From July 23–August 1, take part in the International Monarch Monitoring Blitz by reporting your observations of monarchs and milkweed to Journey North. Every observation shared helps the scientific community conserve the monarch butterfly along its migratory routes. This information will help researchers identify priority areas for monarch conservation actions.

For more information, read the press release, visit the website, or email the Commission for Environmental Cooperation.

Oklahoma Blue Thumb’s fish collections are ongoing from late July through late August. Collections are in the Central Irregular Plains Ecoregion this year, which means the creeks below will be sampled for fish and habitat:

• Cat Creek – July 26 or July 27
• Cherry Creek
• Coal Creek: Hwy 11
• Coal Creek: Morris Park – August 10
• Crow Creek – August 2
• Dog Creek – July 26 or July 27
• Elm Creek: 66th
• Flatrock Creek – July 28
• Fred Creek – August 16
• Harlow Creek – July 24
• Mingo Creek: 46th Street North – August 11
• Okmulgee Creek: 13th Street – July 22
• Okmulgee Creek: Creek Complex
• Spunky Creek – rescheduled due to rain
• Trib to Coody Creek – August 4
• Twin Hills Creek – August 25

*Fish collection dates are subjected to change at the last minute due to weather*

For more information, visit the Blue Thumb website, or contact Kim Shaw by email or phone (405-522-4738).

The Blue Thumb Program is the education arm of the Oklahoma Conservation Commission’s Water Quality Division. Blue Thumb is a statewide citizen science effort focused on training volunteers to share their knowledge of water quality with others, with the goal of stream protection through education. Blue Thumb aims to inspire and empower people across the state to use education and monitoring to protect water in their region from nonpoint source pollution.

The 76th Soil and Water Conservation Society (SWCS) International Annual Conference will provide the opportunity for attendees around the world to share their conservation stories and bring natural resource management solutions from far and wide into their homes and offices. The virtual event format allows access and inclusivity on a broad scale, and the interactive conference platform provides a robust conference experience with live sessions, Q&A, networking, a virtual exhibit hall, and many other ways to learn, connect, and engage.

This year’s conference theme, “One World, Connected through Conservation,” encompasses the shared resources on which all life depends while recognizing local-level issues and management. No matter the landscape, collective efforts are required to protect and sustain our soil and water resources. While conservation challenges brought on by universal pressures like climate change may produce wide-ranging effects in our respective corners of the globe, there is commonality in the solutions—collaborations that span sectors and disciplines, practices informed by science, cutting-edge technology, a new era of policy, and, at the center of all this, the individuals working tirelessly to protect and improve our natural resources.

Professionals advancing conservation solutions through research and practice in public and private sectors will present their work, including the latest in soil health, water resources, conservation management, climate change adaptation, social science, and more. Workshops, symposia sessions, and posters will showcase ideas, technologies, and practices, and foster a dialogue around their adoption. Projects presented will include work at the watershed, national, and international scales, emphasizing the global impact of local efforts. Scientists and practitioners will apply the virtual skills they have obtained over the last year by taking attendees into the field and lab through live or prerecorded demonstrations and tours. Recognizing that our goals for the world’s natural resources cannot be realized without justice, equity, diversity and inclusion, conservationists will share insights and advice on projects and partnerships that seek diverse participation and take meaningful action toward creating and supporting systems that value and serve people equitably.

In addition to science and practice presentations, the event will provide a range of opportunities for personal and professional development. Sessions will address effective work habits, partnerships, and communication tools, and the conference will offer certified education credits (CEUs).

Share your research and project solutions with an international audience, learn from experts from around the world, make connections with leading organizations and agencies, and together, through this conference and its impact, help to build a future for global conservation.

For more information or to register, visit the conference website, or contact the Soil & Water Conservation Society by email or phone (515-289-2331).