Published December 17, 2014

Courtesy The Herald Leader

GSWCC can help Wilcox land owners make improvements to Cedar, Folsom creek watersheds

ROCHELLE — Farmers in Wilcox County’s Cedar and Folsom Creek Watersheds may be eligible to receive payments for installing conservation practices under a new program to improve the county’s water quality. THE GEORGIA Soil and Water Conservation Commission has received a grant to reduce soil and water erosion along a seven-mile segment of Cedar Creek and a nine-mile segment of Folsom Creek in northern Wilcox County. Under the plan, landowners can receive up to 60 percent of the cost of improving their land by creating grassed waterways, buffer strips, diversions, alternative watering systems, watering ramps, fencing, stream crossings, and more. The GSWCC will also work with the county to improve unpaved roads by creating vegetated shoulders and ditches, hydroseeding, adding gravel, and other measures. “The Georgia Environmental Protection Division has identified Cedar and Folsom creeks as high priority watersheds, and we have funds available to help farmers install improvements on their land that will reduce the amount of sediment running into these creeks,” explained GSWCC Executive Dir. Brent Dykes. “We appreciate the conservation efforts that landowners have made, and we hope that helping to pay the cost of these improvements will quicken efforts to improve the water quality in both of these creeks.” THE CEDAR Creek and Folsom Creek Watershed Management Plan was devised through the Ocmulgee River Soil and Water Conservation District with a watershed advisory committee that obtained insight and input from citizens who live and work in the Cedar and Folsom watersheds in the decision-making process that set goals, objectives and actions for improving water quality. The committee also included state and federal government representatives and local environmental organizations. This committee identified issues of concern within the watershed and created a vision for the watershed management plan. GSWCC staff will assist landowners in completing a Farm Assessment and Nutrient Management Plan for their agricultural operations in addition to partially funding improvement projects. LANDOWNERS interested in participating in this voluntary program should contact GSWCC Project Coordinator Berry Collier for more information by calling (229) 425-3100 or emailing him at bcollier@gaswcc.org. The Georgia Soil and Water Conservation Commission supports locally led soil and water conservation districts through education, technical, financial and planning assistance and through program oversight. More information on protecting, conserving and improving Georgia’s soil and water resources is available on the GSWCC website at www.gaswcc.georgia.gov or by calling (706) 552-4470.