in a team- building exercise. During the week. their work at the Reserve may include: constructing a hardwood forest nature trail, conducting water quality testing at the pond, planting flowers in the butterfly garden, and working on the composting demonstration site. They will help veterans from the neighboring Veterans Hospital plant a garden on the Reserve and will take them fishing at the Reserve pond. They will work with resource people to develop children's environmental education programs and will go with a conservation district employee to elementary schools to help present the programs. They will also participate in a self-improvement workshop on leadership and goal setting and meet with their mentors. Relation to need This AmeriCorps program will respond directly to the need to educate urban children about the environment and to the need for a service program involving inner-city young people. Through this program, AmeriCorps members will provide environmental educational programs for school children, and will develop an outdoor learning environment where children and their families can learn about the environment and the diverse ecosystems in Oklahoma through first-hand experience. Participant training and support Approximately 20 percent of the participants' time will be dedicated to training and self-development. Agencies involved in the project will provide training in their areas of expertise. The Tulsa NAACP, Greater Tulsa Area Hispanic Affairs Commission, and teachers at Tulsa McLain High School will help organize the leadership and self-development part of the training program. Training subjects include: Project WILD, Project Learning Tree, Soils, Range Management, Wetlands, Wildlife Management, Water Quality, Weather Conditions, Forestry, Environment and Ecosystem Relationships, Prescribed Burning, Leadership, Team Building and Team Working Skills, Goal Setting, Job Opportunities, Effective Study Skills, Crisis Management, Effective Interview Techniques, Effective Presentations, Higher Education Opportunities, Job Orientation, Safety in the Work Place, Civil Rights, Equipment Safety, Health and Safety, and CPR. Participant placement and supervision The team will consist of nine members and one crew leader. The crew leader will be a member of the Rural Development Corps and will coordinate daily activities and handle minor problems as they occur. A USDA Natural Resources Conservation Service conservation education coordinator and a conservation district education specialist will supervise the team. These supervisors, with the assistance of other USDA Natural Resource Conservation Service and conservation district employees, will schedule and coordinate educational programs. Other conservation district and USDA Natural Resource Conservation Service employees will assist with the project as needed. " COMMUNITY SERVICE OBJECTIVE #1: GRANTEE: NRCS SITE: Oklahoma, Rogers Co. SITE SUPERVISOR: Arnold Hamilton PHONE: 918-341-4147 Claremore, OK COMPONENTS OF THE OBJECTIVE STATEMENT: 1. The work to be done is utilize AmeriCorps Members to renovate and develop an outdoor learning environment on the 120 acre conservation reserve and assist with developing outdoor classrooms in communities. 2. The result to be achieved is increased numbers of learning areas on the reserve and outdoor classrooms in communities that members and others can use in teaching environmental education to children. 3. The measure of quality is that over 8,000 children and others will be provided an environmental and conservation learning experience by the members assistance. 4. The standard of success is that 80% of the counties served will use the members in assisting with environmental and conservation education of young people. 5. Benefits will be received by the communities, cities, counties and state. COMMUNITY SERVICE OBJECTIVE #2: GRANTEE: NRCS SITE: Oklahoma, Rogers Co. SITE SUPERVISOR: Arnold Hamilton PHONE: 918-341-4147 Claremore, OK COMPONENTS OF THE OBJECTIVE STATEMENT: 1. The work to be done is utilize AmeriCorps Members and community participants to renovate and develop the 120 acre conservation reserve for the use of families and others. 2. The result to be achieved is increased use of the learning areas on the reserve by families, groups, veterans hospital and others to experience the natural resources of the reserve. 3. The measure of quality is public acceptance of the AmeriCorps efforts and a increased number of volunteers with diverse cultures and backgrounds to assist in the project. 4. The standard of success is 50% increase in the number of adults, families, groups and others that use the outdoor educational sites developed from members efforts. 5. Benefits will be received by the communities, cities, counties and state. 13 REGON - PORTLAND TITLE PAGE: A. Title of Project: Portland EnviroCorps: Mid- Columbia Slough Restoration B: Name of Organization: U.S. Department of Agriculture NRCS C. Team Type: PL&E and RDT D. State of Duty Station: Oregon E. County of Duty Station: Multnomah F. Names of counties served Multnomah G. Congressional District: 1 and 3 H. Name of Site Supervisor: Steven Fedje I: Address, phone & fax numbers: 2115 SE Morrison Portland, Oregon 97214 Ph: 503-231-2270 FAX: 503-231-2271 J: Name of State Project Director: Arlene Tugel K. Address, phone & fax numbers: 101 SW Main Street, Suite 1300 Portland, Oregon 97204 Ph: 503-414-3208 FAX: 503-414-3277 L. Number of Members in PL&E: 8 Full-time 10 Part-time M. Number of Members in RDT: 2 Full time OREGON - PORTLAND SUMMARY PAGE: A. Exactly what specific accomplishments were achieved in the first half year of the project in meeting the community service objectives and boosting the personal development of the Members? EnviroCorps is an AmeriCorps program located in the Portland, Oregon, metropolitan area. EnviroCorps combines on-the-ground environmental restoration projects with community involvement and enhancement, and provides training and skill development to AmeriCorps members to help them prepare for careers as environmental technicians. Program objectives: Environment (50%) : protection and restoration of the natural resource areas and watersheds within the urban area. Community (30%) identifying community needs and building partnerships with community groups to meet those needs, including involvement of at-risk youth in projects. Participant Development (20%) : providing training and opportunities for EnviroCorps crew members to develop skills as environmental technicians, enhancing their employability. Sponsors: EnviroCorps is supported and managed cooperatively by the following institutions: Portland State University: an urban university with strong regional links and support for community-based programs. Metropolitan Service District: Regional planning entity with jurisdiction in the three urbanizing counties of the Portland metropolitan area. Metro is headed by an elected council and has regulatory powers. East Multnomah Soil and Water Conservation District: Located in a largely urban and developing county, the district is an innovator and leader in watershed planning, restoration, and management. NRCS Community Resource Conservation Center: Local office of NRCS located in Portland, the CRCC staff provides technical assistance and planning guidance relating to watershed resource protection, restoration, and preservation to groups throughout the Portland metropolitan area. A management team of representatives of these institutions and EnviroCorps staff meet weekly to discuss and resolve management issues, plan future projects evaluate needs, and identify resources, such as potential partnerships. The City of Portland's Bureau of Environmental Resources has expressed interest in joining the management team as co-sponsor, with some possible project funding, and the team is exploring other possible sponsors as well. Project Partners: The following groups and institutions have formed partnerships with the EnviroCorps crew in various projects, supplying volunteers, materials, technical assistance, and project support. Roosevelt High School Oregon Natural Resources Council Grant High School Multnomah County Drainage District Jefferson High School Community Tree House Project LaSalle High School Urban Forest Project Wilson High School Friends of Smith & Bybee Lakes Bureau of Environmental Svcs Green City Data Project Friends of Trees Portland Audubon Society Portland Parks & Recreation Wetlands Conservancy Fariview Creek Watershed Gp Community Gardens City of Gresham Simpson Timber A total of 98 volunteers have contributed 545 hours of time to EnviroCorps projects. The high degree of interest shown by community organizations and groups in participating with EnviroCorps has meant that the number of projects and scope of projects is much greater than originally envisioned. As a result, there is a very high visibility of the program in the community. B. Plan for next year: 8 full-time (EP), 10 part-time (EP), 2 full-time team leaders (RD) Continuing focus on restoration of riparian and wetland sites and habitat building Columbia Slough watershed, in cooperation with Columbia Slough Watershed Council and other partners: Restore 3-5 riparian sites on headwater creek of Columbia Slough. Revegetate 20 acres of headwaters wetland. Work with at least three major Columbia Slough streambank property owners to develop plans and install riparian/wetland restoration projects. (All of the wetland/riparian: projects are also fish and wildlife habitat development.) Participate in developing and implementing habitat-friendly public access plan for Slough, incorporating public education and awareness elements. Participate in Conservation District/City of Portland program to help homeowners in watershed identify and install alternative home and garden practices to reduce nonpoint source pollution to Slough while providing backyard wildlife habitat. Much of target area is low-moderate income. Program is still under development, but anticipate information contacts with 1000 homeowners, direct assistance to at least 50-60 through workshops and demonstration sites. Partnership building with community groups, schools, businesses, and local agencies. Cooperative program with schools for 16-20 at-risk high school youth, with teams to include both youth and EnviroCorps members. Major changes in management structure or partners: None. We are currently exploring the possibility of sponsorship with the City of Portland, who would also participate on the EnviroCorps Management Team. CORPORATION FOR NATIONAL SERVICE COMMUNITY SERVICE OBJECTIVES Objective 1 GRANTEE: USDA Natural Resources Conservation Service SITE: Portland, Oregon (20 Members - RDT) SITE SUPERVISOR: COUNTY: COMPONENTS OF OBJECTIVE STATEMENTS: The EnviroCorps members have been working with Metro staff and hired consultants on developing the Whitaker Ponds Management Plan. The Whitaker Ponds planning area is comprised of 15 privately owned properties which contain the two ponds and abuts the Columbia Slough. Working with directly affected landowners and the surrounding community on developing this plan is the first step towards developing restoration activities in the project area. The management plan is scheduled to be completed by March, 1995. 1. What work will be done? What service activities will your participants engage in? Anticipated projects to be implemented following completion of the management plan include removal of pest plants (non-native, invasive plant species), revegetation of disturbed areas to return the management area to a more natural condition, removal of trash and debris, and development of a warm water fishery in the ponds. Projects v,/ill occur on all properties with landowner consent as well as on any properties which are purchased by Metro. 2. What is the hoped for result of the work/activities described above? To restore and enhance the aquatic habitat, riparian zone, and neighboring uplands in the planning area to former natural conditions. 3. How will you measure the quality of your product or impact of your service? Pest plants and solid waste will be absent from the area, over 6 acres will be revegetated with native vegetation, two urban ponds will be enhanced through improved water quality and establishment of a protective buffer zone, and a warm water fishery will be created. 4. By what standard will you gauge success? Wildlife habitat will be restored to an estimated 4 edevelopment state, and conditions that adversely impact water quality will be significantly improved in 16 acres of ponds wetlands, and adjacent upland buffer zones, including the riparian zone along one mile of the Columbia Slough. 5. How many individuals will receive the benefit of the work your participants perform? The 15 landowners in the management area, over 8 elementary, middle, and high schools, and the thousands of people living in the surrounding densely populated neighborhoods. CORPORATION FOR NATIONAL SERVICE COMMUNITY SERVICE OBJECTIVES Objective 2 GRANTEE: USDA Natural Resources Conservation Service SITE: Portland, Oregon (20 Members - RDT) SITE SUPERVISOR: PHONE: COUNTY: COMPONENTS OF OBJECTIVE STATEMENTS: Enhanced Public Usage 1. What work will be done? What service activities will your participants engage in? The Whitaker Ponds are located in an otherwise park deficient area of the Portland urban environment. The management plan is addressing public access options and recreational opportunities within the planning area. Projects which will follow completion of the management plan will include constructing a parking area, trail system, and interpretive kiosk for public usage. In addition, a warm water fishery is envisioned for the area with two fishing docks and shoreline access from the trail system. 