Watershed Update

CONSERVANCY FINDS CLAYTON SEWER LEAKS

The Chattooga Conservancy has launched a water sampling program for Stekoa Creek, a major, polluted tributary of the Chattooga River that flows through the city of Clayton, Georgia. This program is intended to gather data that could then be used for evaluating, comparing and pinpointing pollutant loads throughout the Stekoa Creek watershed. Our three water sampling events to date have yielded immediate results. Topping the charts were results from water tests performed in December 2004 that showed astronomical levels of fecal coliform—registering at over 6,000 colonies per milliliter—at one Stekoa site. Over 200 colonies per milliliter are considered unsafe for swimming. Our findings were reported to city managers, who subsequently discovered a clogged sewer line that was inaccessible because the manhole was paved over; the clog was cleared after the manhole was uncovered. After the Conservancy’s water tests in January, a second sewer leak in Clayton was discovered that city managers attributed to old and cracked terra cotta sewer pipes. The city is working to replace the entire line.

In addition to sampling for fecal coliform, the Conservancy is also testing for turbidity, conductivity, pH and dissolved oxygen. All water samples are immediately sent to a licensed laboratory. This water sampling program is progressing on schedule thanks to the dedication of Jennie Pugh, who has generously volunteered to head up the program. Thanks are due also to Conservancy member Duncan Cotrell, a certified laboratory analyst who stepped forward to help by donating his time and considerable technical expertise. Currently, we are sampling once a month at six sites and we intend to continue the Stekoa Creek water sampling project for at least six months, and hopefully longer. As resources allow, we would like to increase sampling events to twice a month and include additional sites. Contributions are welcome and needed, and donations may be earmarked specifically to fund the water sampling work.

GREENWAY GAINS MOMENTUM

The Chattooga Conservancy is working with citizens and landowners in an effort to create a greenway along Stekoa Creek. This greenway could provide for an adequate buffer zone against more sedimentation in Stekoa Creek, while restoring native riparian area vegetation. A greenway along this conspicuous stream would also set the stage for significant improvements in its water quality (and by association in the Chattooga River), and create an attractive environment and recreational corridor for the community to use. This is a major project, and progress is being made! The combined efforts of the Chattooga Conservancy and the Friends of the Greenway group to cultivate landowner support has gained the participation of property owner Jeff Duvall. Mr. Duvall recently decided to donate about 1 mile of the east bank of Stekoa Creek on highway 441 north; the strip of land donated would vary in width from 50 to 150 feet. The Georgia Department of Transportation is also eager to support the greenway effort through establishing a phased mitigation project that would provide funds for sorely needed stream bank restoration along the creek. The Chick-Fil-A Corporation, which has developed a new franchise store next to the creek within Clayton’s city limits, is anxious to participate as well. Several more owners of critical properties within the proposed greenway have expressed interest in donating land and/or easements. Both Rabun County and the City of Clayton support the Stekoa greenway project. The monumental task of cleaning up Stekoa Creek and creating a greenway along its banks will depend on citizen support and participation at every phase. Please join in!

THE LAND & WATER CONSERVATION FUND NEEDS OUR HELP

The Chattooga River watershed is unique because of its outstanding natural resources that are protected in national forest system lands. Federal dollars to acquire critical tracts from willing sellers have been forthcoming in the past and have been used to protect water quality, important wildlife corridors, and lands of significant biological or cultural significance. The federal Land and Water Conservation Fund (LWCF) has been the most important source of funds to protect these invaluable properties, and the Chattooga River watershed has traditionally received between $1 and 2 million annually. However, last year the Chattooga River received zero dollars! Several important tracts currently available from willing sellers will be lost unless LWCF funds are returned to public land managers in the Chattooga River watershed. Please take a second to write or call your members of congress, and ask them to please restore traditional (and sorely needed!) levels of funding for land acquisition in the watershed for FY 2006. Your senators and representatives can be reached at the Capitol switchboard at 202-224-3121.

NATIONAL FOREST MANAGEMENT ACT REWRITTEN

Just before Christmas, the Forest Service issued a deadly blow to national forests by revising the National Forest Management Act (NFMA). The NFMA, passed in 1976, raised the bar for public land management. The new rules will exempt the Forest Service from the previously required environmental review process when creating forest management plans. This process had provided citizens with forest planning information as well as a chance to participate in public land management decisions; the revised rules leave the Forest Service with virtually no public accountability. The revision claims to involve the public by requiring independent audits (conducted by private timber companies) of forest management plans. In addition, the revised regulations virtually eliminate the Forest Service’s responsibility to manage public lands to maintain viable populations of endangered fish and animals. Although the new regulations violate current forest protection laws, they are slated to take effect after a 60-day public comment period.

HEMLOCK WOOLLY ADELGID SEASON BEGINS

The second full year of the Hemlock Woolly Adelgid Biological Control Project is now underway for the 2005 season. The project, initiated by the Chattooga Conservancy and Clemson University, is slated for at least five years and is using a biological control agent to combat the deadly,
The Hemlock Woolly Adelgid appears as white, cottony sacs at the base of hemlock needles.non-native insect called the Hemlock Woolly Adelgid (HWA). A laboratory at Clemson is breeding a predator beetle to suppress the adelgid, and last year over 100,000 beneficial beetles were released in the Chattooga River watershed. Most releases occurred between the headwaters of the Chattooga and highway 28, and across to the West Fork.

Beetle releases have started early this year, with already 3 releases occurring in the Holcomb Creek, Law Ground and Big Creek areas totaling over 10,000 predator beetles. This year we anticipate even greater production of beneficial beetles at the Clemson lab over last year’s numbers. The Clemson insectary is now one of the most important HWA research facilities in the U.S.

As the HWA moves down into the Chattooga watershed’s lower elevations we will be releasing beetles in new infestations, probably down to Lake Tugaloo. Please contact the Chattooga Conservancy to learn how to identify the HWA, and to help us track the adelgid’s spread.