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Callie Dobson, executive director of the Hiwassee River Watershed Coalition,
presented the program at the Chapter's April meeting. The Coalition has been
in existence for a decade and has achieved some notable stream improvements
projects in the Upper Hiwassee Watershed that covers areas of Tennessee,
North Carolina and Georgia. Extensive work has been completed on Brasstown
Creek and tributaries where the coalition got its start and along the Valley
River in the Andrews, N.C. area.
The Coalition has four major program areas. Briefly, they are:
ECOLOGICAL ASSESSMENT: The Coalition monitors waterways and looks for causes
of water quality deterioration and ways to improve conditions.
RESTORATION: The Coalition coordinates restoration projects along stream
banks to stop erosion, reduce sedimentation and improve aquatic habitat.
VOLUNTEER MONITORING: The Coalition supports a strong volunteer monitoring
network where water samples are collected monthly.
EDUCATION: The Coalition conducts programs to educate its members, students
and the general public about water quality and how it can be protected and
improved.
For more details, visit the Hiwassee River Watershed Coalition website at
http:www.hrwc.net
During her presentation, Ms. Dobson shared some pertinent information with
the Blue Ridge Mountain TU Chapter members.
She said the Coalition is preparing to approach the Fannin Commission about
partnering with the local county government to extend the Coalition's water
quality improvement efforts to the Toccoa River watershed. The goal would be
to conduct a detailed assessment of water quality conditions in the
watershed, identify problem areas, develop restoration plans, prioritize
areas where projects should be conducted and then implement the stream
improvement work. In addition to the county, participation by the TVA, Soil
& Water Service, Forest Service, Natural Resource Conservation Service and
other agencies will be sought and funding through government and private
sources will also be sought.
According to Ms. Dobson, there will be various volunteer opportunities as
local programs are developed where the TU chapter can provide hands-on
assistance. For now, she said, the most important issue is to let the county
government know there is local support for Fannin County's participation in
the watershed coalition.
Based on the Coalition's record of achievement in other areas, the members
present at the April chapter meeting told Ms. Dobson the Blue Ridge Mountain
Chapter of TU will support the Hiwassee River Watershed Coalition in North
Georgia. The members decided the Blue Ridge Mountain TU Chapter should
write a letter of endorsement to the Fannin County Board of Commissioners.
Ms.Dobson said she hopes the commissioners hold a public hearing on joining
the Coalition and would encourage residents and local organizations to voice
their support.
While the outcome of the coalition's proposal to the Fannin County
commission will not be determined until later this year, one major project
here is already underway. The Toccoa River Golf and River Club has invited
the Hiwassee River Watershed Coalition to be involved in their project and
has donated $25,000 in funding for that purpose and also offered office
space in their downtown Blue Ridge office to accommodate a part time
watershed coalition staff member.
The potential impact of the development of this large tract on the banks of
the Toccoa River has been a concern to those knowledgeable about the river
since it was announced. Ms. Dobson said she had also been skeptical about
the developer's intentions until she had an opportunity to become involved
with them. While long-term plans are not complete, she described a number of
measures suggested by the coalition that will be taken by the developer to
prevent runoff from washing sediment and chemicals into the river. Some of
the measures discussed by Ms. Dobson included, first off, repairing sections
of river bank that are already eroding, planting a 50-foot-wide buffer strip
of native vegetation on the banks that are now mostly pastureland. Plans are
being developed for an environmentally-friendly irrigation system,
fertilization and pest management programs, sediment and runoff control,
among other conservation measures.
Ms. Dobson said the coalition recognizes that growth and development in
inevitable in Fannin County. She believes the presence of the Hiwassee
Watershed Coalition here will help insure that development has as little
adverse impact on water quality as is possible. "It's like this golf course.
It's going to be built one way or another," she said. "We think it will be
done in a more environmentally sound way with our involvement, with our
input and monitoring."
In
addition to endorsing the coalition’s involvement with the Toccoa watershed,
members present expressed approval of the chapter becoming a member of the
Hiwassee Watershed Coalition – but this brings up another matter. The
chapter’s treasurery is, shall we say, “somewhat impaired” at present.
Raffle tickets for the White River Rod & Reel combo were handed out last
Saturday. This fundraiser will help send our two youth to trout camp this
summer and hopefully have some left for things like the coalition
membership. If you weren’t at the meeting, tickets can be picked up at the
Unicoi Outfitters Blue Ridge shop or at the Progress office in Jasper. Or
just send your $20 for each book of tickets to John Pool, Box 67, Jasper, GA
30143 and we’ll get you entered in the raffle. The drawing will be held at
the May meeting (May 21).
We
appreciate chapter member Mike Maginn (who unfortunately had to be away
Saturday and miss the meeting) setting up the program with Callie Dobson.
Other members present for Ms. Dobson's presentation: please add your
comments through the user group. |