2. That is the hoped for result of the work/activities described above? The public will gain access to a local park in an otherwise park deficient area. Recreational & educational opportunities will be offered, with key components of the plan to include the development of a warm water fishery and associated inter-city kids fishing program, access to an outdoor laboratory for environmental education, & the restored natural area which will allow for passive recreational opportunities such as wildlife watching & picnicking. 3. How will you measure the quality of your product or impact of your service? Public access, a trail system, two barrier-free fishing docks, one mile of shoreline access, and an interpretive kiosk will be established for public recreation and education. 4. By what standard will you gauge success? The public and over 8 elementary, middle, and high schools v,/ill have direct access to a natural area for environmental education and recreational opportunities while providing Wildlife habitat restoration on 16 acres of the management area. 5. How many individuals will receive the benefit of the work your participants perform? The 15 landowners in the management area, over 8 elementary, middle, and high schools, and the thousands of people living in surrounding densely populated neighborhoods. COMMUNITY SERVICE OBJECTIVES Objective 3 GRANTEE: USDA Natural Resources Conservation Service SITE: Portland, Oregon (20 Members - RDT) SITE SUPERVISOR: PHONE: COUNTY: COMPONENTS OF OBJECTIVE STATEMENTS: Natural resource and habitat restoration 1. What work will be done? What service activities will your participants engage in? Environmental restoration and enhancement projects will continue to be developed on both private and public property throughout the 18-mile corridor of the Columbia Slough and surrounding watershed. Typical projects involve re-establishment of native plant communities, improving wildlife habitat, removing pest plants, trash clean-up, and bank stabilization. EnviroCorps members will continue to work with local resource agencies, non-profit organizations, and citizen groups to accomplish these projects. 2. What is the hoped for result of the work/activities described above? Restoration projects will be completed in wetland and riparian sites throughout the Columbia Slough watershed. Resulting benefits will include wildlife habitat enhancement, water quality improvement, soil conservation, and public education. 3. How will you measure the quality of your product or impact of your service? On the ground restoration and enhancement activities will be evident, including channel modifications, eradication of pest plants, and establishment of native vegetation along a total of 3 miles of the Columbia Slough. 4. By what standard will you gauge success? The area along a total of 3 miles of the Columbia Slough will be returned to a more natural condition, with an improvement in wildlife habitat, water quality, and soil retention. 5. How many individuals will receive the benefit of the work your participants perform? Participating landowners and the general public throughout the Portland urban environment will benefit by having more recreational and educational opportunities, an improvement in water quality, and a more aesthetic environment. COMMUNITY SERVICE OBJECTIVES Objective 4 GRANTEE: USDA Natural Resources Conservation Service SITE: Portland, Oregon (20 Members - RDT) SITE SUPERVISOR: PHONE: COUNTY: COMPONENTS OF OBJECTIVE STATEMENTS: Trail Access and Interpretive Exhibits 1. What work will be done? What service activities will your participants engage in? Public trails and interpretive exhibits will be designed and developed on project sites where public access is permitted by the property owner. 2. What is the hoped for result of the work activities described above? Public trail access of three riparian and wetland sites will be developed by connecting the sites to existing and soon to be developed public trails. 3. How will you measure the quality of your product or impact of your service? Interpretive signs and exhibits will be developed along the trails to inform users of important attributes of the area and proper human usage practices. 4. By what standard will you gauge success? Trails, signage and exhibits will be installed at three project sites. 5. How many individuals will receive the benefit of the work your participants perform? Participating landowners and the general public throughout the Portland urban environment will benefit by having more recreational and educational opportunities, an improvement in water quality, a more aesthetic environment, and increased opportunities for wildlife viewing. TITLE PAGE -SOUTHWEST OREGON A. Tide of Project: Rural Community & Watershed Assistance B. Name of Organization: SW OR RC&D Council C. Team Type: Rural Development Team D. State of Duty station: Oregon E. County of Duty Station: Coos F. Name of County Served: Coos G. Congressional District: 04 H. Name of Site Supervisor: Paul Heikkila Coos County Ex Service Ph: 503-398-3121 I. Address, ph/FAX number: SW OR RC&D 576 N.E. "E" Street Grants Pass, OR 97526 Ph: (503) 476-5906. FAX (503) 955-9574 J. Name of State Project Director: Arlene Tugel K. Address, ph/FAX number: NRCS 101 S.W. Main Street, Ste 1300 Portland, OR 97204 Ph: (503) 414-3208 FAX: (503) 414-3277 1. Number of Member in PL&E: 0 M. Number of Member in RDT: 2 SUMMARY PAGE 1. Specific Accomplishments Brad worked in tandem with an unemployed fisherman to contact over 300 landowners along 25 miles of stream to encourage their participation in restoration projects. He also helped survey over 50 culverts to identify problems for fish passage and water quality; those identified priorities will now be the focus of repair efforts by unemployed fishermen. Brad has also played a key role in organizing meetings to assure public participation. One key Individual representing a group of landowners along a tributary has been brought into the larger watershed council as a result of encouragement and motivation of the AmeriCorps member, As the youngest member of our Rural Development Team, and as a local person from a remote town, Brad has benefited from a significant level of on-the- job training. In addition to watershed-specific training, he worked stints in various county offices to get an appreciation for local government. Brad has also hosted a regional AmeriCorps team meeting. In the future Brad will be working on developing grants for projects. B. Program Design/Changes In Management The key elements of the AmeriCorps project for FY 96 will be the development and strengthening of public groups representing smaller watersheds and specific interests. The watershed association has recognized :he time it takes to develop effective citizens' groups and to develop crust with landowners. The AmeriCorps member will have a key role in working with new and established groups to optimize participation in project design and implementation. The member will undertake outreach to landowners and interest groups to increase their involvement in conservation work. The members will organize and conduct training, including: demonstrations, tours and seminars for watershed councils and the general public. The member will assist with the development and implementation of conservation and watershed projects. The RC&D Council is eager to support this watershed council effort, which demonstrates model partnerships between local people and Federal, State and local agencies, including the Soil & Water Conservation District. CORPORATION FOR NATIONAL SERVICE COMMUNITY SERVICE OBJECTIVES Objective 1 GRANTEE: USDA Natural Resources Conservation Service SITE: Oregon Southwest Oregon (5 Members - RDT) SITE SUPERVISOR: Paul Heikkila PHONE: (503) 396-3121 COUNTY: Coos COMPONENTS OF OBJECTIVE STATEMENTS: Educate and train landowners and interest groups in watershed activities. 1. What work will be done? What service activities will your participants engage in? Organize, demonstrations, tours and seminars to involve landowners and interest groups in watershed enhancement activities and councils. 2. What is the hoped for result of the work/activities described above? More people will be involved in watershed councils and actively develop and implement projects to benefit to the watershed. 3. How will you measure the quality of your product or impact of your service? The number of events; number of individuals and follow up evaluations. 4. By what standard will you gauge success? Twelve tours and demonstrations organized; members assists with development and implementation of six watershed demonstration projects. 5. How many individuals will receive the benefit of the work your participants perform? 240 people through direct participation and residents of the Coquille River Watershed: approximately 35,000. IMMARY PAGE A. Specific Accomplishments Working with local watershed councils, the Soil & Water Conservation District, the County Extension Service and relevant State and Federal agencies, Dave has: * completed two watershed assessments * designed a culvert survey project * written grants for fence building and riparian planting * successfully submitted grants to three sources for fish and riparian enhancement (Floras Creek) * developed a County-wide grant to hire unemployed fishermen to do watershed improvement activities * presented demonstrations and environmental education program in one remote primary school * planted over 500 trees in riparian zone * secured grants totaling over $367,000 in watershed enhancement and fishermen's work program ive has participated in three professional seminars on watersheds, one santwriting workshop, a personal effectiveness seminar, and a practical rence construction workshop. In addition, the team of five meets monthly and regularly hosts other AmeriCorps program members to discuss professional and community service topics. B. Program Design/Changes in Management The success of this year's program brings the local organizations to a different level of need. Now that significant funding will enable project managers to be hired, the critical needs identified for AmeriCorps member intervention are the coordination of voluntary community groups doing watershed enhancement and watershed education with school children. Continuing the extremely successful partnership with the SWCD, watershed councils and County Extension Service, the member would work with resource groups and other volunteer organizations as well as working with rural teachers. The member will undertake outreach to interest groups (such as fly fishermen) to increase their activity in conservation work. The member will assist with the development and implementation of conservation and watershed projects. In addition, the member will provide and organize raining and educational materials for teachers and assist with the nplementation of conservation education. SOUTH CAROLINA 1 TITLE PAGE A) Title of Project: S.C. Rural Development B) Name of Organization: NRCS C) Team Type: RDT D) State of Duty Station: S.C. E) County of Duty Station: Darlington F) Names of Counties Served: Chesterfield, Marlboro, Darlington, Dillon, Marion G) Congressional District: 5th h) Name of Site Supervisor: Wylie Owens I) Address, Ph/Fax Number: Pee Dee RC&D Office 300 Russell Street Mozingo Building, Room 209 Darlington, S.C. 29532 Ph: 803-393-9809 FAX: 803-395-6827 E) County of Duty Station: Florence F) Names of Counties Served: Kershaw, Lee, Sumter, Clarendon, Florence, Williamsburg, Georgetown, Horry G) Congressional District: 6th H) Name of Site Supervisor: Roy Todd I) Address, Ph/Fax Number: Santee-Wateree RC&D Office 401 W. Evans Street, Room 208 Florence, S.C. 29503 Ph: 803-629-8784 FAX: 803-665-8284 E) County of Duty Station: Greenwood F) Names of Counties Served: Oconee, Pickens, Greenville, Anderson, Laurens, Abbeville, Greenwood, McCormick, Saluda, Edgefield, Aiken G) Congressional District: 3rd H) Name of Site Supervisor: Jimmy Sanders ) Address, Ph/Fax Number: Ninety Six RC&D Office, P. O. Box 3127 64 Greenwood, S.C. 29648 Ph: 803-229-2174 FAX: 803-229-2845 E) County of Duty Station: Newberry F) Names of Counties Served: Newberry, Union, Spartanburg, Cherokee, York, Chester, Fairfield, Richland, Lexington, Calhoun G) Congressional District: 5th H) Name of Site Supervisor: Keith Cain I) Address, Ph/Fax Number: Crossroads of History RC&D Office 109A South 321 Bypass Winnsboro, S.C. 29180 Phone: 803-635-2757 FAX: 803-635-2081 E) County of Duty Station: Colleton F) Names of Counties Served: Barnwell, Orangeburg, Allendale, Bamberg, Hampton, Colleton, Dorchester, Berkeley, Jasper, Charleston, Beaufort G) Congressional District: 2nd Name of Site Supervisor: Steve Edwards / Address, Ph/Fax Number: Lowcountry RC&D Office County Agricultural Building 119 Benson Street Walterboro, S.C. 29488 Ph: 803-549-5596 FAX: 803-549-2597 J) Name of ST Project Manager: Walley Turner K) Address, Ph/Fax Number: Natural Resources Conservation Service 1835 Assembly Street, Room 950 Columbia, S.C. 29201 Ph: 803-253-3314 FAX: 803-253-3670 L) Number of Members in PL&E: 0 M) Number of Members in RDT: 20 65 SOUTH CAROLINA SUMMARY PAGE: A. Exactly what specific accomplishments were achieved in the first half year of the project in meeting the community service objectives and boosting the personal development