The Upper Ocmulgee River Soil and Water Conservation District strives to improve and enhance the soil and water resources in Newton and Jasper Counties. The following is a compilation of the District's FY09 Accomplishments. 
FY09 ACCOMPLISHMENTS 
1. The district assisted local governments in complying with their local erosion & sediment control ordinances. It secured funding from the Newton County Board of Commissioners to fund the Erosion & Sediment Control Coordinator position to address erosion control concerns within Newton County. The Erosion and Sediment Control Coordinator reviews all erosion control plans in Newton County and makes routine visits to ensure that best management practices are installed on construction sites. 
2. With the help of the Erosion and Sediment Control Coordinator, the District reviewed and ratified actions taken on over 97 Erosion and Sediment Control Plans. 
3. The district and E&S Control Coordinator Candice Suggs followed by Susan Castle in that position, worked throughout the year to educate Newton County on the importance of controlling erosion and sedimentation. With many sites being foreclosed on by the banks or being abandoned, the oversight of these sites with regard to BMP maintenance and installation is of growing importance. On October 6, 2008, the district held an NPDES Workshop at Turner Lake Park in Covington to educate 
 
developers and engineers about changes effective under the new General Permits. 4. The district had a representative from the Natural Resources Spatial Analysis Lab at UGA to speak at the Conservationist of the Year banquet that was held on April 21, 2009, at Charlie Elliott Wildlife Center in Jasper County. Angela Hodges of Newton County and Frank Malcolm of Jasper County were honored as award recipients. 5. District supervisors continued to support the Conservation Commission's Partners for Fish and Wildlife Program, the Upper Ocmulgee River RC&D's Stream Buffer Initiative Program and various other Farm Bill Programs. One PFW project was completed on 550 acres for $15,000. 6. The district, in conjunction with the Upper Ocmulgee River RC&D Council, promoted and publicized the use of the no-till drill, mulcher, pasture aerator, and bermuda grass sprigger. The District sponsored equipment was used to control erosion on 253.1 acres of erodible soil. In order to promote its no-till equipment, the district distributed numerous conservation equipment brochures and placed an advertisement in the Shady Dale Rodeo program and also for a tractor pull. 7. Supervisors continued to maintain district boundary signs to aid in promoting the roles and mission of the Soil and Water Conservation District. 8. The district and its partners continued work throughout the year to promote the RC&D's Better Back-Roads Program. The program is to help reduce erosion on county dirt roads. 9. The district helped co-sponsor with the RC&D the formation of an Equine Co-op to address nutrient management practices on horse farms. 
 
 10. The district participated in the Environmental Quality Incentive Program by adopting priorities and by reviewing and making recommendations on final approval of applications for funds. The Natural Resources Conservation Service provided the district with technical assistance under this program. 
11. The district continued the strong working relationship it has enjoyed with the Natural Resources Conservation Service, the Georgia Soil & Water Conservation Commission, and the UGA Cooperative Extension Service. Designated representatives gave monthly progress reports concerning their agencies' activities in the district. 
12. The district distributed Soil Stewardship material to all 5th grade students in the district. These materials were used to educate local school children on the importance of soil and water conservation. 
13. The district continues to offer, at its Covington Office, a Soils Data Access Information Center where local landowners can access soils information for Newton County. Fliers were posted in county offices so that landowners could be made aware of the services provided by the Center. The District also furnished Newton County and Jasper County with digital soils maps so that the county could determine the conservation use exemption for local landowners. 
14. Three supervisors attended the Supervisor Training Workshop held in Forsyth in August 2008 sponsored by the Georgia Soil & Water Conservation Commission and GACDS. 
15. The district sponsored five students who attended the Natural Resources Conservation Workshop held at ABAC in Tifton in June 2009. 
16. All six supervisors attended the GACDS Annual Meeting held in January 2009 at Callaway Gardens. 
17. The district served on the Little River 319 Steering Committee to help identify participants and review applications. Four contracts totaling over $37,746 were made for Newton and Jasper Counties. 
18. The district in conjunction with Piedmont SWCD helped sponsor a Clover Planting Meeting on August 27, 2008 in Madison. 
19. The district sponsored erosion and sediment control recertification courses held in Covington on September 8, 2008. 
 
UPPER OCMULGEE RIVER 
Soil & Water Conservation District 
FISCAL YEAR 2009 ANNUAL REPORT 
Phillip Standard, Chairman  Newton County Bill Whitten, Vice Chairman  Jasper County Charlie Lane, Secretary/Treasurer  Jasper County 
David Hays, Member  Newton County Preston Wynens, Member  Jasper County Larry McSwain, Member  Newton County