Family from Oregon’s Curry County Receive National Recognition for Land Stewardship

FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE
Contact information:
Sara Magenheimer, USDA NRCS Public Information Officer: (503) 414-3250, Sara.Magenheimer@or.usda.gov
 

PORTLAND, OR, Feb 27, 2008 – The Wahl family in Oregon’s Curry County were recognized nationally for their land stewardship as part of a conservation awareness campaign recently launched by the U.S Department of Agriculture (USDA) Natural Resources Conservation Service (NRCS), announced Bob Graham, NRCS State Conservationist for Oregon.

“The Wahl family demonstrates commitment to the land by voluntarily taking conservation actions that yield invaluable public benefits such as cleaner air, cleaner and more abundant water, and improved wildlife habitats,” said Graham.

The family is featured in the Natural Resources Conservation Service’s national campaign called “Conservation…Our Purpose. Our Passion.” They join seven other families nationwide who are honored for stellar conservation achievements. The public can read about the achievements of the Wahl family and the other honored farmers and ranchers on the NRCS Web site at: www.nrcs.usda.gov.

“These compelling stories demonstrate the commitment of individual landowners to protect and enhance the Nation’s natural resources,” Graham said.

According to the story featured on the NRCS Web site, the Wahls are meticulous in their conservation land management techniques, and they take pride in knowing they have taken steps to protect all the resources on the 2,000-acre sheep and cattle ranch located on the southern Oregon coast.

Mary Wahl explains that for them conservation and family are inseparable. In her words, it’s about wanting “a future for the kids that involves ranching, and part of having ranching keep going is conservation.”

As owner-operators of a ranch that has been in the family since 1874, the Wahls are living proof that land stewardship can help protect not only the soil and water, but also the longevity of the family business.

Using a planned grazing system, the Wahls are able to maximize animal health and pasture productivity. Their 4,000 head of sheep are rotated daily using a system designed to minimize impacts on the landscape and maintain high quality forage.

Due to the coastal location, conservation measures on the Wahl Ranch also provide key benefits to a number of aquatic and wildlife species. Over the years, the family has taken steps to maintain stream, riparian and wetland habitats that provide critical food, shelter and rearing habitats for native fish, birds and mammals.

To accomplish their conservation goals, the Wahls have worked with a number of local, state and federal groups to assist with their restoration projects and conservation activities. They have participated in conservation programs, such as the Conservation Reserve Enhancement Program, Wildlife Habitat Incentive Program, and the Environmental Quality Incentives Program. In addition, the Wahl Ranch was recognized as a top-level conservation operation when they qualified for the highest level of participation in the Conservation Security Program, an NRCS program that rewards only the best land stewards for success in protecting the nation’s natural resources.

The Wahls are among the thousands of land stewards who make a difference on the nation’s landscape. To showcase the diversity of these conservationists, the NRCS Web site also includes a searchable database that contains descriptions of how the eight featured landowners, as well as hundreds of others, have taken steps to protect and enhance the natural resources on their land.

NRCS employees work with many partners throughout the United States to help accomplish the agency’s mission of “Helping People Help the Land.” Because of significant contributions of partners, including soil and water conservation districts, other Federal agencies, State and local government, and volunteers, NRCS can honor these landowners for conserving natural resources on private lands.

For more information about these model conservationists, please visit http://www.nrcs.usda.gov/feature/ourpurpose/index.html. For more information about USDA-Natural Resources Conservation Service’s program and services in Oregon, visit www.or.nrcs.usda.gov.

- Photos are available upon request. -

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