Boardof Supervisors: James Booth, Chairman Marvin Cavanaugh, Vice Chairman Stokes Soil &Water Conservation District Johnny East, Secretary/Treasurer The Stokes Soil and Water Conservation District (SWCD) was organized in July 1960 and encompasses an area of 458 square miles consisting of 287,269 acres. The Stokes SWCD is a locally controlled, special purpose governmental subdivision of the State of North Carolina and is governed by a Board of Supervisors. The District Supervisors are charged with the responsibility of promoting soil and water conservation and establishing conservation programs in the county. Members of the Board serve four year terms with three seats being filled in the general election and two seats being appointed by the North Carolina Soil and Water Conservation Commission. Willard Nelson, Member Michael Booth, Member District & NRCS Office Staff: Janice Pack, District Administrative Asst./ Education Specialist Board meetings are open to the public and are held the third Wednesday of each month at 9:00 a.m. in the Old Courthouse Office Boardroom in Danbury. Tom Smith, District Soil/Watershed Conservationist Dede DeBruhl (NRCS), Soil Conservationist Lee Holcomb (NRCS), Supervisory Soil Conservationist James Rodriguez (NRCS), Soil Conservationist James Booth Marvin Cavanaugh Johnny East Willard Nelson Michael Booth Our Mission The mission of the Stokes Soil & Water Conservation District is to administer and support local, state and federal programs to the community and to educate and disseminate information regarding the preservation of our natural resources. PO Box 98, Danbury, NC 27016 PHONE 336.593.2490 or 336.593.2846 www.stokesswcd.org
NC Agriculture Cost Share Program The NC Agriculture Cost Share Program (NCACSP) is administered by the Stokes SWCD to reduce non-point source pollution caused by agriculture. In the 2017-18 fiscal year 7 contracts were written totaling $54,052 which included funds from NCACSP and Impaired/Impacted for the installation of best management practices listed below. Practices Installed Fencing. 9,689 linear ft. Livestock Watering Facilities. 10 units Pasture Renovation.. 12.29 acres Livestock Stream Crossing Repair Work 1 unit Critical Area Seeding...2 acres Cropland Conversion to Grass. 11.76 acres Litter Spreader.1 unit Stream Restoration Wing Deflector. 1 unit Stream Restoration Planting..2 acre Total amount paid to landowners in FY 2017-18 = $49,806 Total funds obligated to contracts in FY 2017-18 = $54,052 Program spot checks for NCACSP, Dan River 319 Grant, Community Conservation Assistance Program (CCAP), & AgWRAP are conducted annually by randomly selecting a minimum of 5% from the active contract pool of each program. On April 18, 2018 staff members along with Board Members visited seven randomly selected sites and performed spot checks of installed best management practices. All were found in compliance. Pictured above is critical area seeding before and after. The practice was installed through NCACSP to prevent soil erosion. Dan River 319 Grant Program The Dan River 319 Grant Program was first awarded to Stokes County through an EPA Section 319 grant in October 2008 to improve the water quality of the Dan River by cost sharing with local landowners to install best management practices on their farms. The program ended on September 30, 2017. A total of three funding cycles were awarded over the 9 year grant period paying Stokes Co. landowners a total of $227,037. Practices installed by these landowners continue to protect the water quality of the Dan River. In the 2017-18 fiscal year the final Dan River 319 contract was written and installed totaling $5,951. Practices Installed Livestock Watering Facilities & Pipeline 1 unit Fencing...1,538 linear ft. Total funds paid to landowner in FY 2017-18 = $5,951
Agricultural Water Resources Assistance Program The Agricultural Water Resources Assistance Program (AgWRAP) is a water quantity program that was authorized through Session Law 2011-145. In the 2017-18 fiscal year 1 contract was written totaling $6,000. Pictured to the left is an ag. well installed through AgWRAP. Environmental Quality Incentives Program The Environmental Quality Incentives Program (EQIP) is administered by the USDA Natural Resources Conservation Service (NRCS) representatives assigned to Stokes County. EQIP is a voluntary conservation program that promotes agricultural production and environmental quality. The following best management practices were installed in Stokes County during the 2017-18 EQIP program year: Practices Installed Forest Stand Improvement.6.1 acres Forest Trails & Landings 1,088 ft. Tree/Shrub Establishment. 6 acres Tree/Shrub Site Preparation..5 acres Upland Wildlife Habitat Management 10.8 acres Early Successional Habitat Dev. & Mgmt. 32.3 acres Fencing. 400 ft. Prescribed Burn. 97.4 acres Firebreak. 12,560 ft. Critical Area Planting...10.4 acres Conservation Cover. 4.2 acres Mulching..3 acres Animal Mortality Facility. 1 unit Waste Storage Facility.. 2 units Roofs & Covers...2 units Channel Bed Stabilization 2,846 ft. Stream Habitat Improvement.. 1.8 acres Streambank & Shoreline Protection.7,288.5 ft. Livestock Stream Crossing.. 2 units A NRCS local stakeholder s workgroup meeting was held at the Old Courthouse in Danbury on August 16, 2017 to set program priorities for the 2017-18 program year. Pictured above is a waste storage structure recently installed on a poultry farm in Stokes County through the EQIP program. Total amount paid to landowners in PY 2017-18 = $583,609 Total funds obligated to contracts in PY 2017-18 = $587,623
