2012-2013 Ohoopee River Soil & Water Conservation District annual report

2012-2013 ANNUAL REPORT OHOOPEE RIVER SOIL & WATER CONSERVATION DISTRICT
THE DISTRICT'S BEGINNINGS: THE OHOOPEE RIVER SOIL AND WATER CONSERVATION DISTRICT WAS ORGANIZED BY A CHARTER WHICH WAS ISSUED BY THE SECRETARY OF STATE ON MARCH 26, 1937, UNDER A PROVISION OF THE GEORGIA SOIL AND WATER CONSERVATION DISTRICT LAW OF 1937AND A LEGALLY CONSTITUTED, ADMINISTRATIVE AGENCY OF THE STATE OF GEORGIA. CURRENTLY THERE ARE 40 SOIL AND WATER CONSERVATION DISTRICTS IN THE STATE OF GEORGIA. THESE DISTRICTS WERE ORGANIZED TO GIVE LOCAL LEADERSHIP IN HELPING THE NATURAL RESOURCES CONSERVATION SERVICE, DIVISION OF THE U S DEPARTMENT OF AGRICULTURE, TO
ESTABLISH PRIORITIES WHERE TECHNICAL ASSISTANCE WAS MOST NEEDED FOR COOPERATING LANDOWNERS AND
LANDUSERS WITH SOIL AND WATER CONSERVATION. THE DISTRICT IS RESPONSIBLE FOR PROMOTING PUBLIC AWARENESS OF THE NEED FOR SOIL AND WATER CONSERVATION. THE OHOOPEE RIVER DISTRICT BOARD OF SUPERVISORS IS CHARGED WITH THE RESPONSIBILITY OF MAKING CONSERVATION PROGRAMS AVAIL FOR 1,112,000 ACRES OF LAND IN THE DISTRICT.
NO-TILL DRILL AVAILABLE:
The Ohoopee River Soil and Water Conservation District has three no-till drills available to the landowner. They are capable of over-seeding pastures and planting crops. Anyone interested should contact James Canady, Swainsboro, (478) 237-4831 or Jon Milligan, Lyons, (478) 299-5703.
THANKS AND APPRECIATION FROM THE CHAIRMAN
During the past the District has been assisted by many agencies. The Board would like to express its sincere appreciation to the State Soil and Water Conservation Commission, The Natural Resources Conservation Service, Farm Service Agency, Vocational Agriculture, Georgia Forestry Commission, Cooperative Extension Service, Georgia Department of Natural Resources and other agencies that helped to promote conservation of our soil, water, and other natural resources.
A major portion of the Board's job involves publicity and promotional programs - programs that help to make the public more aware of the continuing need to conserve soil and water and to improve water quality.
DISTRICT ACTIVITIES
1. Sponsored "Soil and Water Stewardship Week" April 28th through May 4th. 2. District sponsored Local Work Group Meeting to assist in selecting priority areas for Environmental Quality
Incentive Program funding. 3. Promoted the Natural Resources Conservation Workshop at ABAC College. 4. Supported Conservation Reserve Program signup, and the Conservation Stewardship Program signup. 5. Provided educational material to several schools in the District in recognition of Soil Stewardship Week. 6. Supported the Pine Country RC&D Council Programs and worked for full funding of the RC&D Programs in
the Farm Bill.

7. The District sponsored Erosion and Sedimentation Control Certification and Re-certification courses. 8. Encouraged supervisors to attend Supervisor Training in Helen, GA. 9. Supported conservation education by distributing "The Water Cycle" posters to all 6th graders within the
District and educational activity books to all 3rd graders. 10. Promoted a Georgia Dirt and Gravel Roads Workshop in partnership with the Two Rivers RC&D Coun-
cil. 11. Supported conservation organizations through paying dues to the Georgia Association of Conservation
District Supervisors and the National Association of Conservation Districts. 12. Supported the State Soil and Water Conservation Commission's Mobile Irrigation Lab to assist landown-
ers in improving irrigation efficiency. 13. Supervisors attended the GACDS Group V Meeting and the GACDS Annual Meeting in Atlanta. 14. Supported the purchase of land by GACDS in Oconee County with plans to build an office building. 15. Supported the Partners for Wildlife Program.
OHOOPEE RIVER SOIL AND WATER CONSERVATION DISTRICT BOARD OF SUPERVISORS
The Ohoopee River District Board of Supervisors provides leadership in making the most effective use of conservation funds and technical assistance available to the people of the District. They provide 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.
The Board of Supervisors governs the Ohoopee River 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. All District Board members voluntarily give of their time to promote and encourage soil and water conservation. The Board generally meets on the last Tuesday of every month to carry out the District's business.
Farmers, businessmen, representatives from state and federal governments, and any interested individuals are invited to attend these monthly meetings.

OHOOPEE RIVER SOIL & WATER CONSERVATION DISTRICT BOARD OF SUPERVISORS

Jerry H. Fagler F. Bennett Whitfield Keith Hamilton W. Colon Sammons Chris Hopkins Ben Newton Jim L. Gillis, Jr. Laverne W. Davis Lynn Johnson Roy Gilder

Emanuel Emanuel Montgomery Montgomery Toombs Toombs Treutlen Treutlen Wheeler Wheeler

AGENCIES ASSISTING THE DISTRICT

Georgia Soil and Water Conservation Commission Brent Dykes, Executive Director, Athens, Georgia Rahn Milligan, Regional Representative Jason Mallard, Resource Specialist Dustin Rushing, Irrigation Technician

Natural Resources Conservation Service James Tillman, State Conservationist, Athens, Sidney Lanier, Area Conservationist, Waycross,
Josh Cammack, Soil Conservationist, Mt.Vernon, Leslie Woodard, Soil Conservationist, Alamo, Vontice Jackson, District Conservationist, Sonya W. Merrion Soil
Conservation Technician, Swainsboro-Lyons Field Offices.

Resource Conservation and Development Council Pine Country RC&D Director, Kim Thompson
Pine Country RC&D Administrative Assistant Donna Shurling

The Ohoopee River Soil and Water Conservation District Board of Supervisors encourages everyone to become more aware of the soil and water conservation program of the District and how it affects them. They solicit the support of all individuals toward the protection and conservation of our natural resources of soil and water for future generations. If you have any questions, please call your county supervisors.

Ohoopee River SWCD 151 Langston Chapel Road Suite 700 Statesboro, GA 30458