Tour of the Flint River Watershed Highlights Conservation

by Sam Sandlin, Flint River Watershed Coordinator, Huntsville Field Office, AL

Since the mid 1990’s, several partners have been working together to address issues and concerns in the Flint River watershed. Since 2001, the Madison County Soil and Water Conservation District (SWCD) has received and implemented over $700,000 in cost-share assistance through the 319 grant program administered by the Alabama Department of Environmental Management (ADEM). Area landowners and farmers have taken advantage of this assistance by adopting best management practices on their lands to protect local natural resources.

A watershed tour was held on June 5, 2007, to promote these efforts. Flint River watershed stakeholders such as elected officials and agency representatives were encouraged to attend along with the landowners and farmers. The tour highlighted completed conservation projects on a variety of agricultural lands. 

The group visited a large row crop farm in Meridianville, a cattle operation along the river in New Market, a tree farm in Toney, and a newly planted riparian buffer in Hampton Cove. At each farm, innovative conservation practices were adopted in order to reduce the cumulative effects of non-point source pollution, primarily sediment and excessive nutrients, from entering the river. The landowners shared their experiences with the design, costs, implementation and benefits of the finished conservation practices.

The Flint River Watershed Tour was sponsored by the Madison County Soil and Water Conservation District, the Tennessee Valley Authority, ADEM, Madison County USDA-NRCS, the Flint River Conservation Association, and transportation was provided by Ray Pearman Automotive. Along with several private landowners and sponsors, groups such as the National Aeronautics Space Administration, the Environmental Protection Agency, the Madison County Commission, the Clean Water Partnership and the Farm Service Agency were represented.

All local conservation opportunities were discussed throughout the tour. Currently, there are a number of programs available for local landowners. The local USDA service center offers federal programs such as the Environmental Quality Incentives Program and the Conservation Reserve Program. The Madison County SWCD has several 319 projects targeting various tributaries to the Flint River. There is also a Flint River Buffer Initiative offered by the Madison County SWCD and TVA to establish trees along the creeks and river.

In addition to a lot of information, the group received Flint River Watershed hats, they saw some innovative conservation projects, and they met many local watershed stakeholders. They enjoyed a picnic lunch along scenic Hester Creek, a tributary to the Flint River.

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