of the Members? A) The rural development objectives are the driving force behind the AmeriCorps projects which include: water quality, environmental education, public safety, wildlife habitat, and community enhancement. We work with a variety of sponsors including federal, state and county government agencies, and private organizations. Success: Through the end of March 1995, our AmeriCorps members had completed 24 rural development projects. The community sponsors have been highly complimentary of our members accomplishments. Specific Project Accomplishments: * Water Quality - 4 projects including statewide stream map coding and county wide grassland survey. * Environmental Education - 7 projects including 4 outdoor classrooms and 5 miles of nature trails, teacher curriculum for 2 schools, and National Historic Park. * Public Safety - 6 projects including 4 county wide road inventories with data base and 2 county wide dam inventories on more than 225 water bodies. * Wildlife Enhancement - 1 project covering 4 counties including posting 900 boundary signs and 300 acres of prescribed burning. Our twenty members are divided into four teams of five. Each five member team works on community projects lasting from three to four weeks. We have targeted our assistance the first year in nine rural counties in the state. The development of the individuals through training, leadership positions, and community service is an integral part of our AmeriCorps project. Each of our members have key roles and responsibilities within their five member team. These roles include team leader, administrative, publicity, morale, and transportation. The team members selected their team mates for each position. They each serve as a project leader which enables them to plan, resource, and work directly with a community sponsor and be responsible for the implementation of a three to four week project. To date we have kept all twenty of our original members which makes us feel good about how members relate to our project and organizational structure. B. The key elements of the program design for next year. Specifically describe each new service project performed by the members. Describe any major changes in management structure or partner organizations. B) The key change that NRCS in South Carolina anticipates making for the next year is to replicate our successful program across the rural counties in our state. Our program will partner closer with the five Resource Conservation and Development Councils in the state who have a common goal of improving rural South Carolina. The NRCS in South Carolina will continue our twenty member team which will work on common objectives. We will place these members in five sites around the state. At times two or more of the sub teams may work on a common three or four week project. The twenty member multi-discipllinary team will consist of five sub- team clusters of four members working on assigned projects that supplement objectives. Members may be switched between sub-teams to enhance training and to utilize specialized expertise. During recruitment, individuals with diverse educational, social, and ethnic backgrounds will be targeted for selection. The five sub-team clusters will be provided extensive joint training at the beginning of the project and will come together on a regular basis to discuss project accomplishments and to receive individual and group training. CORPORATION FOR rional SERVICE COMMUNITY SERVICE OBJECTIVES Objective 1 GRANTEE: USDA Natural Resources Conservation Service SITE: South Carolina (20 Members - RDT) SITE SUPERVISOR: Wylie Owens PHONE: (803) 292-9809 COUNTY: Darlington COMPONENTS OF OBJECTIVE STATEMENTS: Collect data and conduct assessment of water quality in rural watersheds. 1. What work will be done? What service activities will your participants engage in? Developing & designing assessment format with partners; collecting water quality data; performing water quality sampling; storing information in computer & publishing results; developing strategies for water quality improvement. 2. What is the hoped for result of the work/activities described above? Additional water quality data available for decision makers on seven watersheds; shared data base and information by sponsors, agencies and groups; ecosystem planning on two watersheds. 3. How will you measure the quality of your product or impact of your service? Quality checks by sponsors on samples and review and cross-check of data by technical specialist. 4. By what standard will you gauge success? Acceptance of data and reports by sponsors; utilization of data by decision makers for ecosystem planning. 5. How many individuals will receive the benefit of the work your participants perform? 50,000 private citizens and 20 units of government and groups. COMMUNITY SERVICE OBJECTIVES Objective 1 GRANTEE: USDA Natural Resources Conservation Service SITE: South Carolina SITE SUPERVISOR: Wylie Owens COUNTY: Darlington COMPONENTS OF OBJECTIVE STATEMENTS: Grassland conservation initiative to improve water quality. 1. What work will be done? What service activities will your participants engage in? Develop and design assessment format, work with farmers to conduct individual assessments and develop strategies to conseve grassland. 2. What is the hoped for result of the work/activities described above? Improved water quality in six watersheds and landowners know practices which will improve grasslands and reduce related water pollution risks. 3. How will you measure the quality of your product or impact of your service? the quality will be measured by quality checks of the worksheets; assessments will meet standards of the SC Dept. of Health and Environment Control and NRCS. 4. By what standard will you gauge success? 1,000 assessments will be conducted and 70% of the information will be complete. 5. How many individuals will receive the benefit of the work your participants perform? 1,000 grassland farmers and 20,000 private citizens. CORPORATION FOR 1. IONAL SERVICE COMMUNITY SERVICE OBJECTIVES Objective 3 GRANTEE: USDA Natural Resources Conservation Service SITE: South Carolina (20 Members - RDT) SITE SUPERVISOR: Wylie Owens PHONE: (803) 292-9809 COUNTY: Darlington COMPONENTS OF OBJECTIVE STATEMENTS: Plan and coordinate a comprehensive environmental education program. 1. What work will be done? What service activities will your participants engage in? Developing plans with sponsors & communities for outdoor learning centers; constructing outdoor learning centers; developing lesson plans for use of outdoor learning centers. 2. What is the hoped for result of the work/activities described above? Twelve outdoor learning center plans developed; eight outdoor learning centers constructed; twenty lessons plans developed. 3. How will you measure the quality of your product or impact of your service? Plans reviewed & accepted by sponsors; construction work inspected and accepted by sponsor; lesson plans reviewed by panel of teachers. 4. By what standard will you gauge success? Ten percent increase in use of outdoor learning centers in project area. 5. How many individuals will receive the benefit of the work your participants perform? 50,000 students, teachers and private citizens. CORPORATION FOR 1 IONAL SERVICE COMMUNITY SERVICE OBJECTIVES Objective 4 GRANTEE: USDA Natural Resources Conservation Service SITE: South Carolina (20 Members - RDT) SITE SUPERVISOR: Wylie Owens PHONE: (803) 292-9809 COUNTY: Darlington COMPONENTS OF OBJECTIVE STATEMENTS: Plan and implement initiatives to improve safety, health services, social outreach, and community assistance. 1. What work will be done? What service activities will your participants engage in? Naming roads and developing maps which show houses and structures for 911 system; assessing environmental conditions in minority and low income communities; constructing recreational improvements; repairing riparian and critical areas; and providing emergency assistance for major storm or fire events. 2. What is the hoped for result of the work/activities described above? Implementation of 911 emergency system in five counties; data on conditions in five minority communities; eight recreation sites constructed; seven riparian and critical areas constructed; emergency assistance provided for three events; installation of dry fire hydrants statewide. 3. How will you measure the quality of your product or impact of your service? 911 maps will be reviewed by sponsor and constructed sites will meet NRCS and sponsor specifications. 4. By what standard will you gauge success? Acceptance by sponsors of completed work and 100 percent of sites will pass inspection. 5. How many individuals will receive the benefit of the work your participants perform? 100,000 private citizens and 20,000 minority and low income citizens. COMMUNITY SERVICE OBJECTIVES Objective 1 GRANTEE: USDA Natural Resources Conservation Service SITE: South Carolina SITE SUPERVISOR: Wylie Owens COUNTY: Darlington COMPONENTS OF OBJECTIVE STATEMENTS: Wildlife habitat improvement in rural areas. 1. What work will be done? What service activities will your participants engage in? Identify locations for public access; construct additional public access sites; assess and publish summary of wildlife populations; and improve wildlife habitats. 2. What is the hoped for result of the work/activities described above? To make available more information on wildlife habitat; improve public access and appreciation for wildlife and habitat conservation. 3. How will you measure the quality of your product or impact of your service? Constructed sites will be inspected and meet the NRCS technical specifications, Assessments will meet the standards of SC Dept. of Natural Resources and US Fish and Wildlife Service. 4. By what standard will you gauge success? Eight watersheds will be assessed; public access will be made available on six sites and habitat will be improved on eight sites. 100 % of sites will pass inspection. 5. How many individuals will receive the benefit of the work your participants perform? 20,000 citizens will benefit. CORPORATION I NATIONAL SERVICE COMMUNITY BUILDING OBJECTIVES Objective 6 GRANTEE: USDA Natural Resources Conservation Service SITE: South Carolina (20 Members - RDT) SITE SUPERVISOR: Wylie Owens PHONE: (803) 292-9809 COUNTY: Darlington COMPONENTS OF OBJECTIVE STATEMENTS: Enhance capacity of community in rural areas. 1. What work will be done? What service activities will your participants engage in? Recruiting additional volunteers; developing partnerships with other service and community organizations; assisting with strategic planning; conducting educational campaigns; and completing community surveys. 2. What is the hoped for result of the work/activities described above? 5,000 additional hours of volunteer service; 20 meaningful partnerships developed; 2 strategic plans for communities being implemented; 3 educational campaigns conducted; 5 community surveys completed. 3. How will you measure the quality of your product or impact of your service? Log of additional volunteer hours and survey partners and public. 4. By what standard will you gauge success? 5,000 additional hours logged; 100 percent of partners believe the quality of service delivery has improved. 04/27/95 03:09 605 352 1270 NRCS HURON SD +++ COMM-ASSISTANCE 5 003 Project: Rosebud Sioux Tribe Natural Resources Conservation Project Organization: Natural Resources Conservation Service Team Type: Combined State of Duty Station: South Dakota County of Duty Station: Todd County Counties served: 8 counties will be served in the project vicinity Congressional District: South Dakota Site Supervisor: David J. Steffen, District Conservationist Natural Resources Conservation Service White River Field Office Jones Building, P.O. Box I White River, SD 57579-0709 (605) 259-3252 FAX: (605) 259-3251 State Project Manager: Joyce Watkins, Communications Officer Natural Resources Conservation Service Federal Building, 200 Fourth St. SW Huron, SD 57350-2475 (605) 352-1227 FAX: (605) 352-1270 Number of Members - - Environmental Corps - 8 Number of Members - Rural Development - 2 04/27/95 03:09 605 352 1270 NRCS HURON SD COMM-ASSISTANCE 004 Project: Bad River Watershed Project Organization: Natural Resources Conservation Service Team Type: Rural Development State of Duty Station: South Dakota County of Duty Station: Hughes County Counties served: Haakon, Hughes, Jackson, Jones, Lyman, East Pennington, Perkins, and Stanley Counties as well as the cities and towns of Fort Pierre, Kadoka, Midland, Murdo, Philip, Pierre, and Wall. Congressional District: South Dakota Site Supervisor: David F. Konechne, Agricultural Engineer Natural Resources Conservation Service Pierre Field Support Office 314 S. Henry Street, Suite 300 P.O. Box 1258 Pierre, SD 57501-1258 (605) 224-2476 FAX: (605) 224-6615 State Project Manager: Joyce Watkins, Communications Officer Natural Resources Conservation Service Federal Building, 200 Fourth St. SW Huron, SD 57350-2475 (605) 352-1227 FAX: (605) 352-1270 Number of Members . Environmental Corps - 0 Number of Members . Rural Development - 5 03:08 605 352 1270 NRCS HURON SD +++ COMM-ASSISTANCE $ 002 04/27/95 South Dakota AmeriCorps Project The Bad River Water Quality Project AmeriCorps members will be installing conservation practices that will help reduce erosion and sediment from entering Lake Sharpe. Sediment restricts power at Lake Oahe during the peak use in the winter months. Lake Oahe, on the Missouri River, is the electrical power source for parts of North Dakota, South Dakota, Minnesota, Iowa, and Nebraska. Membership includes five Rural Development Corps members; one will also serve as Crew Leader. The AmeriCorps members will be located in the Bad River Water Quality Office in Ft. Pierre, South Dakota. (605)223-2253. Rosebud Sioux Tribe Natural Resource Conservation Project Tribal leaders plan for seven generations to come, just as their forefathers did. AmeriCorps members will be helping the Tribal officials responsible for developing a long-range plan for the Rosebud Nation. "Conservation" and "preservation" are their watch words in assembling resource information on significant cultural sites, plants, animals, and items of significance to tribal culture. There are approximately 25,000 Tribal members. Membership includes eight Environmental Corps and two Rural Development Corps. They will be housed with the Sinte Gleska University. (605) 856-2326. The Rosebud AmeriCorps Project is an interagency with Sinte Gleska University, the Bureau of Indian Affairs, Rosebud Sioux Tribe, Natural Resources Conservation Service and the Mellette County and Todd County Conservation Districts. 