Coordinator’s Report

March 14, 2005

Project Activity

Rural Economic Vitality: 

• Worked with Eric Bendfeldt/Tom Stanley to revise Shenandoah Valley Produce Auction Proposal for Agua Fund consideration – fast track process via committee policies and procedures
• Contacted via phone or e-mail members of the Rural Vitality Committee regarding their level of support for two proposals received at last Council meeting:  Augusta Sustainable Ag Task Force and Shenandoah Valley Produce Auction
• Committee members, chair of Rural Vitality Committee and Council chair concurred with funding education portion of the Shenandoah Valley Produce Auction for now, may consider additional funding

Open Space, Forestry, and Farmland Preservation and Community Development: 

• Helped organize January 25 easement workshop at Lord Fairfax Community College on the differences between purchased and donated easements
• Helping to organize April 19 Options for Financing Local Purchase of Development Rights Programs at Augusta County Government Center; met with VCC staff January 21 to plan this jointly sponsored project  

Water Quality/Quantity

• Met with Committee February 25 to evaluate proposals before the committee, sent proposals to committee for review

Nutrient Management

• Met with Committee January 19; members considered proposals that have come in for their review
• Continued extensive work with Waste Solutions Forum:  participating on funding committee; coordinating required briefing papers and format; chairing recognition committee; follow-up phone calls to invited Forum attendees; etc.

Education and Information

• Worked with Lorraine, Jim Lawrence and committee members to get RC&D website up and running and appropriate documents to Lorraine to put up on the web, give us your comments and suggested changes:  http://www.shenandoahrcd.org

Forestry Subcommittee

• Organized a Forestry subcommittee which met January 11 to discuss potential Stevens Amendment funding in the Shenandoah RC&D region through an application by New River Highlands RC&D
• Provided input to New River Highlands RC&D regarding Stevens Amendment proposal
• Just learned unofficially that New River Highlands will be awarded $200,000 for that work and part of those funds can go to Shenandoah RC&D for that work through partnership

Grants/Funding

• Met with Carol Quay from Canaan Valley Institute about what Shenandoah RC&D does and potential funding opportunities
• Environmental Research and Education Fund (EREF) in Arlington for the Poultry Litter Transport project will be reconsidered at their April meeting; no projects were funded at their December meeting
• Rescinded a proposal submitted to the Staunton-Augusta-Waynesboro Community Foundation for the Firewise/Plantwise/Waterwise demonstration project in Augusta County because DOF pulled out of project for now

NRCS Activities

• Participated in coordinator’s teleconference January 12 and Feb. 16
• Participated in coordinators spring training March 8 and 9 in Gordonsville, VA
• Mid-year review on coordinator’s performance conducted by NRCS March 9
• Updated RC&D database for Shenandoah activities

Members/Associate Members

• Attended Headwaters SWCD meeting January 18 to update them on project progress
• Attended Headwaters strategic planning session Feb. 15
• Met with Bill Strider January 27 re: Planning District Commission and RC&D

Virginia Association of Resource Conservation and Development Councils

• Wrote articles on Shenandoah RC&D for VARCDC annual report
• Two Legislative committee teleconferences
• Assisted with informational mailing on behalf of legislative chair Rick Shiflet
• Attended Leadership Forum March 1 and 2 in Washington, D.C.

Other

• Helped plan and organize facilitated session on distributing Agua Fund money March 3
• Attended March 4 meeting with Frederick County representatives and Virginia Tech Extension managers on funding for new extension/research agents in Shenandoah RC&D region for input on appropriate positions