Voluntary Agricultural District Program The Stokes County Voluntary Agricultural Districts (VAD) program promotes agricultural values and general welfare of the county by increasing identity and pride in the agricultural community and its way of life, encouraging the economic and financial health of agriculture, and increasing protection from non-farm development and other negative impacts on properly managed farms. Members of the 2017-18 VAD Board are: George Cutchins, Kay Jones, Derrick Joyce, Ryan Clark, Jimmy Dalton, Howard Gentry, and Keith Pierce. The Stokes SWCD advises and provides administrative support to the VAD Board. Farm Bureau, Farm Service Agency, and the Cooperative Extension Service also attend meetings in support of the VAD Board. In the 2017-18 fiscal year the VAD Board approved 10 parcels of land into the VAD program preserving an additional 462.12 acres of farmland in Stokes County. There are currently 8,407.60 acres in the Stokes County VAD Program. No-Till Seed Drill During the 2017-18 fiscal year the Stokes SWCD no-till seed drill was used to reseed 99.0 acres of hayland, pastureland, and wildlife plantings in Stokes County. Conservation Easements The Stokes SWCD currently holds 3 conservation easements along areas of the Dan River and it s tributaries in an effort to protect riparian buffers for the benefit of water quality and to protect the river in its natural state. Pictured to the left is the most recently acquired easement on Little Snow Creek. This 3.57 acre easement was donated to the Stokes SWCD on July 10, 2017.
Flood Control Structures Watersheds The USDA Natural Resources Conservation Service has designed and constructed 24 flood control structures in Stokes County over the past 40 years. These structures provide flood control for 56,579 acres in the Town Fork Creek watershed area and 36,536 acres in the Little Yadkin watershed area. The Stokes Soil & Water Conservation District is responsible for the maintenance of these flood control structures which includes mowing, fertilizing, liming and debris/brush removal on 75 acres. In July and October of 2017 all dams and emergency spillways on the 24 watershed structures were mowed. The Stokes SWCD Board and office staff conducted annual watershed inspections on April 18 & 20, 2018. During these inspections toe-drain pipes were cleaned out, risers were checked for debris, and the front, top and backside of dams were checked closely for any eroded areas, leaks or scouring holes. Pictured to the left (top) is one of the 24 watershed structures in Stokes County (bottom) is the plunge pool and toe drain on the back side of a watershed structure. Volunteer Program Each year the Stokes SWCD has many volunteers that donate their time to assist and promote the conservation initiatives of the district office. In the 2017-18 fiscal year a total of 35 volunteers worked with the Stokes SWCD totaling 95 hours served. A special thank you goes out to all those who volunteered their time to promote conservation awareness. Pictured to the right is local beekeeper & volunteer Darrell Hampton teaching 5 th graders about Honey Bees at Environmental Awareness Days held in April 2018.
Conservation Education Each year the Stokes SWCD sponsors educational programs for all citizens of Stokes County. These programs are intended to educate individuals on the value of our natural resources. Programs offered to school age children follow objectives as outlined in the NC Common Core Essential Standards. Listed below are the educational programs conducted during the 2017-18 fiscal year. (The 2017-18 poster & essay contest theme was Water the Cycle of Life.) Educational Contests & Programs Citizens Reached Poster Contest (3 rd -6 th grades) November 2, 2017. 145 Essay Contest (6 th grade) November 2, 2017. 5 Environmental Awareness Days (see next page) 313 Resource Conservation Workshop (see next page). 2 applicants Envirothon Program (see next page). 22 Conservation Educator of the Year Program 3 entries On May 22, 2018 the Stokes SWCD held it s annual Awards Banquet recognizing those who placed in the above mentioned contests as well as Conservation Educator of the Year (selected from a pool of applicants). There were approximately 90 people in attendance at the banquet. Below is a list of award recipients. 3 rd GRADE POSTER Aubrie Lovings (Lawsonville Elem). Robert Slone (Nancy Reynolds Elem). 4 th GRADE POSTER Lillie Flinchum (Lawsonville Elem) Molly Hilton (Germanton Elem)... 5 th GRADE POSTER Emily Lawson (Mt. Olive Elem) Abigail Chandler (London Elem) 6 th GRADE POSTER Michelle Hartman (Southeastern Middle) Jenna Rayburn (Southeastern Middle) 6 th GRADE ESSAY Isabella Butler (Southeastern Middle) Kaitlin Jones (Southeastern Middle) Pictured to the left (top): Sayrd Price, Conservation Educator of the Year; left (bottom): 1 st Place Poster Contest Winners (l to r) Michelle Hartman, Emily Lawson, Lillie Flinchum, Aubrie Lovings 1 st Place at Co. Level; 3 rd Place at Area Level 2 nd Place at Co. Level 1 st Place at Co. Level; Honorable Mention at Area Level 2 nd Place at Co. Level 1 st Place at Co. Level; Honorable Mention at Area Level 2 nd Place at Co. Level 1 st Place at Co. Level; 3 rd Place at Area Level 2 nd Place at Co. Level Awards Banquet 1 st Place at Co. Level; Honorable Mention at Area Level 2 nd Place Co. Level Others recognized at the banquet: Katherine Quesinberry (South Stokes High School) Resource Conservation Workshop Student Delegate Sayrd Price (Stokes Early College) Conservation Educator of the Year