04/27/95 03:13 605 352 1270 NRCS HURON AmeriCorps Highlights - conducted 10 classroom sessions, for 230 students, in the Clark, SD public school system. Sessions focused on early culture of Native Americans; assistance was provided through South Dakota Ag in the Classroom. - gave classroom sessions on benefits of soil and water conservation to 170 third, fourth, and/or fifth graders at the Coleman, Egan, and Flandreau (Flandreau Indian Reservation) schools. Used costume characters and hands-on demonstrations to support teaching objective. Student/teacher response positive; TV news coverage. - assisted with state high school science quiz bowl; 110 students competed on 22 teams. - 650 families are impacted by affects of conservation measures to improve water quality in the Battle Creek/Lake Campbell Watershed; ag land users are receiving help in this floodprone area with conservation practices such as no-till, grassed waterways, grazing systems, and dam construction. - over 250 people learned how the resource information in the Geographic Information System benefits different groups; AmeriCorps members met with groups such as the State Association of Assessing Officers, the Haakon County Commissioners, and State Water Quality groups. - did educational outreach at four community urban/rural expos; for one location a Team USDA/AmeriCorps exhibit was developed to show AmeriCorps activities in South Dakota. - interacted with ag and environmental groups, media, Sisseton-Wahpeton Sioux Nation, Bureau of Indian Affairs, and other agency personnel to show functions and values of wetlands and how they are interpreted under current and funure farm bills. COMMUNITY SERVICE OBJECTIVES Objective 1 GRANTEE: USDA Natural Resources Conservation Service SITE: South Dakota SITE SUPERVISOR: Dave Steffen COUNTY: Todd COMPONENTS OF OBJECTIVE STATEMENTS: Protection of cultural resources on the Rosebu Reservation. 1. What work will be done? What service activities will your participants engage in? Conduct and archaeological dig on Indian Scout Dam to determine the extent of possible grave sites before dam safety reconstruction can occur. Monitor the amount of water entering and leaving the reservation and the water levels of the Ogalala and Airkeree aquifers. 2. What is the hoped for result of the work/activities described above? The cultural resources will be protected. People and natural resources within the flood plain will be protected with the reconstruction of a dam. 3. How will you measure the quality of your product or impact of your service? Quality checks will be made during the archaeological dig by Tribal, university and NRCS officials. Water levels will be taken at test wells. 4. By what standard will you gauge success? Monitor two permanent and 20 random stream gauging stations on the Little White River. 68 test wells will be monitored monthly. Presence of grave sites will not deter dam reconstruction. 5. How many individuals will receive the benefit of the work your participants perform? Approximately 25,250 residents of the reservation. 04/27/95 03:11 605 352 1270 NRCS HURON SD +++ COMM-ASSISTANCE 5 007 COMMUNITY SERVICE OBJECTIVE #3: Environment Corps #3 rev. GRANTEE: NRCS SITE: South Dakota, Todd County SITE SUPERVISOR: David Steffen PHONE No.: 605-259-3252 COMPONENTS OF OBJECTIVE STATEMENT: Initiate measures that will directly benefit the improvement of resources on the Rosebud Reservation. 1. What work will be done? Plant 30,000 tree seedlings in the Rosebud Timber Reserve. Harvest 100 cords of firewood for the needy people on the Rosebud Reservation that will furnish heat during the cold winter months. Help plan a Rancher's Workshop for about 100 ranchers. Help 500 Todd County fifth grade students better understand our natural resources through Environmental Fairs. Initiate abatement training for the lead and radon conditions in 100 homes on the Rosebud Reservation. Accelerate quality water to 3,000 households along the proposed Mni-Wiconi rural water system route by compiling needs data and right-of-way information for 75 tracts. 2. What is the hoped for result of the work/activities described above? The result will be a positive contribution to the associated natural resources of the area. The welfare of the individual residents will be enhanced by the awareness of how to correct and avoid hazards present in their homes. In addition, comfort during the winter will be enjoyed by those using the fire wood for heating homes. The young and old alike who participate in the educational programs will be better informed about the environmental topics presented. 3. How will you measure the quality of your work? Quality checks of inventory procedures will be made throughout the duration of the project by Tribal, university, and agency personnel. All procedures will be closely reviewed by other professionals in the field. 4. By what standard will you gauge success? This project will be considered a success by monitoring the extent of resources improved and the number of people contacted who will benefit from the planned activities. 5. How many individuals will receive the benefit of the work of your Members? The entire membership of the Rosebud Reservation, approximately 25,248 people, will receive a direct benefit from the improvement of the Reservation's resources. However, about 500 young people and 400 adults will receive immediate benefits from this project. In addition, the people in the surrounding counties and the entire nation will enjoy offsite benefits. 04/27/95 03:11 605 352 1270 NRCS HURON SD COMM-ASSISTANCE W UU8 COMMUNITY SERVICE OBJECTIVE #4: Rural Development Leadership #1 GRANTEE: NRCS SITE: South Dakota, Todd County SITE SUPERVISOR: David Steffen PHONE No.: 605-259-3252 COMPONENTS OF OBJECTIVE STATEMENT: Provide leadership, supervision, and facilitate successful accomplishments for the Rosebud Sioux Tribe AmeriCorps Environmental teams. 1. What work will be done? Provide guidance and supervision to Environmental Corps members. Help maintain good communication between agency project supervisor, site managers, and AmeriCorps members. Assist with the training and successful implementation of the various projects assigned to the Environmental Corps teams. 2. What is the hoped for result of the work/activities described above? A harmonious working relationship between agency personnel, Tribal leaders, landowners, communities and AmeriCorps members. A reliable source of information on the resources of the Rosebud Reservation for the Rosebud Sioux Tribe and agency personnel. 3. How will you measure the quality of your work? Quality will be measured by work ethic and positive attitude of the entire AmeriCorps team toward community service. Organization of resource data collected for use in a long range plan for the Rosebud Reservation. 4. By what standard will you gauge success? Successful completion of community service by all AmeriCorps members in the Todd County Cluster. Successful completion of collected resource data for the Rosebud Reservation. 5. How many individuals will receive the benefit of the work of your Members? The Environmental Corps members will benefit from the Rural Development Corps leadership. The entire membership of the Rosebud Reservation, approximately 25,248 people, will receive a direct benefit. In addition, any resource development on the Rosebud Reservation will have offsite benefits to the people in the surrounding areas, including eight counties, and possibly the entire nation. COMMUNITY SERVICE OBJECTIVE #5 Bad River Watershed Project #1 GRANTEE: NRCS SITE: South Dakota Hughes County SITE SUPERVISOR: Dave Konechne PHONE NO.: 605-224-2476 COMPONENTS OF OBJECTIVE STATEMENT: Improve water quality, reduce channel erosion, reduce gully erosion, reduce flood impacts, and increase rangeland productivity through improved management of the riparian and associated areas within the Bad River watershed in west central South Dakota. Provide leadership to the rural development team, complete and submit all required reports, prepare and issue news releases and perform other duties as assigned by the site supervisor Dave Konechne. 1. What work will be done? a. Ten miles of fences will be constructed. b. Rangeland condition for livestock exclusion and hydrologic inventories will be completed on 40,000 acres. C. Forty sites for innovative low-cost sediment retention structures and needed channel crossings will be identified. d. Labor and technical assistance will be provided to operators in construction of 15 low-cost sediment retention and needed channel crossings. e. Permanent rangcland/hydrologic photo points and transects will be established and monitored on ten sites. f. Assist in selecting 25 sites for establishment of suitable woody or grass species will be identified. g. Cuttings of native willow trees will be made and then planted in 25 selected riparian areas. h. Plugs of selected native species of grass will be made, transported to, and planted in 25 selected riparian areas. i. Assistance will be provided to the South Dakota Department of Environment and Natural Resources (DENR) to do sediment surveys on 10 lakes. j. Informational items will be developed to keep the public informed of AmeriCorps' work. k. Assist in establishing five miles of living snow fence. 1. Assist in analyzing stream classification data and expanding it to the Bad River Watershed from six sampled watersheds. 2. What is the hoped for result of the work/activities described above? Operators will improve management on watershed acres, which will reduce runoff, and thereby reduce the gully and channel erosion. The establishment of low-cost sediment retaining structures will reduce the delivery of sediment to the mouth of the Bad River and enhance the establishment of riparian areas. Establishment of woody and/or grass vegetation in selected riparian areas will trap sediment and reduce channel and gully erosion while increasing productivity for the operator. Sediment from the Bad River deposited into the Missouri River has and continues to restrict flow of the Missouri River near the mouth of the Bad River. When the U.S. Army Corps of Engineers tries to meet peak electrical demands by releasing large amounts of water through the Hydroelectric Plant at the Oahe Dam just upstream of Pierre and Fort Pierre, South Dakota, the restricted flow causes flooding in portions of both cities. The flush of sediment with runoff events also has a major impact on water quality, recreation. and fish and wildlife habitat in Lake Sharpe. 04/27/95 03:12 605 352 1270 NRCS HURON SD it. COMM-ASSISIANCE The actions enumerated above will reduce the sediment delivered to the Missouri River, thereby reducing flooding problems and increasing the associated recreational and wildlife uses of the Lake Sharpe portion of the river. When all practices have been implemented and are effective, measured sediment at the mouth of Willow Creck will be reduced by 25 percent from the base year of 1990. 3. How will you measure the quality of your work? The number of sites selected for the above activities, the number of activities applied to the landscape, and the quality of the applied activities. 4. By what standard will you gauge success? Acceptance of the activities with the producers and general public and the success of the activities to reduce sediment delivery to the mouth of the Bad River. 5. How many individuals will receive the benefit of the work of your Members? All federal, state and local government agencies and landowners and operators that have similar problems. This project has the potential to demonstrate that a low-cost method to establish and maintain sediment reduction that is acceptable to the public and local landowners can address this type of problem, where only high initial cost, high maintenance cost, and publicly undesirable engineering practices were considered in the past. Approximately one-fourth of South Dakota's population and a significant percentage of Minnesota, Iowa, and Nebraska's population could lose electrical power due to sediment restricting flow at the Oahe Dam Hydroelectric Plant during peak demands. This project could greatly reduce the likelihood of this happening in the future. Sediment has, in the past, reduced fishing days to 25 percent of the potential fishing days. This project could improve this percentage significantly and have a tremendous financial impact in the Lake Sharpe area. Haakon, Hughes, Jackson, Jones, Lyman, East Pennington, Perkins, and Stanley Counties will all benefit from the proposed work as well as the cities and towns of Fort Pierre, Kadoka, Midland, Murdo, Philip, Pierre. and Wall. 04/27/95 03:13 605 352 1270 NRCS HURON SD +++ COMM-ASSISTANCE 4 COMMUNITY SERVICE OBJECTIVE #6: Rural Development Leadership #1 GRANTEE: NRCS SITE: South Dakota, Hughes County SITE SUPERVISOR: Dave Konechne PHONE No.: 605-224-2476 COMPONENTS OF OBJECTIVE STATEMENT: Provide leadership, supervision, and facilitate successful accomplishments for the Bad River Rural Development teams. 