Last Updated : Decenber 2004...For The 2004 Annual Report - please scroll down.

Points of interest at recent meetings: The Gooding SCD has hired a technician to gather baseline data for the Bliss Nitrate Project. The technician installed moisture meters and did soil samples on designated fields and all the data will be compiled for further research. District provided a display of the project at the Gooding County Fair in August, and also provided the display for the Thousand Springs Festival in September..

The District office moved mid-December of 2004. The new address is 820 Main St. Gooding, ID 83330. All the phone, fax, email and web addresses will not change. There is a photo and more details in the "staff" section of this web page.

A potential new project on the W Drain is also in process and a grant application has been submitted. This project would divert the irrigation tailwater from draining into the Snake River at the Malad Gorge State Park and would send it down a pipline to specific farmers who are currently using springwater for irrigation. The steep incline from the top of the Gorge to the farmground would supply enough drop to make the water pressurized for sprinkling. The tailwater would be srpinkled on crops and enter the ground where it would have a better chance to be purified through percolation before it subbed back into the Snake River. The District is still waiting for water adjudication decisions to be made before this project can go forward.

The 2005 Idaho Association of Soil Conservation Districts annual conference will beheld in Boise November 13th through the 16th. Chairman Kay Hults,Vice Chairman Bob Bolte, member Joe D. Pavkov and District staff member, Nan Reedy, are planning on attending the conference.

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Gooding Soil Conservation District Annual Report 2004
"Educate- Don't Legislate"

Voluntary conservation remains the District's goal and its supervisors and staff strive to reach that goal through an active education and demonstration program designed to reach all levels, using the most recent technology and methods available.
District Supervisors
The District Supervisors are elected officials and provide a most valuable service for conservation in the Gooding area. They serve a four-year term and are expected to attend one meeting a month, and provide the leadership and foresight to accomplish several goals including bringing demonstration projects that promote the newest and best in resource conservation technology to the District. They also review the needs of the District annually and prioritize them for funding. These needs can be found in the 5 Year Resource Conservation and Business Plan. Additionally, Supervisors frequently find themselves at the head of a roomful of people, where they lead discussion and hear new ideasA nd for this dedication, they receive thanks and not much more. At the close of 2004, the local people who work hard to keep the Gooding Soil Conservation District on track and moving forward are Chariman Kay Hults, Vice Chairman Bob Bolte, Treqasurer Joe D. Pavkov, and Members Daniel Butler and Larry Capps. Jack Amen who was an Associate Supervisor in 2004 and a USDA veterinarian, took a temporary assignment in Panama. He sends email photos of fishing expeditions and lush tropical forests to the District just to remind us all that the world is larger than southern Idaho.