Pictured above is Sam Koch, Hanging Rock Park Ranger teaching the Plant & Animal Ecology station at Environmental Awareness Days Resource Conservation Workshop NW Envirothon Competition Environmental Awareness Days Each spring the Stokes SWCD sponsors Environmental Awareness Days for 5 th graders at Hanging Rock State Park (HRSP). At this event students participate in individual 20 minute workshops at which time they learn about topics such as soils, wildlife, forestry, weather, functions of the human body, the water cycle, honeybees and plant and animal ecosystems, all of which follow the NC Common Core Essential Standards for 5 th grade science. This year s event was held on April 26 & 27, 2018 with 313 students & teachers participating. April 25 was canceled due to rain and was not able to be rescheduled due to school & presenter schedules. The Resource Conservation Workshop is a week long intensive study and hands-on conservation workshop held on the campus of NC State University each year for conservationminded students in grades 9-11. Each Soil & Water District in the state is allowed to send at least one student representative to participate in the workshop. The districts select a student from a pool of applicants and then registers them for the competition by paying the $425 registration fee and providing a $100 meal stipend. At their March 21 meeting, the Stokes SWCD Board Members chose Katherine Quesinberry (pictured to the right at the workshop) from South Stokes High School as our 2018 delegate. Pictured above are the 3 NW Envirothon teams from the Stokes Early College. The NW Envirothon is an environmental competition in which middle and high school teams from the northwest section of the state exercise their training and problem-solving skills by testing in categories such as: soils/land use, aquatic ecology, forestry, wildlife and current environmental issues. The teams, each consisting of five students from participating schools, test as a group. The top scoring teams at the regional competition advance to the NC State Envirothon held each year in Alamance County in April. This year the Stokes SWCD sponsored 3 teams from the Stokes Early College to compete in the NW Envirothon held on April 10, 2018 in Wilkes County. A total of 300 students from across northwest NC participated in this year s event.
Pictured above is the crowd gathered (and some dancing) in the North Stokes High School gym at the 2018 Farmer Appreciation event held on April 5 Farmer Appreciation Event Each year the Stokes SWCD along with the Cooperative Extension Service, the Farm Service Agency and the NC Forest Service put on a free for all Farmer Appreciation event which includes a meal and live band entertainment paid for by local businesses who continue to support agriculture in Stokes County. The 2018 event was held on April 5 from 6-9PM at North Stokes High School in Danbury. The cafeteria and gym were used as dining areas with a large stage set up for the Travis Frye & Blue Mountain bluegrass band in the gym. Soil & Water Board members and staff from all agencies served food to all in attendance. An expo was held on the upper level of the lobby featuring exhibits from all participating Ag. agencies, Farm Bureau, NCDA and many local businesses. Door prizes were donated by each agency and disseminated at 8PM along with a raffle drawing by the Stokes SWCD. There was approximately 500 people in attendance at this years event. Public Outreach The Stokes Soil & Water Conservation District produces and mails a bi-annual newsletter to 1,975 local landowners each year called Soil & Water News. In this publication announcements are made regarding all conservation programs offered and upcoming district events. The office staff also submits informative articles on new innovative conservation techniques, Farm Bill updates, and grants that are available. Each newsletter is posted on the district website (www.stokesswcd.org). This up-to-date website introduces local board members, lists details of all cost-share programs, lists all educational programs and contests, answers frequently asked questions, presents an up-to-date calendar of events, lists links, and office contact information. The website has been in production since 2006 and continues to be a useful tool in getting the conservation message to the public. As another means of outreach each fall the Stokes Soil & Water Conservation District displays a fairbooth at the Stokes County Agricultural Fair. The 2017 exhibit was titled Restoring Streams in Stokes County which highlighted stream restoration projects completed in Stokes County. Approximately 6,000 citizens attended the Stokes County Fair held on September 12-16, 2017. Pictured above is the 2017 Stokes SWCD Fairbooth titled Restoring Streams in Stokes County.
The Board of Supervisors and Staff of the Stokes Soil and Water Conservation District would like to extend their sincere appreciation to all landowners, agencies and groups who cooperate and assist the District in carrying out its conservation programs. Stokes County Board of County Commissioners North Carolina Department of Agriculture NC Division of Soil and Water Conservation NC Soil and Water Conservation Commission USDA Natural Resources Conservation Service EPA Section 319 NC Water Resources Environmental Quality USDA Farm Service Agency NC Wildlife Resources Commission NC Forest Service Stokes County Cooperative Extension Stokes County Board of Education Hanging Rock State Park Resource Institute Rocky Road Web Designs