1. What work will be done? Provide guidance and supervision to Rural Development Corps members. Help maintain good communication between agency project supervisor, site managers, and AmeriCorps members. Assist with the training and successful implementation of the various projects assigned to the Rural Development Corps teams. 2. What is the hoped for result of the work/activities described above? A harmonious working relationship between agency personnel, landowners, communities. and AmeriCorps members. A reliable source of information on the resources of the Bad River Watershed Project and agency personnel. 3. How will you measure the quality of your work? Quality will be measured by work ethic and positive attitude of the entire AmeriCorps team toward community service. Organization of resource data collected for use in a long range plan for the Bad River Watershed Project. 4. By what standard will you gauge success? Successful completion of community service by all AmeriCorps members in the Hughes County Cluster. Successful completion of collected resource data for the Bad River Watershed Project. 5. How many individuals will receive the benefit of the work of your Members? Four Rural Development Corps members will benefit from the Rural Development Corps leadership; their community service will impact landusers in an 8-county project area. NEW FY 96 NRCS AMERICORPS APPLICATIONS site information A. Name of Project: Buffalo/Duck River RC&D B) Name of Organization: USDA NRCS C) Team Type: RDT D) State of Duty Station: TN E) County of Duty station: Hickman F) Names of counties served: Hickman, Perry, Lewis, and Wayne G) Congressional District: 4th and 7th H) Name of site supervisor: Greg Taylor I) Address, ph/fax number: 113 Progress Center Plaza Centerville, TN 37033 Ph: (615) 729-2236 FAX (615) 729-5786 J) Name of st Project Dir: John T. Harris K) Address, ph/fax number: NRCS 675 U S Courthouse Nashville, TN 37203 Ph: (615) 736-5472 FAX (615) 736-7764 L) Number of Members in PL&E: M) Number of Members in RDT: 3 2. SUMMARY PAGE - on one page provide an overview of: A) The specific needs to be met, particularly as they relate to the Environment and Community Service. Public education on environmental issues is needed in areas of solid waste reduction and recycling, protecting the environment, and developing nature study areas to teach the importance of conservation and protecting the environment to school children. Specific needs to be met within the issue area of Environmental Education are: 1. To increase the general public's awareness of the natural environment and associated environmental issues and concerns. 2. To improve environmental knowledge, skills, and awareness of faculty and students in public schools. 3. To reduce the amount of solid waste entering landfills and increase participation in recycling. B) The key elements of the program design. A description of the administering organization and identification of primary program partners. Provide one full-time member to assist the Buffalo/Duck River Resource Conservation and Development (RC&D) Council with implementation of Information and Education programs on the Environment and Solid Waste Reduction and Recycling and the installation of environmental study areas for public schools within the RC&D area. Description of Administering Organization: The program will be administered by the Natural Resources Conservation Service, and the Buffalo/Duck River RC&D area. The Buffalo/Duck River RC&D is an organization of four county governments, four Soil Conservation Districts, and seven town governments. Primary Program Partners: Buffalo/Duck River Resource Conservation and Development Council Hickman, Lewis, Perry, and Wayne County Soil Conservation District Boards Hickman, Lewis, Perry, and Wayne County Boards of Education Hickman, Lewis, Perry, and Wayne County Departments of Solid Waste Tennessee Department of Agriculture Tennessee Division of Forestry Tennessee Wildlife Resources Agency Hickman, Lewis, Perry, and Wayne County Extension Services Natural Resources Conservation Service 3. Mission and objectives. A) Mission statement To improve the environment of the four counties of the Buffalo/Duck River RC&D area by providing information and education to the public in order to create a greater awareness of the importance of protecting the environment. B) Annual objectives 1. Environmental education for schools and civic clubs through presentations and distribution of educational materials. 2. Development of nature study areas that will be accessible to school students in each of the four counties of the area. 3. To assist four counties in complying with the state mandated reduction in solid waste by presenting information and education on solid waste reduction and recycling. 4. Narrative: In approximately seven pages, organized and labeled in the stipulated categories, provide the following information in a narrative form with as much specificity as possible. A) Needs to be met and appropriateness for national service. Needs: The nature of specific needs to be addressed include: 1. A lack of awareness within the general public of the natural environment and environmental related concerns and issues. 2. A lack of availability requesting environmental curriculum and study facilities to faculty and students within public school systems. 3. A lack of public concern and participation in reducing the amount of solid waste that is landfilled in the area. Direct benefits of the project to communities are: 1. Improving public awareness of environmental issues. 2. Improving faculty and student knowledge, skills, and awareness of the environment. 3. Reducing the amount of solid waste entering landfills and increased participation in recycling. Process: The needs that have been identified are the result of input from the public and were accumulated over a twelve month period. A combination of participation in public meetings and responses to survey questionnaires provided a broad cross-section of this input. Project Participation from Primary Program Partners: Buffalo/Duck River RC&D Council Assessment Participation - scheduled public meetings, development and evaluation of public needs surveys. Project Participation - assist in project administration. Hickman, Lewis, Perry, and Wayne County Soil Conservation Districts Assessment Participation - public contacts with units of governments - development and evaluation of public needs surveys. Project participation - assist in project administration. Hickman_ Lewis, Perry, and Wayne County Boards of Education Assessment participation - development, input and evaluation of public needs surveys. Project Participation - assist in project administration, site development and workshop development. Hickman, Lewis, Perry, and Wayne County Departments of Solid Waste Assessment Participation - Input and evaluation of public needs surveys. Project Participation - Technical assistance, public information, and workshop development. Tennessee Department of Agriculture Assessment participation - Evaluation of public needs surveys Project Participation - Technical assistance, workshop and site development. Tennessee Division of Forestry Assessment participation - Evaluation of public needs surveys Project participation - Technical assistance, workshop and site development. Tennessee Wildlife Resources Agency Assessment participation - Evaluation of public needs surveys Project participation - Technical assistance, workshop and site development. Hickman, Lewis, Perry, and Wayne County Agriculture Extension Services Assessment participation - Evaluation of public needs surveys Project participation - Technical assistance, workshop and site development. Natural Resources Conservation Service Assessment participation - Evaluation of public needs surveys Project participation - Technical assistance, workshop and site development. B) DESIGN. Concept: The basic concept for the design of the program is to fill the need in the four county area of the Buffalo/Duck River RC&D for environmental education through presentations in school classrooms and adult organizations, and to distribute information on reducing solid waste and recycling along with developing nature study areas. The selected participant will divide his or her time among the three selected objectives. The recommended headquarters would be the Natural Resources Conservation Service office in Centerville, Tennessee so the participant could be collocated with and NRCS employee for supervision and also with the president of the Buffalo/Duck River RC&D council for assistance in administering the program. Partnerships developed by the Buffalo/Duck River RC&D Council such as with the Tennessee Department of Agriculture will be involved with providing funding for necessary educational materials and supplies for the nature study areas. The selected participant will develop and give presentations to school children and adults with assistance and guidance provided by representatives of the Buffalo/Duck River RC&D Council and direct supervision by an NRCS employee. This will take up approximately one-third of the time. An additional one-third of the time the participant will work with county governments in developing informational and educational programs on solid waste reduction and recycling. The final one-third of the time will be devoted to working with school officials in all four counties to locate areas that can be developed into nature study areas. SERVICE ACTIVITIES AND RELATION TO NEED: These activities will address all identified objectives of the program in that education will be provided to school children on the environment and recycling as well as providing information to adults on solid waste reduction and recycling. PARTICIPANT TRAINING AND SUPPORT: The participant will be trained by NRCS employees assigned to the four counties of the Buffalo/Duck River RC&D area as well as Soil Conservation District employees and officials of the Bufflao/Duck River RC&D Council. Training will be through workshops and on the job training. PARTICIPANT PLACEMENT AND SUPERVISION: The participant selected will have individual assignments to accomplish the objectives of the program. The host-site will provide space, support, and training for the participant. The participant will be supervised by designated NRCS employees providing assistance to the Bufflao/Duck River RC&D Council. COMMUNITY SERVICE OBJECTIVE #1: Environmental Education GRANTEE: NRCS SITE: Tennessee, Hickman Co. SITE SUPERVISOR: Greg Taylor PHONE No. : (615) 729-2236 COMPONENTS OF OBJECTIVE STATEMENT: 1. What work will be done? Presentations of environmental programs will be combined at schools and civic clubs. 2. What is the hoped for result of the work/activities described above? Improve awareness of environmental issues. 3. How will you measure the quality of your work? Before/after questionnaires 4. By what standard will you gauge success? 50% increase in environmental awareness 5. How many individuals will receive the benefit of the work of your Members? 500 students, 300 adults COMMUNITY SERVICE OBJECTIVE #2: Nature Study Area GRANTEE: NRCS SITE: Tennessee, Hickman Co SITE SUPERVISOR: Greg Taylor PHONE No. : (615) 729-2236 COMPONENTS OF OBJECTIVE STATEMENT: 1. What work will be done? Develop Environmental Nature Study Areas for four public schools. 2. What is the hoped for result of the work/activities described above? Improve environmental knowledge, skills, and awareness. 3. How will you measure the quality of your work? Parent/Teacher surveys 4. By what standard will you gauge success? A 50% increase in teacher and student use, and incorporation of Environmental Education into lesson plans 5. How many individuals will receive the benefit of the work of your Members? 50 Faculty 1,000 students COMMUNITY SERVICE OBJECTIVES GRANTEE: USDA Natural Resources Conservation Service SITE: Tennessee SITE SUPERVISOR: Greg Taylor COMPONENTS OF OBJECTIVE STATEMENTS: Solid Waste Reduction and Recycling Program. 1. What work will be done? What service activities will your participants engage in? Presnting infromation and Education program on solid waste reduction and recycling. 2. What is the hoped for result of the work/activities described above? Reduce solid waste entering landfills and encourage recycling. 3. How will you measure the quality of your product or impact of your service? Evaluation by County Governments. 4. By what standard will you gauge success? Four counties will meet State solid waste reduction requirements. 5. How many individuals will receive the benefit of the work your participants perform? 