Meeteetse Conservation District
Current Topics
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For Farm Bureau events go to their website and click on the calendar button http://www.wyfb.org/ |
| Current Issues in Wyoming Agriculture - Wyoming Department of Agriculture http://wyagric.state.wy.us/ |
| National Association of Conservation District News and Events http://www.nacdnet.org/news/ |
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Shoshone National Forest Service is revising their Forest Plan. For more info go to either: *http://www.fs.fed.us/r2/shoshone/projects/planning/revision/revision_index.shtml or * Forest Plan Comprehensive Evaluation Report Version 1.0 (May 31. 2005) |
| Wyoming Department of Environmental Quality Water Quality Division Current Events |
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The Final Draft Grizzly Bear Occupancy
Management |
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Wyoming Game and Fish Commission proposed “Comprehensive Wildlife Conservation Strategy” (CWCS) and the included “Strategic Habitat Plan” (SHP). For more info go to: http://gf.state.wy.us/habitat/StrategicPlan/index.asp |
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Nutrient management planning information for livestock: NASDA, in cooperation with the Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) and USDA's Natural Resources Conservation Service (NRCS), has launched a new website for nutrient management planning information. The website is http://www.ne16.com/t/1203726/39519107/17696531/0/.
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Solar Photovoltaic and Wind Powered Stock Water
Pumping Initiative |
According to the State Climatologist Jan Curtis, “Wyoming’s current drought, now in its fifth year, is beginning to look like past droughts that lasted 10 to 15 years, most recently in the 1950s.” Drought impacts the surface water right away, while it takes much longer to impact the underground aquifers. The relatively new technology of solar PV power could be used to pump underground water in isolated ranches and farms when surface water dries up.
Many of the remote stock water pumps throughout the state are served through long and expensive power distribution lines that produce very little revenue; some times not enough to even cover the maintenance cost of the line. As livestock don’t venture too far from water sources, more watering locations are needed for the proper utilization of the range. But remote service line extension costs about $15,000 to $20,000 per mile in Wyoming, thereby forcing many ranchers to truck water or use small diesel or propane engines. These engines not only are noisy and cause air pollutions, they also require the rancher frequent trips even in bad weather to start and stop the engines. Solar stock water pumping will be a cost effective and environmentally beneficial solution in these remote applications. The relative newness of the technology and the initial cost of the pumping systems are the main hindrance of the penetration of this technology into the market place.
Governor Dave Freudenthal has allocated $500,000 from the Petroleum Violation Fund for this initiative which will help over come the newness of the technology. Each participating rancher will also agree to showcase their working system to other ranchers and the general public for further dissemination of knowledge for two years.
After publicizing and distributing a questionnaire, the Wyoming Association of Conservation Districts in cooperation with their local electric utilities, county extension agents, and ranching organizations, using this information, will select the best locations for installation of the systems. Design, installation and monitoring of the systems will be conducted by the University of Wyoming Electric Motor Training & Testing Center, College of Engineering, 307-766-5149, maddux31@uwyo.edu.
LINKS
USDA Rural Development Section 9006: Renewable Energy/Energy Efficiency Improvement Program
OPEN BURNING and SMOKE MANAGEMENT From the Wyoming Department of Environmental Quality
Current Activities by Shoshone National Forest
including
Lower Wood River Fuels Treatment
