Annual Report 2022 2023

Blue Ridge SWCD Watershed Updates

Watershed Dam Accomplishments

While the VACS BMP program gets most of the attention, one of the important jobs of the District is the maintenance of ten watershed dams that provide protection for life and prop erty. With two in Franklin County and eight in Henry County it can consume a lot of time keep ing an eye on them. Last year the District was able to install four remote monitors and currently has plans to install three more. The next set of remote monitors is being planned for Upper Blackwater #6 (Franklin County), Finney and Marrowbone (Henry County). The design for the rehabilitation of Leatherwood #5 is still currently at 60% design with a hope of reaching 90% in the near future. Two additional watershed dams have been recently placed on the rehabilitation list. These two include Laurel Park and Walker dams located in Henry County.

Virginia Conservation Assistance Program

The Virginia Association of Conservation Districts has been awarded a Virginia Environ mental Endowment Community Conservation Program Grant, eligible to Blue Ridge, Mountain Castles, Pittsylvania, and Skyline Soil & Water Conservation Districts. This grant provides funds that are used to accelerate the implementation of the Virginia Conservation Assistance Program in the region. The Virginia Conservation Assistance Program (VCAP) is an urban cost-share program that provides financial incentives and technical and educational assistance to property owners installing eligible Best Management Practices (BMPs) in Virginia’s participating Soil and

Installation of this Rain Water Harvesting system has just begun.

Water Conservation Districts (SWCDs). These practices can be installed in areas of your yard where problems like erosion, poor drainage, or poor vegetation occur. Qualified sites shall be used for residential, commercial, or recreational purposes with a proposed practice that addresses a need.

2022-2023 Conservation Accomplishments

NRCS

Welcome to Sara Kothmann and Conservation Accomplishments by Local Farmers with NRCS. Welcome to Sara Kothmann our new Soil Conservationist who

Nutrient Management Plans Written…. 12 Cropland/Hay Land Conservation Practices Planned… 3,879.97 acres Riparian Buffers…….. 188.6 acres Cropland Practices Applied…… 3,085.34 acres Grazing Practices Applied: ….. 525.39 acres Stream bank protected ……. 11.54 miles (VDOF) Forest Practices : Forest Stewardship Management Plans – 11 Forest Stewardship Certifications — 4 Tree Planting Projects (Hardwood & Pine) acres – 72 (1,706 acres) Riparian Buffer Tax Credits – 4 Pre-Harvest Plans – 10 Projects that received Cost Share Funding – 148 (3,498 acres) Invasive Species Control Projects – 6 Prescribed Burns – 15 Wildfires Suppressed – 10 Total number of logging sites inspected — 148

started in March. She recently graduat ed with a Bachelor of Science degree with a major in Environmental Science from Virginia Tech. She completed her degree in three years with summa cum laude distinction. After graduation pri or to starting with NRCS, she helped on her family’s farm in Carrolton, VA. This fiscal year the Rocky Mount NRCS obligated ten Farm Bill program contracts totaling $893 thousand on 2,014 acres. The Rocky Mount NRCS is currently managing thirty seven Farm Bill contracts in Franklin and Henry County totaling over $2.7 million on 6,706 acres. These Farm Bill programs ad dress natural resource concerns like water quality and soil ero sion through installation of conservation practices.

The Blue Ridge SWCD District Board meets on the fourth Monday of each month in Rocky Mount, Virginia at 5:00 p.m. Meetings are open to the public. Contact the district office to find out the location of the next meeting. All programs and services of the Blue Ridge Soil and Water Conservation District are offered on a non discriminatory basis, without regard to race, color, national origin, religion, sex, age, sexual orientation, marital status, or handicap.

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Blue Ridge Soil & Water Conservation District

Volume 35, Issue 1