46,548 individuals. NEW FY 96 NRCS AMERICORPS APPLICATIONS Site Information 1. TITLE PAGE: A) Title of Project: URBAN CONSERVATION TOWARD 2000 HAMILTON COUNTY B) Name of Organization: U.S.D.A. - N.R.C.S. C) Team Type : RDT D) State of Duty Station: Chattanooga, TN E) County of Duty station: Hamilton F) Names of counties: Hamilton G) Congressional District: 3 H) Name of site supervisor: William A. Dailey I) Address, ph/fax number: Bonny Oaks Agricultural Service Center 6183 Adamson Circle Chattanooga TN 37416 J) Name of st Project Dir: John T. Harris K) Address, ph/fax number: 675 USCH Nashville TN 37203 L) Number of Members in PL&E: 0 M) Number of Members in RDT: 2 ?. SUMMARY PAGE - on one page provide an overview of: A) The specific needs to be met, particularly as they relate to the nvironment and Community Service. The purpose of this project is to provide conservation education specialists to instruct and lead in environmental education programs in the designated audiences. The Americorp members will concentrate on providing hands on instruction and demonstrations to elderly residents, children at risk, and urban residents. The area of emphasis is urban non-point pollution. Many urban residents are largely unaware of the water quality impacts of urban-non-point source pollution. Many also are unaware of methods they can use to improve urban water quality. B) The key elements of the program design. A description of the administering organization and identification of primary program partners. U.S.D.A. - N.R.C.S. Hamilton County SCD Hamilton County Governments Southeast TN RC&D Council Southeast TN Development District TN Division of Ag Resources Mission and objectives. Answer the following questions; A) Mission statement To aid in distinguishing the NRCS as a responsive agency providing resource conservation technical assistance to urban land users. B) Annual objectives 1. Work with children at risk on demonstration projects 2. Work with elderly resident on environmental education 3. Work with urban residents on non-point source BMP's. 4. Develop and/or improve outdoor classroom facilities. 4. Narrative: (not to exceed 7 pages) A) Needs to be met and appropriateness for national service. There are many environmental questions that fall under jurisdiction of various established agencies. This program will help establish the NRCS as a leader in providing urban conservation information. The National ustomer Survey conducted in 1994 by SCS, identified the need for better service to urban customers. In Chattanooga, NRCS, Soil Conservation District and municipal officials have expressed frustration at the lack of services provided to urban residents on environmental issues. Urban residents often complain about getting the run around by being passed around on these same issues. The growing number of requests for technical information, clearly demonstrates the public's desire for better information. Often urban people with environmental questions or problems are not given the same quality time for solutions as their rural unterparts. ecause no other agency or group is fulfilling this need environmental information of this type dovetails nicely with NRCS mission. Process: Chattanooga has experienced rapid growth in the last decade. Most of these communities have little or no personnel with expertise in these issues. NRCS personnel are often the most knowledgeable people in these communities but due to mandated workload they have been unable to address many of these problems. B) DESIGN. The Americorps person will provide the conservation education specialists to instruct and lead in environmental education programs in the designated audiences. Concept: is position will provide the responsive outlet to provide resource conservation technical assistance to those urban users who often are not serviced due to being low priority. Service Activities: This project will provide natural resource instruction to people of various ages, social and economic backgrounds. Relation to Need: Currently urban residents are largely unaware of the water quality impacts of urban-non-point source pollution. Many also are unaware of methods they can use to improve urban water quality. Participant Training and Support: Support help in the form of secretary and office space will be provided by NRCS and the Soil Conservation District. Specialized training will be provided on such issues as toxins, pesticides, composting, recycling, wetland, riparian values and urban forestry. This will be provided by appropriate agencies and specialists. Specialized training will be provided on: working with elderly, communication skills, listening skills, working with handicapped, other things as, appropriated attire and public afety and health. Participant Placement and Supervision: The participant will be under the direct supervision of the District Conservationist in the designated field office. COMMUNITY SERVICE OBJECTIVE #1: GRANTEE: NRCS SITE: State, County of duty station TN Hamilton SITE SUPERVISOR: First and last name PHONE No. : - William Dailey 615-894-1687 OBJECTIVE STATEMENT: Involving Children at Risk in Natural Resource Conservation. 1. What is the work to be done? To coordinate the installation of two Urban BMP demonstration projects utilizing "children at risk", "juvenile offenders", "special needs children" or other kids referred by local agencies. The District Conservationist will oversee the projects and help the Americorp personnel with contact people, project development, design and funding for the projects. 2. What are the desired results? To introduce youth at risk to natural resource conservation and to involve them in making constructive contributions to the community. 3. How will you measure the impact and the quality of your work? These 2 projects will be developed to address specific urban conservation needs for the community and will be designed and installed to meet the NRCS field office technical guide or other acceptable standards For the chosen project. 4. What is the standard for success? At least 20 youth will be involved in the installation of a minimum of 2 conservation practices. 5. How many people will benefit directly from this work? 20 youth will benefit from hands on experience and 20 families, approximately 80 individuals will also receive the direct benefits. COMMUNITY SERVICE OBJECTIVE : GRANTEE: NRCS SITE: State, County of duty station TN Hamilton SITE SUPERVISOR: First and last name PHONE No. : - William Dailey 615-894-1687 OBJECTIVE STATEMENT: Urban Conservation 2000 1. What is the work to be done? Organize a conservation education program for inner city youth to include gardening and visits to an operating farm. 2. What are the desired results? To give young students a broader understanding and appreciation of agriculture and the interdependence between urban and rural communities. To give them hands on experience in gardening. 3. How will you measure the impact and the quality of your work? By the number of children who participate in this experience and feedback from their teachers or the leader of the youth organization. 4. What is the standard for success? 700 youth will participate in this experience. Teachers and group leaders will report this as a possitive experience and each will give 3 suggestions for the program. At least 25 suggestions will be evaluated and 10% will be incorporated into the program. 5. How many people will benefit directly from this work? /00 youth will benefit from this experienc. NEW FY 96 NRCS AMERICORPS APPLICATIONS site information 1. TITLE PAGE: A) Title of Project: Northeast Tennessee Environmental Education and Rural Development Initiative B) Name of Organization: USDA - NRCS / Appalachian-Northeast TN RC&D Council C) Team Type (PL&E or RDT, or combined) : RDT D) State of Duty Station of AmeriCorps Members: Tennessee E) County of Duty station of AmeriCorps Members: Sullivan F) Names of counties served by Members (up to 15 counties) : Carter, Greene, Johnson, Sullivan, Washington, Unicoi G) Congressional District of duty station of the Members: First District of Tennessee, Congressman James H. Quillen H) Name of site supervisor (at the local or county level) : Roy D. Settle - RC&D Coordinator I) Address, phone number, and fax number of site supervisor: 208 Sunset Drive, Box 42, Suite 409, Johnson City, TN 37604 (615) 854-9621 FAX (615) 282-6451 J) Name of state Project Directors: John T. Harris K) Address, phone number, and fax number of State Project Director: USDA-NRCS, 675 U. S. Courthouse, 801 Broadway, Nashville, TN 37203 (615) 736-5472 FAX (615) 736-7135 L) Number of Members in Environmental Teams: 0 M) Number of Members in Rural Development Teams: 3 2. SUMMARY PAGE - on one page provide an overview of: A) The specific needs to be met, particularly as they relate to the Environment and Community Service. 1. Illegal roadside dumping and the lack of an organized system for enforcing dumping laws, and little local belief in the possibility of cleaning up dumps in the region. 2. Insufficient technology and leadership to provide working models of sustainable alternative agriculture for small farms in rural areas. 3. A lack of quality, hands-on conservation education opportunities available to all teachers and students in the region at elementary and secondary levels. B) The key elements of the program design. A description of the administering organization and identification of primary program partners. Each need has key elements which by design will ensure the success of the projects. These elements are detailed below: Illegal Roadside Dumping - Develop local contacts in all counties who can assist in identifying existing dumps which will be logged into a computerized data base. Organize local people into cleaning up one dump in each county to create visibility for the project. Hold meetings of all partners involved in enforcement of dumping laws and develop a strategy to incorporate into a long term action plan. Special emphasis will be made to incorporate this program in areas with higher minority populations. Sustainable Alternative Agriculture Models for Small Farms - Develop action plans for implementing small scale demonstrations for cranberry production and Hydroponic vegetable production. Document steps and processes into handbooks for each project and organize field days for producers and others who are interested, especially minority and disadvantaged farmers. Publicize projects throughout region to transfer technology. Conservation Education - Survey teachers to determine needs, and design programs and methods for making them available to all who are interested. Devise plan for continuity of programs in future. The Appalachian-Northeast TN RC&D Council is a Nonprofit organization created as a result of people from county government, conservation and private concerned citizenry meeting to discuss shared issues related to their region. Public meetings were held to gain input that was used to set the tone for the organizations future. These projects are among the issues verified by communities over two years ago. The primary program partners in addition to the RC&D Council and USDA-NRCS are: Local Keep America Beautiful Affiliates, Shady Valley Ruritan Club, US Forest Service, State of TN Ecological Sciences Division, Johnson County Vocational Agriculture Department, Kingsport Tomorrow, First Tennessee Development District. 3. Mission and objectives. A) Mission statement The Mission Statement of the Appalachian-Northeast Tennessee RC&D Council: To conserve natural resources and improve rural economies and lifestyles through community leadership and enhanced educational opportunities. We feel that the objectives outlined in this application in all ways meet our organizations mission. It was determined that the program we have designed is strong enough to meet and use our Council's Mission. B) What are your annual objectives in the issue area? (list at least three) 4. Narrative: (not to exceed 7 pages) A) Needs to be met and appropriateness for national service. Needs: Several needs will be met with the implementation of this program. The first need is addressing the issue of Illegal Roadside Dumping. On the surface this seems to be a single problem, but it is actually symptomatic of at least three problems. These problems are: Lack of understanding of the problems caused by dumping. Individuals who practice this do not realize that dumping can create health and environmental problems, decrease the communities property values and affect potential tourism dollars for their region. Apathy of residents in area about their ability to address the issue. Residents in areas where dumping occurs often feel they are helpless to do anything about it. They need to be empowered to see that they can make the difference. Lack of enforcement of laws related to illegal dumping in rural areas. Rarely do courts in Tennessee support littering and dumping laws. As a result of this rarely do violators get charged with littering to any degree. Since this has often been the case, local law officers don't bother to file charges. These situations seem to feed off of each other resulting in little action. The second need to be addressed is the fact that there is little information available to producers giving them viable alternatives to traditional crops, especially of a sustainable nature. What options that do exist do not provide the return per acre that tobacco does and are not realistic for small acreage farms. Our goal was to construct working models that had minimal environmental impact. Hydroponic Vegetable Production involves a closed system in a greenhouse. Since plants are only fed what they can use there is either no runoff or the nutrients are recycled back through the system until they are consumed. No soil erosion occurs as plants are raised in plastic tubing and herbicides are not needed. Our Cranberry