Coastal Georgia Soil & Water Conservation District annual report, fiscal year 2013

ANNUAL REPORT COASTAL SOIL & WATER CONSERVATION DISTRICT
FY 2013
THE COASTAL SOIL AND WATER CONSERVATION DISTRICT IS A LEGAL SUBDIVISION OF THE STATE OF GEORGIA. IT WAS CREATED ON FEBRUARY 14, 1945 AND IS COMPOSED OF BRYAN, LIBERTY, LONG, CHATHAM AND MCINTOSH COUNTIES.
GEORGIA'S RESOURCE CONSERVATION PROGRAM IMPLEMENTS BEST MANAGEMENT PRACTICES REGARDING THE ADMINISTRATION OF ITS NATURAL RESOURCES. ITS FUNCTION IS TO DESCRIBE TO EACH CONSERVATION DISTRICT PRACTICAL GUIDELINES FOR LAND DEVELOPMENT BY WORKING WITH INDIVIDUAL LAND OWNERS, ASSOCIATED AGENCIES AND OTHER INTERESTED PARTIES.
THE WORK OF EACH DISTRICT IS AN INTEGRAL PART OF AN OVERALL STATE CONSERVATION PROGRAM COORDINATED BY THE STATE SOIL AND WATER CONSERVATION COMMISSION.
THE DISTRICT EXISTS TO SERVE THE PUBLIC AND TO ENSURE A HEALTHY AND PRODUCTIVE ENVIRONMENT.
A Board of Supervisors governs the Coastal Soil and Water Conservation District. Each County in the District has two Supervisors - one who is appointed by the State Soil and Water Conservation Commission, and one who is elected by the registered voters of the County in a special election. The Board of Supervisors usually meet the first Thursday of every month at Holton's Restaurant, Midway. All Board members voluntarily give of their time to promote and encourage soil and water conservation. Representatives from agricultural agencies, state and federal governments, farmers, and businessmen attend these monthly meetings to discuss the District's needs and problems. Any interested individuals are encouraged to attend. The Coastal Board of Supervisors provide leadership in making the most effective use of conservation funds and technical assistance to programs which are designed to meet the conservation needs of our land and water resources for the benefit of both rural and urban development.
DISTRICT ACTIVITIES 1. Maintained Memoranda of Understanding with USDA, Natural Resources Conservation Service and Farm
Service Agency County Committee. 2. Entered into agreement with landowners or operators, furnished technical assistance in developing a sound
conservation plan and applying needed conservation practices. 3. Cooperated with other Districts to be informed of statewide activities. 4. Held membership in Georgia Association of Conservation District Supervisors and National Association
of Conservation Districts to support a united effort in working together toward state and national goals. 5. Cooperated with Coastal RC&D Council in developing projects within the District. 6. Sponsored Soil and Water Stewardship Week activities April 28th May 4th. 7. Sponsored youth to the Natural Resources Conservation Workshop at Abraham Baldwin Agricultural
College. 8. Reviewed erosion and sediment control plans as required by the Erosion and Sedimentation Act of 1975,
and contacted Local Issuing Authorities to ensure that the Erosion and Sediment Control ordinance was enforced and approved. 9. Hosted an Organic Gardening and Farming Workshop to provide landowners with information on organic food production as well as assistance programs. 10. Assessed use of no till drill, tractor, grass digger, sprigger and aerator. 11. Sponsored a booth at the Strawberry Festival in Bloomingdale as well as the Earth Day Festival in Savannah to provide conservation educational materials to the public. 12. Provided financial support for the GACDS Annual Meeting held in Atlanta, GA and encouraged supervisor participation. 13. Encouraged participation in the Forest Stewardship Program. 14. Provided technical assistance to Fort Stewart and Hunter Air Force base. 15. Encouraged supervisors to attend Supervisor Training in Helen, GA. 16. Hosted a Backyard Wildlife seminar at the Coastal Gardens in Savannah, GA. 17. Received 319 Grant funds to hire personnel to assist LIA's with E&SC site inspections throughout the District.

COASTAL BOARD OF SUPERVISORS

Fred Warnell William C. Tillman Horace B.Waller Edward H. Zipperer M. L. Coffer Jerry Holcomb Roger Houston Cecil Stafford, Jr Daniel Hawthorne James R. Monroe

Bryan Bryan Chatham Chatham Liberty Liberty Long Long McIntosh McIntosh

18. Co Sponsored a Small Farm Opportunities Workshop to provide information on assistance programs to traditionally underserved producers.
19. Held Arbor Day activities throughout the District to promote conservation education to youth within the District.
20. Hosted Erosion, Sedimentation, and Pollution Control Certification Courses to assist developers and Local Issuing Authorities in maintaining compliance with current environmental laws and rules.
IN APPRECIATION
The Coastal Soil and Water Conservation District Board of Supervisors would like to take the opportunity to thank the landowners and landusers of the District who are doing outstanding work in applying soil and water conservation practices.

Chairman M.L. Coffer explains the importance of trees and proper planting procedures to youth in Liberty County on Arbor Day.

District Supervisors distribute educational materials to more than 8,000 adults and youth at CoastFest.

COASTAL DISTRICT SUPERVISORS

Charles F. Warnell, Jr.

Bryan

William C. Tillman

Bryan

Horace B. Waller

Chatham

Edward H. Zipperer

Chatham

Jerry Holcomb

Liberty

M. L. Coffer

Liberty

Cecil Stafford, Jr.

Long

Thomas D. Houston

Long

James R. Monroe

McIntosh

Dan Hawthorne

McIntosh

GEORGIA SOIL AND WATER CONSERVATION COMMISSION
Brent Dykes, Executive Director,Athens Rahn Milligan, Regional Representative, Statesboro Jason Mallard, Resource Specialist, Statesboro Ann Welch, Erosion and Sediment Control Specialist Dustin Rushing, Irrigation Technician, Statesboro

NATURAL RESOURCES CONSERVATION SERVICE
James Tillman, State Conservationist, Athens, Georgia Sidney Lanier, Area Conservationist, Waycross, Georgia Richmond Hill Office: Liberty, Long, McIntosh, Bryan, & Chatham Counties
VACANT, District Conservationist Amy Bell, Soil Conservation Technician VACANT, Soil Conservationist
Fort Stewart: Carlton McRay, Construction Inspector Jim Freeman, Civil Engineer
RESOURCE CONSERVATION AND DEVELOPMENT COUNCIL
Coastal Georgia RC&D Office, Richmond Hill, GA Sandra Porter, Administrative Assistant
Others assisting agencies Georgia Forestry Commission University of Georgia Extension Service

Coastal Soil and Water Conservation District ANNUAL REPORT FY 2013
Coastal SWCD 151 Langston Chapel Road Suite 700 Statesboro, GA 30458