USDA Honors Shasta County Conservation Partnership

REDDING, Calif., Oct. 22, 2004 - Natural Resources Conservation Service (NRCS) State Conservationist Chuck Bell honored the Shasta County Conservation Partnership for maintaining and enhancing the nation's natural resources and environment in an awards ceremony and celebration held Wednesday at the USDA Service Center in Redding.

The partnership between NRCS and the Fall River and Western Shasta Resource Conservation Districts (RCDs) in Shasta County was recognized as an outstanding example of locally led conservation in action. Under the leadership of each of the Conservation District Board of Directors a broad range of watershed studies and implementation actions have been undertaken in Shasta County's diverse watersheds. Bell presented each member of the partnership team with a USDA Honor Award certificate signed by Agriculture Secretary Ann Veneman. These awards are the most prestigious honors bestowed by the Secretary of Agriculture.

"The watershed approach being used by the Conservation Districts is effectively addressing some of the most serious natural resource concerns in Shasta County," said Bell. "The directors and staff of the Shasta County RCDs and NRCS employees who assist them should be extremely proud of their accomplishments being recognized in USDA's highest conservation award."

"I am extremely gratified to be a part of the Shasta County Conservation Partnership," said NRCS District Conservationist Bob Bailey. "The directors and staff of the conservation district¹s and NRCS have worked very hard to develop and implement conservation programs that address natural resource issues that are important to Shasta County residents."

The Partnership has implemented conservation program activities in the watersheds of Clear Creek, Cow Creek, Stillwater Creek, Shasta West Watersheds, Battle Creek and Fall River to address a variety of natural resource concerns. The completion of over 20 miles of fuel-breaks by the Western Shasta RCD is resulting in fire protection for a number of rural residents and their rural communities. In Eastern Shasta County, water quality and riparian areas are being protected by RCD and NRCS conservation projects.

"The Fall River RCD is honored to receive recognition for our many natural resource conservation projects that have been successfully implemented with excellent cooperation from local landowners and NRCS staff," Said Bob Rynearson, President, Fall River Board of Directors.

"Our partnership with NRCS has been invaluable both in growth of our district and the delivery of conservation education programs and practices to our constituents," said Stuart Gray, President, Western Shasta Resource Conservation District Board of Directors.

The Shasta County Conservation Partnership also was formally recognized for its achievements at the 58th annual U.S. Department of Agriculture Honor Awards Ceremony, held earlier this year in Washington D.C.

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