production model has two aspects. The first is to raise fruit on harvestable basis to market at the Annual Cranberry Festival. The second was to do so in bogs that replicate natural conditions. Minimal tillage will be used to prepare the sites. Organic methods will be used for weed control. Cranberries have few predators that cannot be controlled with row covers or netting. A third positive aspect of this project involves restoring cranberry bogs to and area where they naturally occurred with great frequency but now only three exist in Shady Valley. It will be a great step to reconstruct wetlands and provide an economic benefit to the area. The need for enhanced Conservation Educational opportunities probably has a potentially farther reaching effect that the other two projects. As we continue to develop more natural areas in the future it is crucial that we prepare our youth in the best way to manage natural resources. As discussed in the objectives, it is important that we have programs that meet educators needs and wants. A program that is not used does not benefit the environment or anyone else. By gaining the teachers input we are empowering them to create their own tools, and more importantly tools they will use to educate our youth. Process: All the needs we seek to address with these projects were raised by groups of leaders in communities, local government and conservation. This took place over a period of nine months through discussions, facilitated meetings, surveys of residents of our six county area. As the programs on Illegal Dumping and Conservation Education get underway, the people in these same communities will be determining how the project will be finally designed and carried out. All partners involved in determining these needs were asked early on what were the major needs in their community. All these needs were brought together and prioritized and ranked. Process: B) DESIGN. The three Community Service Objectives Sheets outlined later clearly address all questions related to Design, Concept, Service Activities and Relation to Need. Concept: Service Activities: Relation to Need: Participant Training and Support: Participants will receive training through a variety of sources which include the following; Cluster Training designed specifically for AmeriCorps members in Northeast Tennessee. Current participants are surveyed early in their term to determine what skills they need to complete their Objectives. Formal training is either designed for them or outside training is found. USDA AmeriCorp members given basic training related to Ethics, Civil Rights and Working with the public early in their term. In cases where applicable, on the job training is found with local professionals or related agencies. Participant Placement and Supervision: The participant will be placed in the USDA - NRCS Office of the Appalachian-Northeast TN RC&D Council in Johnson City, Tennessee. Their time will be split between working with the existing office staff, working with the partners of the three projects and working independently. Participants will be supervised by the RC&D Coordinator and directed by that person with assistance from key RC&D Council Members. Participant Recruitment: Recruitment will be done through a variety of methods which are outlined as follows: The USDA Liaison at Tennessee State University, Will Nesby, is being contacted to secure the names of professors and heads of departments in Rural Development, Agriculture, Environmental Sciences, Geography and others. These faculty along with the placement office at TSU will be contacted directly to get the names of students who would be interested in working in the subject area and this geographic area. Vacancy announcements will be mailed directly to these faculty as well as the students. Vacancy announcements will also be sent to other Universities faculty and placement offices in Tennessee and nearby Institutions in North Carolina, Kentucky and Virginia. The National Register of Applicants will also be utilized to ensure that potential applicants of all backgrounds diversities are aware of the opportunity to participate. These steps will be taken to ensure that the makeup the site participants reflect the diversity of the region. COMMUNITY SERVICE OBJECTIVE #1: GRANTEE: NRCS SITE: Tennessee, Washington County SITE SUPERVISOR: Roy D. Settle PHONE No. (615) 854-9621 COMPONENTS OF OBJECTIVE STATEMENT: Identify Illegal Roadside Dumps in the six county area, and organize community and local governmental groups to address the problem through cleanups, education and improved legal enforcement. 1. What work will be done? Members will develop local contacts with citizens in each county within community groups, local governments and businesses who recognize the problem. Using assistance from these groups, all dumps will be identified in the six RC&D counties and incorporate them into a computerized data base so the magnitude of the problem can be understood. Members will organize these groups along with students and other community based organizations and assist them in cleaning up one illegal dump in each county. Regional and or county Roundtable Meetings will be held with key partners such as KAB's, local law enforcement, judges who hear dumping cases, community groups and others, to discuss more effective enforcement of littering and dumping laws. Members will develop long range action plans for each county to ensure continuation of the effort. 2. What is the hoped for result of the work/activities described above? A database and map showing dumps in each county will be created. One dump in each county will be cleaned up and communities will become empowered. A core group of citizens will be formed with tools and skills to fight dumping. Law enforcement and judicial members will see that local people are truly concerned about their community. 3. How will you measure the quality of your work? The number of dumps will decrease in each county. Local courts will enforce dumping laws and prosecute violators. 4. By what standard will you gauge success? All counties will have a database of existing dumps. At least two dumps will be cleaned up in each county in the first year. Judge (s) will prosecute violators at a 50% higher rate than in the past in a minimum of two counties. 5. How many individuals will receive the benefit of the work of your Members? All residents in each county will benefit, but the residents in at least two rural communities in each county will benefit from having dumps cleaned up. Conservatively, this translates to 150 residents per community. This equates to 1800 residents in six counties. COMMUN - SERVICE OBJECTIVE #2: GRANTEE: NRCS SITE: Tennessee, Washington County SITE SUPERVISOR: Roy D. Settle PHONE No. : (615) 854-9621 COMPONENTS OF OBJECTIVE STATEMENT: Assist in the design, implementation, and documentation of two Sustainable Alternative Agriculture Models for Small Farms in order to provide environmentally sound options for rural farmers looking for alternatives to burley tobacco. Provide opportunities (workshops and publications) for small farmers, especially minority or those with limited resources to learn about the models. 1. What work will be done? Plans of action will be developed with the Shady Valley Ruritan for implementation of a small scale model for cranberry production, and with the Johnson County Vocational Agricultural Program/FFA to establish a model for raising Hydroponic Vegetables on a small scale. Members will work to secure support through grant writing and gaining partners. Members will assist both primary partners in all phases of implementation, this experience will provide knowledge needed to publicize the projects and write handbooks that will provide information needed to start these ventures. Members will coordinate with related agencies and interested parties in order to insure transfer of the technologies new to the area. 2. What is the hoped for result of the work/activities described above? Two alternative agriculture models will be in place for producers to visit and learn about and implement. Publications will be developed to share the information. 3. How will you measure the quality of your work? Producers will attend workshops and/or visit model sites to learn about the alternative crops. 4. By what standard will you gauge success? 200 producers will attend workshops held to promote the model farming system. One new operation of each type will be started in the region during the first year after implementation. 5. How many individuals will receive the benefit of the work of your Members? 200 producers will be educated. A minimum of two producers will start new ventures. COMMUNITY SERVICE OBJECTIVE #3: GRANTEE: NRCS SITE: Tennessee, Washington County SITE SUPERVISOR: Roy D. Settle PHONE No.: (615) 854-9621 COMPONENTS OF OBJECTIVE STATEMENT: A comprehensive survey of teachers in conservation and natural resources will be conducted. The results will be tabulated to determine where local programs and opportunities are lacking. Programs will be developed or upgraded to meet the prioritized needs and make them available to the teachers and students of the six county region. 1. What work will be done? The members will construct and conduct a survey of elementary and secondary educators in the region. Teachers active in conservation education will be involved in the design of the survey to insure that viable feedback is received. The results will be compiled to form a document that shows where needs are and if existing programs are lacking in areas. Where it is shown that programs are lacking, this information will be provided to those coordinators so corrections can be made. Where needs are shown and no program exists, new programs will be designed utilizing input from teachers who are currently active in Council educational programs. A time frame and plan for implementing these new programs will be developed and implementation will begin. 2. What is the hoped for result of the work/activities described above? Existing programs will be fine tuned and tailored to the needs of teachers and new programs will be developed or adapted that truly meet the needs and wants of the regions educators. Programs that meet the teachers needs will be utilized more, thereby educating more students in our region about sustainable use of their natural resources. 3. How will you measure the quality of your work? The percentage of teachers participating in the survey. The number of existing programs upgraded and the number of new programs implemented. 4. By what standard will you gauge success? 65% of teachers surveyed will provide input to the project. Two existing programs will be upgraded. Four new programs will be designed and two of these will be implemented within one year of design. 5. How many individuals will receive the benefit of the work of your Members? All students participating in the programs upgraded or created will benefit. Due to the varying scope of programs that are created or upgraded, it is difficult to make an accurate estimate. 7-0 A. Project Title: Chickasaw-Shiloh Environmental Awareness and Assistance Program B. Name of Organization: Chickasaw-Shiloh RC&D Council, Inc. C. Team Type: Rural Development Team D. State: Tennessee E. County: Madison F. Counties Served: Chester, Decatur, Hardeman, Hardin, Haywood, Henderson, Madison, McNairy G. Congressional District: 8th H. Site Supervisor: A. Chris Moyers I. Site Address: 235 Oil Well Road Jackson, TN 38305 Ph: (901) 668-7770 Fax (901) 668-8504 J. State Project Manager: John T. Harris K. State Project Address: 675 U.S. Courthouse 801 Broadway Nashville, TN 37203, Ph: (615) 736-5473 Fax (615) 736-7764 M. Rural Development Team Members: 2 Project Summary A. The Americorps Program has been an essential program in our area. Through the use of our effluent discharge equipment in our area, landowners have been able to reduce the impact of nonpoint source pollution problems. They have also become more aware of their responsibilities to water quality through our educational efforts. In conjunction with this project, a team of 4-H students in Henderson County (one of twenty teams in the nation) have been selected to be part of CAST (Cooperative Assistance in Science and Technology). These students will assist us in monitoring and evaluating nitrate absorption and it's affects on the pH of the soil. These students will present their findings in Washington, DC in the spring. Through our educational curriculum developments we now have lesson plans that meet Tennessee's core curriculum requirements and will assist our area's teachers meet these requirements. The Council has already invested $9,500 in this project to purchase equipment and educational materials. The Council is also under consideration to be a state pilot for the Leopold project, which incorporates environmental learning in all areas of a students curriculum. This opportunity was a direct result of a meeting between Americorps members and the State Department of Education. The members of my team have done well. I have seen them grow and mature during these two quarters. This process has taken place by support on our part, but mainly through their efforts and having responsibilities and being allowed to think through and act on their ideas. Each member has received 36 hours of structured training. B. The key elements of the 1995-1996 Chickasaw-Shiloh Environmental Awareness and Assistance Program shall center around the following objectives: 1. To inform the public of the available curriculum or environmental concerns within the Chickasaw-Shiloh RC&D Area. 2. To deliver environmental curriculum to schools in the eight county Chickasaw-Shiloh RC&D Area. 3. To provide the use of effluent discharge equipment to landowners/producers of confined livestock operations in the Chickasaw-Shiloh Area. There are no planned changes in the management structure or partner organizations. COMMUNITY SERVICE OBJECTIVE #1: GRANTEE: NRCS SITE: Tennessee, Madison County SITE SUPERVISOR: A. Chris Moyers PHONE No: (901) 668-7770 COMPONENTS OF OBJECTIVE STATEMENT: To develop curriculum for environmental programs with the eight county Chickasaw-Shiloh RC&D Area. 1. What work will be done? Members will revise already established curriculum, conduct teacher workshops and make classroom presentations. 