Daniel Zay gives an overview of the United States Department of Agriculture – Natural Resources Conservation Service’s (USDA-NRCS) oversite of the conservation compliance provisions of the Food Security Act of 1985 (1985 Farm Bill).
Daniel Zay is the Michigan NRCS, State Resource Conservationist. He works in the Ecological Sciences Department managing a section of technical staff providing technical support to NRCS field offices. His main activities include providing leadership for technical aspects of conservation practices and supporting implementation of the Farm Bill – Highly Erodible Land/Wetland Compliance Program (HELWC).
Dan has a wealth of professional experience most recently as the State Biologist for the Michigan NRCS. Prior work includes Project Manager with the U.S. Army Corps of Engineers, 404 Regulatory Program, Louisville District, where he provided wetland permit review and enforcement throughout Indiana. Graduating from Purdue University, Dan began his career as the Roadside Coordinator for the Indiana Department of Transportation, and then worked as a Regional Ecologist for the Indiana DNR, Division of Nature Preserves. In 1994 he entered the private sector as a consultant leading wetland permitting and mitigation projects, biological studies, and conducted NEPA clearance efforts for transportation and airport projects throughout the Midwest.
Dan has a deep interest in native grassland restoration and he developed the first native plant nursery in Indiana. Because of his interest in prairie, Dan has become skilled in the practice of prescription burning and previously developed contract prescription burn services in Indiana and Michigan with the IDNR, MiANG and MDOT as clients.
