2012- 2013 AFFILIATE MEMBERS Our District sincerely appreciates the outstanding support we receive from our many fine Affiliate Members. We could not continue our conservation efforts without them. Thank you for your support. Neal Byrd Real Estate Mr. Don Shedd Mike Cash Mike Cash Office Products Neil Jackson Coldwell Banker Jackson Realty Mr. Preston Breedlove Billy Ray and Margaret Williams Lee Garrett Liberty First Bank Walton EMC Dr. Henry Wall McClellan Homes, LLC B.R. Anderson, B.R. Anderson Co. Monroe Auto Supply Mr. Ken Searcy C & D Landfill Mr. Jim Brown Edward D. Jones Investments Mr. and Mrs. Hal Brady and family, Foster-Brady Farms Gary Bradley Bulldog Tire Compant Cator and Jim Hartley Mr. Clay Sims Mrs. Grace J. Glower Athens First Bank and Trust ACKNOWLEDGEMENTS The Walton County District gratefully acknowledges the work of professional conservationists, foresters, extension agents, and others who assist the District in making services available to Walton County landowners. We appreciate the professionalism and experience these agencies and their personnel provide the District. Brent Dykes....................................Georgia Soil and Water Conservation Commission Keegan Malone and David Hall...........Georgia Soil and Water Conservation Commission Paula Dillard...................................Georgia Soil and Water Conservation Commission Jose' Pagan and Carolyn Staffins....................Natural Resources Conservation Service Tim Savelle, and Jacqueline Mack....................................Oconee River RC&D Council John Redding..................................................................WCSWC District Employee Judy Ashley and William Carlan............................UGA Cooperative Extension Service Jeff Kastle..................................................................Georgia Forestry Commission WALTON COUNTY SOIL AND WATER CONSERVATION DISTRICT 2012- 2013 ANNUAL REPORT Of Accomplishments WALTON COUNTY SOIL AND WATER CONSERVATION DISTRICT SUPERVISORS Dan Bennett, Chairman Crista Carrell, Vice Chairman G. Nathan Malcom, Secretary/Treasurer Dale Wiley Nathan Malcom Howard E. Turner 2012-13 ACCOMPLISHMENTS The Natural Resource Conservation Workshop 2012- Cheyenne Cox and John Dempsey; Walnut Grove FFA. 2013- Trace Scroggs and Aaron Newton; Walnut Grove FFA, Clayton Callaway; Monroe Area FFA. Selecting the Conservationist-of-the Year. This year's recipients are Scott and Charlene Cherry, of Cherry Farm in the Gratis Community. Cherry Farms Conservationists of the Year The 2012-2013 Julian Brown Scholarship Recipient Luke Johnson, from Monroe was selected for the 2012 year and has been attending ABAC. Aubrey Boss, from Loganville has been selected for the 2013 year and will attend UGA. The District continues to make improvements at the Julian Brown Study Area. The wildlife plots were not planted in 2012 or 2013 because of invasive species of weeds that need to be controlled by mowing and spraying. The district is continuing to seek funds from the Monroe City Council to cut and spray undesirable plant species. Various tree species have been replanted as the district works on the restoration of the study area. The District is actively involved in Community activities in Monroe. The district purchased trees to be distributed for Arbor Day. They were distributed in conjunction with a natural resource training activity for the local Girl Scout chapters. The district continues to have a weekly presence in the Monroe Farmers Market and makes soil stewardship materials available to attendees. The District continues to devote a great deal of time and effort in partnerships with many like minded local, state, and federal Governmental Agencies. Georgia Soil and Water Conservation Commission NRCS Oconee River RC&D, with two supervisors serving on the board of directors. Walton County Planning and Development Department along with their support staff. Forth- five (45) erosion and sediment plan reviews were completed this year (2012-2013) to date, which represents a 71% increase over the previous year. The District supports several Educational Activities. Supervisor Crista Carrell continues to work with Atha Road Elementary School, primarily working with Pam Arnold's fifth grade class in the outdoor classroom, her students and other classes studied topics such as how to transplant perennials, plant/maintain/harvest vegetables, and mulch to conserve water. (20 students) Renewable energy sources by Crista and Rick (90 students, 4&6 graders) Micro irrigation training was held in conjunction with NRCS in the west Walton area in September with 25 participants and then again in April with 46 attendees consisting of farmers, sales associates, and NRCS personnel. Pollinator Habitat training was held at the Foster-Brady farm with much interest. Forty-nine farmers, interested citizens, sales personnel, and NRCS personnel were present at the training. Weekly distribution of education materials at Monroe Farmers Market, (average 200 attending) District supervisors are actively involved in Professional Organizations 3 Supervisors attended the Group III GACDS meeting at Smarr in August, with the District and WEMC supplying refreshments. 3 Supervisors attended the GACDS annual meeting in January/February 2013 at the Georgia Tech Hotel in Atlanta. 3 Supervisors attended the Group III GACDS supervisor training meeting held in August, at Helen, GA. District employee and former chairman John Redding was inducted into the GACDS Hall of Fame at the 2013 annual meeting. The district was awarded a $2000.00 GACDS grant for outreach training at the 2013 annual meeting. The topic applied for in the grant was establishing pollinator habitats. Partnering with the Natural Resource Conservation Service, the district continues to set priorities for the approval of Environmental Quality Incentives Program (EQIP) applications. Sixteen new EQIP applications totaling $182,389.00 (885 acres) were contracted in 2012. Other contract practices paid out in Walton County totaled $92,783.09. Predominant EQIP practices: Prescribed Grazing Forestry $24,876.75 Water Conservation Soil Conservation High Tunnel 1030 ac 8ac 150ac 3 systems $72,653.26 310ac $19,551.60 $9,625.50 $21,136.20 Other NRCS programs supported are WHIP (Wildlife Habitat Incentive Program), which paid $29,587.50 on 234.8 acres, CSP (Conservation Stewardship Program) with three new contracts in 2012 covering 416 acres, and GRP (Grassland Reserve Program) with a contract on 14 acres paying $47, 950.00 at closing.