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$Text Box: Today is the day to be a part of Conservation’s Power in the McCone Conservation District. McCone Conservation District encourages you to think about your personal responsibility to be a good steward of the natural resources, including energy during its annual Stewardship week celebration. The National Association of Conservation Districts (NACD) has proclaimed April 29 to May 6, 2007 as Stewardship Week with the theme Conservation’s Power. Think about the energy you use everyday. Does it come from renewable or non-renewable energy sources? Over 92% of energy used today comes from nonrenewable resources such as petroleum, natural gas, coal, and uranium. Only a small fraction of the energy we use comes from renewable sources. Is this good stewardship? What can we do? Take the time to learn about energy efficiency (using less energy to perform the same function), energy conservation, and renewable energy. Then put what you learn into practice. Efficiency and conservation are key components of energy sustainability. Simply put, we need to meet today’s energy needs while allowing our children to meet tomorrow's. McCone Conservation District is a member of the National Association of Conservation Districts www.nacdnet.org which oversees the Stewardship Week program. Stewardship Week is one of the largest national annual programs to promote conservation. NACD represents the nations 3,000 conservation districts, which were established to encourage resource conservation across the country. “Conservation district leaders have been involved in these issues for a very long time,” said NACD President Bill Wilson. “We’re excited to see the general public’s support and enthusiasm growing for renewable sources of energy. Educating our youth and community about conservation and energy today will result in a more educated and conscientious consumer tomorrow.” For information about Stewardship Week and conservation, contact Jeanne Kirkegard at 485-2744 ext.100 You can visit www.stewardship.nacdnet.org to learn more about NACD and Stewardship Week. There are opportunities to be a part of “Conservation’s Power.” Volunteer with your local conservation district to conduct activities at local schools, assist in their tree sales, or become an associate supervisor. Working together through various organizations, churches, and schools you can be a part of “Conservation’s Power.”$

Text Box: ROLLING RIVER TRAILERS
MACD has purchased three trailers that will be used to teach not only stream dynamics but water principals as well. Loaded with several pounds of sand and a self-contained tank for pumping and re-circulating water, these bright blue utility trailers are ready to provide water awareness to Montanans. The Rolling River Trailer is a 5 foot by 10 foot trailer with an six-inch deep trailer bed that filled with sand like substance made from recycled plastic granules. A meandering river or two is scooped out running from one end to the trailer to the other. Small figures of livestock, houses, farm building, corrals, a parking lot with cars, farm equipment are placed on top of the sand to form a realistic community. When the water is turned on at the top of the watershed, it flows through the river and can be used to demonstrate a variety of water lessons including:
River energy: Sprinkle a handful of alluvium at the top of the “watershed” and watch it be carried along in the water.
Riparian areas:
With vegetation in place along the riverbank the banks remain stable. Remove some of the foliage, and erosion occurs as water cuts into the banks. Turn the water on full force as in a flood situation and the riverbank begins to break down and collapses even faster. This demonstrates the principles of healthy versus unhealthy riparian area vegetation.
Non-point pollution:
Simulated rain on the parking lot above the river demonstrates how pollution is carried into streams.
Effects of diversion:
Using PVC pipe to create irrigation ditches slows down the speed of the water. Stopping the water entirely by creating a dam causes other effects and changes in the landscape. The concepts and issues can be customized to meet the needs of our local watershed. This educational tool can be used indoors or out. The lessons taught are limited only by the imagination of the teachers using it.
For more information on the Rolling River Trailer, you contact Jeanne Kirkegard at the McCone Conservation District.

                   2004 National Poster Contest                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                     1st Place Digital Art Category,
                  Melanie M. Mothershead
                  Circle High School , Montana
                  McCone Conservation District