2. What is the hoped for result of the work/activities described above? Members will develop curriculum that will inform and educate our area's youth concerning the environment. Teachers will receive assistance and information on conservation education resources for the classroom. 3. How will you measure the quality of your work? The impact of the curriculum will be measured by the number of schools that participate in using the curriculum and by requests for additional educational information. Teacher evaluations will be done during workshops. 4. By what standard will you gauge success? 40 percent of the elementary schools in the area are utilizing the curriculum; two teache{workshops will be held. A minimum of 15 classroom visits will be made. 5. How many individuals will receive the benefit of the work of your Members? Approximately 600 students and 50 teachers will benefit from this activity. COMMUNIT SERVICE OBJECTIVE #5: GRANTEE: NRCS SITE: Tennessee, Madison County SITE SUPERVISOR: A. Chris Moyers PHONE No: (901) 668-7770 COMPONENTS OF OBJECTIVE STATEMENT: To provide the use of effluent discharge equipment to landowners/producers of confined livestock operations in the Chickasaw-Shiloh RC&D Area. 1. What work will be done? Member will schedule use of effluent discharge equipment, assist with delivery and set-up of equipment, obtain lease agreement signatures, and maintain equipment. 2. What is the hoped for result of the work/activities described above? Equipment will be utilized by all landowners/producers requesting its use. 3. How will you measure the quality of your work? All dewatering operations shall meet lease agreements according to water quality standards. 4. By what standard will you gauge success? Ten million gallons of effluent will be safely discharged. 5. How many individuals will receive the benefit of the work of your Members? Ten landowners will utilize effluent discharge equipment. RENEWAL FY 96 NRCS AMERICORPS APPLICATIONS SITE INFORMATION 1. TITLE PAGE: A) Title of Project: Blue Creek Nature Center B) Name of Organization: Humphreys County Soil Conservation District C) Team Type: Rural Development D) State of Duty Station: Tennessee E) County of Duty: Humphreys F) Names of counties: Humphreys G) Congressional District: 8th H) Name of site supervisor: Odell Poyner I) Address, ph/fax number: 115 West Blue Creek Road Waverly, TN 37185 Ph: 615/296-3442 FAX: 615/296-1452 J) Name of st project manager: John Harris K) Address, ph/fax number: 675 U.S. Courthouse 801 Broadway Nashville, TN 37203 Ph: 615/736-7121 FAX: 615/736-7135 L) Number of Members in PL&E: 0 M) Number of members in RDT: 2 SUMMARY PAGE - on one page provide an overview of: A) Exactly what specific accomplishments were achieved in the first half a year of the project in meeting the community service objectives and boosting the personal development of the Members. Continuing efforts have been made toward the improvement of Blue Creek Nature Center. Seven lesson plans have been developed for teachers to use with classes at the nature center. The lesson plans involve activities that are to be performed in an outdoor setting such as the nature center. AmeriCorps members have worked to improve materials in the nature exhibit room that are used by visitors to the nature center. Some examples are: 1) animal tracks and scats have been identified and mounted on boards, 2) five animal pelts purchased for student studies, 3) four mounted animals donated by local veterinarian, 4) touch/feel boxes, 5) several bird nests identified and labeled, and 6) several environmental lesson guide books, resource books, and videos for use by community. Approximately 200 feet of critically eroding streambank was stabilized due to the help of AmeriCorps workers. Workers used rock riprap and willow stakes to stabilize eroding banks. A log weir or dam was placed in the stream to create a plunge pool. The dam aids in providing necessary fish habitat. Without the stabilization of this area of stream, sediment would continue to collect downstream and eroding banks would choke out healthy populations of aquatic organisms. Likewise, the streambank project created two excellent areas for aquatic study sessions with students during the summer. Classroom visits to local schools were a great success. A total of 670 students in 28 classes were provided with environmental education by AmeriCorps members. Each teacher was given the opportunity to choose a topic for his/her classroom visit. The topics covered included: forestry, waste management, water quality and conservation, soils, and wildlife. Each class was able to participate in a hands-on experiment or activity after a brief introduction to the topic. AmeriCorps members were very active during Tennessee's celebration of Arbor Day. Approximately 812 residents of Humphreys County were provided with white pine trees to be used for beautification or erosion control. Members planted five dogwood trees at various sites in the community. An Arbor Day workshop was presented to the Waverly Senior Citizens' Center. The seniors were entertained by a visit from Ruby Raindrop and Sammy Soil, the importance of trees was discussed and each was presented with a white pine seedling. Publicity for the Blue Creek Nature Center and AmeriCorps has increased. AmeriCorps has been highlighted in the county newspaper, as well as discussed on a local radio station. Additionally, AmeriCorps has gained great attention from the classroom visits members have participated in. B) The key elements of the program design for next year. Specifically escribe each new service project to be performed by the Members. 1) Continue to raise the level of awareness of environmental issues and solutions through community workshops, tours, demonstrations, field days, and teacher in-service training. 2) Continue to improve environmental education opportunities at Blue Creek Nature Center through on-site work involving AmeriCorps members and community volunteers. 3) Improve outdoor opportunities for the physically challenged and the elderly. 4) Continue to work with local schools, as well as youth and adult organizations in developing environmentally focused teaching aids such as lesson plans, displays, slide programs, and trail guides. Describe any major changes in management structure or partner organizations. NONE COMMUNITY SERVICE OBJECTIVE #1 GRANTEE: NRCS SITE: Humphreys County, Tennessee SITE SUPERVISOR: Odell Poyner PHONE No. : 615/296-3442 COMPONENTS OF OBJECTIVE STATEMENT: Continue to raise the level of awareness of environmental issues through community workshops, tours, demonstrations, field days, and teacher in-service training. 1. What work will be done? Members will organize and conduct public workshops on a variety of environmental subjects. Tours will be conducted at the Blue Creek Nature Center involving both youth and adult groups. Emphasis will be placed on school groups and providing for teacher in-service training in environmental issues and outdoor education. 2. What is the hoped for result of the work/activities described above? The hoped-for results will be increased community awareness of environmental issues and concerns. This will be accomplished by conducting a 1-day teacher in-service, approximately 12 tours, approximately 6 workshops, and hosting 1 county-wide field day. 3. How will you measure the quality of your work? Measuring the quality/impact of the service can be done in several ways: 1) the amount of involvement/interest shown by students/adults on the tours, 2) the number of participants in the field days, teacher in-service, workshops, and evaluations from participants. 4. By what standard will you gauge success? Our program's success will be measured by a 20% increase in the number of requests by teachers and other community leaders for workshops, tours, and field days as compared to the previous year. 5. How many individuals will receive the benefit of the work of your Members? Approximately 3,000 youths and 1,000 adults will initially benefit from the work-directly. Indirectly - approximately 7,000-9,000 will benefit. COMMUNITY SERVICE OBJECTIVE #2: GRANTEE: NRCS SITE: Humphreys County, Tennessee SITE SUPERVISOR: Odell Poyner PHONE No. : 615/296-3442 COMPONENTS OF OBJECTIVE STATEMENT: Continue to improve environmental education opportunities at Blue Creek Nature Center through on- site work involving AmeriCorps members and community volunteers. 1. What work will be done? Members will plan and develop nature trails within the Blue Creek Nature Center. Volunteers will be solicited to assist with new trail construction and improvement to existing trails. Activities will include trail surfacing, erecting signs, erecting bird houses, developing wildlife habitat, and stream and forest improvement. 2. What is the hoped for result of the work/activities described above? Besides adding additional trails, study sites and other areas to the Center, this work/activities will create a greater sense of community effort and pride by utilizing the assistance of volunteers. 3. How will you measure the quality of your work? This will be measured by the construction of at least one new trail, resurfacing of at least two of the existing trails, erecting of five signs, and five additional birdhouses and the development of at least two wildlife habitat areas. 4. By what standard will you gauge success? The success will be gauged by the number of participants involved - five additional volunteers and two organizations involved in the improvement of the Nature Center. 5. How many individuals will receive the benefit of the work of your Members? Approximately five volunteers and two organizations will be utilized and approximately 1,500 individuals will benefit from the work. COMMUNITY SERVICE OBJECTIVE #3: GRANTEE: NRCS SITE: Humphreys County, Tennessee SITE SUPERVISOR: Odell Poyner PHONE No. : 615/296-3442 COMPONENTS OF OBJECTIVE STATEMENT: Improve outdoor opportunities for the physically challenged and the elderly. 1. What work will be done? Members will improve and develop trails that will be accessible to the physically challenged and the elderly. Improvements would include asphalt trails, study area, and rest areas. 2. What is the hoped for result of the work/activities described above? The result of this work would be to provide the first area of this type in our community easily accessible for the physically challenged and the elderly. 3. How will you measure the quality of your work? This will be measured by the addition of a new trail, one rest area, and one study area that are readily and easily accessible to the physically challenged and the elderly. 4. By what standard will you gauge success? Success will be measured by the number of these targeted groups that utilize the facilities - 100% increase in use by these groups. 5. How many individuals will receive the benefit of the work of your Members? Approximately 100 physically challenged and elderly will utilize the facility. COMMUNITY SERVICE OBJECTIVE #4: GRANTEE: NRCS SITE: Humphreys County, Tennessee SITE SUPERVISOR: Odell Poyner PHONE No. : 615/296-3442 COMPONENTS OF OBJECTIVE STATEMENT: Continue to work with local schools, as well as youth and adult organizations in developing environmentally focused teaching aids such as lesson plans, displays, slide programs, and trail guides. 1. What work will be done? Members will develop as variety of educational aids that will focus on environmental issues. Educational aids will be e available for use at the Blue Creek Nature Center, as well as in the school room or other teaching setting. Lesson plans, displays, slide presentations, and trail guides will be developed. Also, a network of resource individuals and agencies will be e developed and utilized. Additional facilitators will be trained and utilized in promoting the ongoing concept of environmental education. 2. What is the hoped for result of the work/activities described above? It is hoped that a solid foundation for an environmental education program can be developed and published in the community, to reach every child and adult. 3. How will you measure the quality of your work? The quality of this community objective would be based on the community interest and involvement, either in developing or utilizing the Nature Center or in environmental education issues and the acceptance and use of the teaching aids. 4. By what standard will you gauge success? The success would be measured by an additional 500 hours of volunteer service, development of five additional lesson plans, two displays, on slide program, and a trails guide. 5. How many individuals will receive the benefit of the work of your Members? Approximately 3,000 - 7,000 individuals, youth and adults will benefit from this work.