Soil Information
The Gooding field office continues to provide soil maps, soil information and topographical maps to the public at no cost. While the soil survey has been completed, there is still no publish date for the survey. However, the information that is most helpful to real estate brokers, nutrient management planners and other land managers, is still available upon request at the office. Computer technology has advanced to the point that maps and soil descriptions can now be emailed upon request with no reduction in quality. In October the office received word that soil surveys would be put on CDs for use in home computers, but as yet are not available.
Association of Soil Conservation Districts
Gooding SCD continues to support its state and national associations through annual dues and regular meetings. The Division IV Spring Division meeting was hosted by Snake River SCD and held in Jerome. The Fall Division IV Meeting was hosted by the Gooding SCD at Zeppe's Restaurant and included the annual Conservation Speech Contest and Conservation Poster Contest. Although there were no supervisors from four of the eleven districts, all districts sent a speech contestant and many excellent speeches were heard by judges Chrstine Ruby, Jake Zollinger and Julie Thomas.The Annual Conference was held in early November at the University Inn in Moscow and Vice Chairman Bob Bolte and DistrictStaff, Nan Reedy, represented the Gooding District at the meetings. Nam spoke in several of the meetings on the Bug Crew activities.
Web Page
The District began its Web Page in 2000 as a linked page from the National Association of Soil Conservation Districts. By 2002, the District had it's own domain and can currently be accessed at www.gooding.id.nacdnet.org. The web page is updated periodically and contains points of interest from board meetings, photos and stories of educational events and a schedule of upcoming events. Since 2000, several other Districts have launched web pages, some of which are linked to each other.
Conservation Education Projects:
Trees Against The Wind
A new windbreak for the Miles' family whose land is located on Highway 46 just south of the Reed windbreak was planted in March of 03. In 2004, the Mile's family has requested assistance to plant another windbreak just a little north of the current planting. They recently bought the land and would like to "have more of the same" as they put it. Mrs. Koehler's fourth grade class at Wendell Elementary is looking forward to doing the planting sometime in May of 2005 when the trees, drip system, weather and student schedules will all come together.
Soil Evaluation Event
The Gooding SCD continues to provide financial support to the event held in Burley, once known as the Soil Judging Contest. Gooding High School FFA team won first place in 2003 and also did very well at the 2004 competition.
Fair Display
The Bliss Nitrate Project tok center stage at the 2004 fair display.. About sixty people people took the quiz on nitrates in groundwater for a daily chance to win a $25 gift certificate. The Gooding Bug Crew shared the District space with adisplay of their own and gave away a T-shirt and Junior Bug Explorer Kit.
Natural Resources Workshop
Dannielle Shubert was provided with full District scholarships to attend the week-long camp in the Sawtooth Mountains where fifty-five other campers attended sessions on water, soils, wildlife, range and forestry and were given an opportunity to consider a career of their own in the field of natural resources. To spice up the week, they also fished, rappelled, practiced target shooting, hiked, swam at the hot springs pool and participated in the Tournament of the Outdoors. David Butler, a camper last year and son of District Supervisor, Daniel Butler, went back as a Cabin Leader in 2004.
Poster Contest
"The Living Soil" theme challenged the imaginations of the 5th grade artists who participated in the 2004 Conservation Poster Contest. Students from Bliss, Wendell, Hagerman and Gooding prepared posters using just their original artwork. The students received engraved trophies and cash at the end-of-year school assembly. This year, Gustie Cockerham of Gooding Elementary won first, Lindsay James of Bliss Elementary wont second and third third place trophy and cash went to Shay Gillogly at Gooding Elementary. student. Gustie's poster went on the Division contest where it was bested by Minidoka SCD's offering. Darnit!
Little City of Rocks Workshop
On September 19th fifth graders from Gooding County gathered at the Little City of Rocks, BLM Wilderness Study Area north of Gooding. It also happened to be a great backdrop for learning about archeology, wildlife, geology, paleontology and water awareness. Land management agencies from across the area provided knowledgeable presenters for each station. The District made workbooks with information and a quiz from each station for the students to use back in their classrooms.Hagerman 5th grade did not attend the workshop as they are putting all their time into a native plant nursery, and Camas now hasa split 4th-5th and plan to attend only every-other year.
Nature Hike
A Nature Hike newsletter was created for the Little City of Rocks Workshop in 2004 The Nature Hike is a special newsletter made by the District to highlight a District event for the students to take home for their parents or scrapbooks, and inform the community.
Envirothon
"North America's largest environmental competition" - Gooding SCD has supported an Envirothon team since 1993. The 2004 team attended the competition held in May at the Living Waters Ranch north of Challis. Mrs. Heather Williams of Gooding High School put together two teams, one of which took second place and the other fourth place.
Mrs. Williams is taking some time off from teaching and passing the Envirothon torch on to Ms. Petroch.

Legislative Luncheon
Wood River SCD hosted the Legislative Luncheon in 2004, bringing together the four soil conservation districts in legislative district #21 for an opportunity to meet and discuss issues with Representatives Wendy Jaquet and Tim Ridinger and Senator Clint Stennet. Representative Elect, Donna Pence, was otherwise occupied at a training session for new legisltors.. The meeting was held at the Magic Reservoir resoert and featured presentations by each of the District and the Southern Idaho Bio-Control Project. Additionally, the Camas SCD showed four public service announcement videos that are currently being aired on southern Idaho television stations.
Forestry Contest
Gooding SCD continued its financial support of this northern Idaho contest that brings awareness of good forestry practices and provides forest knowledge and skills for high school students.
Southern Idaho Bio-Control Programt
The District invested in a second year for the Gooding Bug Crew. This year Robin Sears did dual duty by running both the Gooding and Camas crews.The four Gooding Bug Crew kids were Lara Nelson, Ben Eucker, Rayan Covarrubias, and Jessica McHan. Mike Rhoades filled in as Alternate. They worked on spotted and diffuse knapweeds and purple loosestrife and leafy spurge.Program Administrator, Nan Reedy, created a "before and after" photo booklet of the Camas Bio-Project. The seven year project ended with breathtaking results easily seen in the full-color booklet. the 2005 season is in the planning stages.
Wood River RC&D
The Gooding SCD continues to support the RC&D both through annual dues and with attendance at meetings and tours. Supervisors attended the Annual Weed Tour and support RC&D efforts in the District. Bob Bolte is the GSCD representative at the WR RC&D.
Wood River and Mid-Snake WAG - Bob Bolte continue to provide District representation at meetings for both Watershed Advisory Groups that exist within the District boundaries.
Conservation Partners
The Gooding SCD partners with many entities, both public and private. The Natural Resources Conservation Service provides technical support whenever applicable and possible, Idaho Fish and Game, US Forest Service, Idaho Association of Soil Conservation Districts, Gooding Consolidated School District, Wendell School District, Bliss School District, Idaho School for the Deaf and Blind, City of Gooding, City of Wendell, Gooding County and the Wood River RC&D have also provided support or cooperation in 2004. In addition, the NRCS provided the Gooding District staff with some part-time administrative work