Chattooga Conservancy
2009 Program of Work
The Chattooga Conservancy's program of work is based on and justified by the organization's mission and goals.
Mission Statement: To Protect, promote and restore the natural ecological integrity of the Chattooga River watershed ecosystems; to ensure the viability of native species in harmony with the need for a healthy human environment; and, to educate and empower communities to practice good stewardship on public and private lands.
Organizational Goals:
- Monitor and oversee the U. S. Forest Service's management of public lands in the Chattooga watershed, and work cooperatively with the agency to implement sound ecosystem management in the watershed
- Educate the public
- Promote public choice based on credible scientific information
- Protect remaining old growth and roadless areas
- Promote public land acquisition by the Forest Service within the watershed
- Promote sustainable communities
- Promote conservation by honoring cultural heritage
For FY 2009, our strategic plan is to advance the Chattooga Conservancy's mission and goals by way of the programs listed below. This agenda is supported by an affirmative motion at the January 2009 meeting of our Board of Directors.
Monitoring & Oversight of the U. S. Forest Service's Management of the Chattooga River Watershed
The Chattooga River watershed spans 3 individual national forest systems in 3 states and encompasses approximately 200,000 acres, 70% of which is public land managed by the Forest Service. Some specific projects on the table for 2009 include:
- Initiating a campaign to re-route the horse trail system on the Georgia side of the Chattooga River in the Earl's Ford area to reduce/eliminate sources of erosion and sediment runoff into the Chattooga
- Monitoring and oversight of the proposed Dan Gap/Warwoman Timber Sale (a.k.a. Tuckaluge Timber Sale) in the Chattahoochee National Forest in Rabun County, Georgia
- Monitoring and oversight of the Environmental Assessment for recreation use the upper Chattooga River, which falls under the jurisdiction of the Sumter National Forest and focuses on the controversial proposal to allow boating use in the Chattooga headwaters (in North Carolina)
- Monitoring the implementation of the White Bull Timber Sale in North Carolina.
The Chattooga Conservation Plan, which we produced in cooperation with partners at The Conservation Fund and the Southern Appalachian Forest Coalition, serves as the foundation of our work to monitor and oversee the Forest Service's management proposals. The Chattooga Conservation Plan may be viewed on our website at http://www.chattoogariver.org/ccp/ccp.htm.
Publishing the Chattooga Quarterly
We will compose and publish the Chattooga Quarterly 4 times per year as a 16 to 20 page magazine. The publication provides updates on program work, members' news, timely articles about conservation and advocacy, and also features articles about the Chattooga watershed's natural and cultural history. The Chattooga Quarterly is distributed in various venues in the watershed and nearby areas, posted on our website, and delivered to our membership.
Stekoa Creek Restoration Campaign
Stekoa Creek is a major, polluted tributary to the Chattooga River, and improving water quality in Stekoa Creek (located in Rabun County, GA) continues to be one of our top priorities, with the overarching goal to remove Stekoa Creek from the 303(d)/305(b) list of impaired waters. This campaign will move forward through several interrelated projects, with priorities addressing both point and nonpoint source pollution problems including flood plain filling, land use planning, and infrastructure (sewage system) repairs. The specific projects involved in this work include: performing weekly water sampling at numerous sites to test the creek for its fecal coliform and turbidity levels; monitoring and oversight of land disturbing activities; continuing the effort to establish green space and restore the riparian zone along Stekoa Creek; and, leading the "Fix Sewer System" group of the "Stekoa Watershed Task Force" (this task force came about as a result of the Chattooga Conservancy's efforts to urge the Environmental Protection Agency, the Georgia Environmental Protection Division, Rabun County and City of Clayton officials, and local stakeholders to get involved in improving water quality in Stekoa Creek).
State Water Plans & Water Conservation
The Chattooga Conservancy will continue to participate as an active member of the Georgia Water Coalition in work to protect water quality, rivers, and future water supply. Current priorities are: lobbying Georgia legislators as needed to preserve the state's water quality and water quantity; monitoring and oversight of the Georgia Environmental Protection Division's implementation of the state water plan; and, calling for much greater attention to local water conservation and water efficiency programs. The Chattooga Conservancy will also engage in monitoring and oversight of a new initiative being forwarded by the South Carolina Senate Agriculture Committee, that perhaps is the beginning of forming a state water plan.
Partnership for the Blue Ridge
The Chattooga Conservancy is a member of the Partnership for the Blue Ridge (PBR), which is a group of organizations and agencies working to protect the Southern Blue Ridge Escarpment, otherwise known as the "Blue Wall," that is located in the far northwestern corner of South Carolina. The PBR's purpose is to identify issues, develop strategies, and coordinate actions to protect the natural resources and special places of the Southern Blue Ridge Escarpment. In addition to the Chattooga Conservancy, other members of the PBR are The Nature Conservancy, Naturaland Trust, U. S. Forest Service, Upstate Forever, SC Department of Natural Resources, SC Department of Parks, Recreation and Tourism, and the SC Forestry Commission.
Interstate 3
The Request for Proposals (RFP) for the study of the proposed Interstate 3 is expected to be issued soon. I-3's potential route would likely cut through or near the Chattooga River watershed. The Chattooga Conservancy will continue working to rally the public to urge legislators in the Chattooga River watershed and nearby areas to oppose construction of this unnecessary, fiscally irresponsible, and environmentally devastating interstate highway.
"No Nukes Y'all"
The Chattooga Conservancy is a member of the "No Nukes Y'all" network in the Southeast, and works to stay abreast and active with the wide range of nuclear power issues affecting our region.
Sustainable Agriculture
For 2009 we have planted another 2-acre crop of "Keener Corn" in the rich bottom land along Warwoman Creek in Rabun County, Georgia. We will use this demonstration project in an effort to educate the public about the benefits of organically produced, open-pollinated varieties of crops, promoting the message that they are more drought resistant and do not threaten the environment and human health. The expected harvest from the 2-acre plot will be available for seed distribution, manufacture into corn meal, and sale as feed stock.
Invasive Species
The Chattooga Conservancy will continue working with local Forest Service personnel in efforts to: 1) identify populations of non-native species on public lands; and, 2) restore native plants at selected sites in the national forest. We will also continue our program to trap feral hogs on both public and private land.
Land Trust
The Chattooga Conservancy expects to close on at least 1 conservation easement in FY 2009. Our land trust program will also provide information to the public promoting the benefits of conservation easements for appropriate tracts, and entertain applications for easements on smaller tracts in the Chattooga River watershed that have significant conservation values. Our program of work will also include monitoring the conservation easements that we already hold on 2 tracts in Rabun County, Georgia.
Public Education & Outreach
Community outreach is always a high priority for the Chattooga Conservancy. Specific activities included in this work are:
- Presentations, as needed, at local government bodies such as city councils and county commissioners groups located in the Georgia, North Carolina, and South Carolina portions of the Chattooga River watershed
- Media contacts to facilitate media coverage
- Preserving cultural heritage projects
- Op-ed pieces in local papers and magazines
- Publishing and distributing the Chattooga Quarterly
- Presentations to student groups and civic organizations
Organizational Development
We will work on various essential facets of organizational development including fundraising activities, membership recruitment, and board of directors development and recruitment.