Walton County Soil & Water Conservation district fiscal year 2009 annual report

WALTON COUNTY SOIL AND WATER CONSERVATION DISTRICT
FISCAL YEAR 2009 ANNUAL REPORT
WALTON COUNTY SOIL AND WATER CONSERVATION DISTRICT SUPERVISORS
John Redding, District Chairman Dan Bennett, Vice Chairman
G. Nathan Malcom, Secretary/Treas. Clifton R. Harrison Crista Carrell

FY09 ACCOMPLISHMENTS
The District sponsored two high school students at the week long Natural Resources Conservation Workshop held at ABAC in June 2009.
Each year the Walton County Soil & Water Conservation District recognizes a local landowner for outstanding achievements in the field of soil and water conservation. This Conservationist-of-the-Year is awarded a sign at the District's Annual Meeting. The recipient for 2008 was Tommy Adcock of Tommy Adcock Farm, was honored at the District's Annual Meeting on October 28, 2008.
The family of Julian Brown has provided the means for a scholarship. It is an award of up to $1000.00 that will be given annually to a full time (15 quarter or semester hours) college students majoring in soil and water conservation related areas. The fourth annual winner of the Julian Emerson Brown Scholarship is Charlie Chandler, son of Jeff and Tammy Chandler, of Good Hope.
The District continues to make improvements to the Julian Brown Study Area. This year the district hired a summer intern for 2008, Kerry Caslow, whose work centered on upgrading and making future plans for updating and improving the study area.
As a follow up to last year's efforts to secure a grant to develop Monroe's Community forest, Supervisor Crista Carrell, in partnership with Oconee River RC&D's Luther Jones, has secured a $16,870 grant from the Georgia Forestry Commission. The grant is providing funding for an inventory of trees on city property, a management plan, and educational programs for the public and city/county employees. Several civic organizations, citizens, city government employees and officials, and state and federal agency personnel have committed the in-kind hours and funding to make the effort a success.
The Walton County Soil and Water Conservation District continues to support the Keep Walton Beautiful Program and the Adopt a Mile Program.
The District continues to devote a great deal of time and effort in cooperation with the Conservation Commission, dealing with erosion and sediment control issues in Walton County. Because of the Memorandum of Agreements (MOAs) between the district and the cities of Between, Good Hope, and Social Circle, a representative from the Walton Co. Development Office acts as the review and enforcement agency for the District. Monthly updates are given on erosion and sediment plan approvals and developments in the county, to the district. The Natural Resources Conservation Service continues to review the E&S plans for the Cities of Monroe, Walnut Grove, and Loganville on behalf of the district.

DeDe Harris, Education Coordinator for the District, continues to be a tremendous asset to the district. She has been instrumental in promoting the work of the district by newspaper, visitation of the schools, and recruiting affiliate members.
District supervisors are actively involved in the Georgia Association of Conservation District Supervisors (GACDS) and the National Association of Conservation Districts (NACD). Chairman John Redding has served in the position of President of NACD representing conservation on a national level and maintains a rigorous travel schedule. Supervisor Crista Carrell continues to serve in her position as the first Executive Director of the GACDS.
In cooperation with the Natural Resources Conservation Service, the district continues to set priorities for the approval of Environmental Quality Incentives Program (EQIP) applications.
Two supervisors attended the GACDS Group III Meeting held on August 22, 2008, in Smarr.
Three supervisors attended the GACDS Annual Meeting in January 2009 at Callaway Gardens.
The District held a Conservation Tour to visit farms for small scale and limited resources farming on July 23, 2008. Nine people were in attendance.
The District, in conjunction with the Piedmont, held a Clover Planting Meeting on August 27, 2008 in Madison. Sixty people attended the event.
The District held a tour of the biodiesel production facility at the farm of Supervisor Crista Carrell on May 8, 2009. Sixty students attended the tour.
The District participated in an Ag Tour held by the Chamber of Commerce on October 7, 2008.
The District participated in the Arbor Day event on February 22, 2009, which included the Tree City USA presentation.
The District held a Farm and Ranch Lands Protection Program celebration at Wiley Farm on November 18, 2008.