98/99 ANNUAL PLAN of WORK
POUND RIVER WATERSHED - Project #007
Grant writing assistance will be provided to the Lonesome Pine SWCD and
the Coalfield Beef Cattle & Land Use Association to secure funding
for several demonstration farms promoting rotational grazing on reclaimed
mineland soils.
| ACTION PLANNED
1998 |
1998-99 | GRANT FUNDS NEEDED | COUNCIL REPRESENTATIVE |
| Planning phase | Complete? | $30,000+ & technical assistance | Jack Childress |
TRAVELING EDUCATIONAL DISPLAYS - Project #014
During the next several years, this display will be set up at banks,
community centers, schools and stores to educate the public about how to
live on karst terrain without polluting our drinking water supplies. Four
of the six counties (Lee, Russell, Scott & Wise) within the RC&D
have extensive areas of karst terrain (limestone country). This project
is a spin-off of project #008 (Karst task force).
| ACTION PLANNED
1998 |
1998-99 | GRANT FUNDS NEEDED | COUNCIL REPRESENTATIVE |
| Implement | Complete (Begin rotation of displays) | $1250 & technical assistance | Sharon Keith |
Progress:
FARM WINERIES IN SOUTHWEST VIRGINIA - Project #017
Our first opportunity for an agri-tourism project surfaced through our
involvement with the Russell County Vision Forum (project #033). One of
the strategies developed by the Forum is to promote the creation of more
farm wineries. Ken and Linda Dye operate Dye’s Vineyards in Honaker. They
are the only farm winery in Southwest Virginia west of Roanoke. The Dyes
want to see a number of farm wineries established in Southwest Virginia,
which will help not hurt their wine operation. Tourists love to visit wineries
while on vacation, but to attract large numbers an area needs a number
of wineries, so that busloads can hop from one winery to the next. Each
winery would have its own unique micro-climate and soils to produce its
own special wines, even from the same county. The RC&D will provide
assistance with organizing tours, workshops and promotional materials.
| ACTION PLANNED
1997 |
1998-99 | GRANT FUNDS NEEDED | COUNCIL REPRESENTATIVE |
| Planned | Continue to Implement | technical assistance only |
Progress:
A cooperative agreement has been entered into between the Council and
the U.S. Fish & Wildlife Service to administer funds for a Streambank
Restoration Program. The Abingdon Office of the U.S. Fish & Wildlife
Service needed a local nonprofit organization to administer these specially
earmarked funds. The Nature Conservancy has been administering these funds
for the past several years. The agreement was signed in September of 1996.
Money would be used to cost-share best management practices that landowners
wish to install on their property. This is a voluntary program!
| ACTION PLANNED
1997 |
1998-99 | GRANT FUNDS NEEDED | COUNCIL REPRESENTATIVE |
| Planned | Complete 1st phase | $20,000+ annually |
Progress:
$15,000 received (1st grant) - July 98
BUCHANAN-DICKENSON-WISE DRY FIRE HYDRANTS - Project #026
The Virginia RC&D Association initiated the dry fire hydrant program
in Virginia in the early 90s through a very successful lobbying effort
with the Virginia General Assembly to get state funds appropriated to help
volunteer fire departments install dry fire hydrants. Black Diamond RC&D
provides technical assistance to interested volunteer fire departments
which need help in preparing grant applications for the Virginia Dry Hydrant
Program. Fire departments can receive up to $1,000 per dry hydrant grant
plus some hydrant materials. Very few grant applications have been submitted
from fire departments within Buchanan, Dickenson and Wise counties; thus,
the RC&D is going to focus attention upon those counties in the coming
year.
| ACTION PLANNED
1997 |
1998-99 | GRANT FUNDS NEEDED | COUNCIL REPRESENTATIVE |
| Implement | Implement | $20,000 (estimate) | Jack Childress & Cecile Dingus |
Progress:
BIG CEDAR CREEK WATERSHED PHASE III - Project #042
Provide grantwriting assistance to the Clinch Valley SWCD for a groundwater
project within the Big Cedar Creek Watershed.
| ACTION PLANNED
1998 |
1998-99 | GRANT FUNDS NEEDED | COUNCIL REPRESENTATIVE |
| Implement | Complete | $50,000+ (estimate) & technical assistance | Lyman Counts |
COUNCIL HIGH SCHOOL ORGANIC GARDEN - Project #045
Karen Taylor, a Biology teacher at Council High School as well as their
Envirothon Coach, asked for assistance from the RC&D to secure funds
to enable her to establish a large garden with some fruit trees on school
property. With the Council’s interest in promoting increased production
of fruits and vegetables in Southwest Virginia, it seemed a natural fit.
| ACTION PLANNED
1998 |
1998-99 | GRANT FUNDS NEEDED | COUNCIL REPRESENTATIVE |
| Planned | Continue to Implement | $1200.00 & technical assistance | Jack Childress |
Progress:
GUEST RIVER PROJECT WET WORKSHOP - Project #048
At the 1997 Environmental Education Conference the RC&D hosted at
Rye Cove last summer, we heard loud and clear from the teachers that they
wanted the opportunity to attend local teacher workshops on environmental
education. In January 1998, the Guest River Education Committee asked the
RC&D if they would be willing to coordinate a teacher workshop which
would provide teachers with tools to incorporate water quality lesson plans
into their curriculum. Project Wet and Save Our Streams programs were selected
for two concurrent workshops to be held at J.J. Kelly High School on August
11, 1998.
| ACTION PLANNED
1998 |
1998-99 | GRANT FUNDS NEEDED | COUNCIL REPRESENTATIVE |
| Planned | Complete | $325 & technical assistance | Cecile Dingus & Jack Childress |
Progress:
WALLEN CREEK WATERSHED - Project #049
Provide grantwriting assistance to the Daniel Boone SWCD and to the
Wallen Creek Watershed Committee to secure funds promoting rotational grazing
in the Wallen Creek Watershed. More grass per acre yields more net profit
and improved water quality. It is a perfect WIN-WIN situation!!!
| ACTION PLANNED
1998 |
1998-99 | GRANT FUNDS NEEDED | COUNCIL REPRESENTATIVE |
| Planning phase | Continue to Implement | $600,000+ & technical assistance | Ralph Miner |
Progress:
GUEST RIVER ENVIRONMENTAL EDUCATION WEEK II - Project
#050
Three days of educational events were coordinated by the RC&D in
the fall of 1996 at Hanging Rock Picnic Area, south of Coeburn, for 350
sixth graders from the following schools: Norton Elementary, Coeburn Middle
School, L. F. Addington Middle School and the Wise County Christian School.
Students from the Guest River Watershed attend these schools. The Guest
River Watershed is the most polluted watershed within the Virginia portion
of the Clinch-Powell River Basin. This is why it has been receiving extra
attention from the RC&D. A similar event will be coordinated by the
RC&D in the fall of 1998. Like project #048, the Guest River Education
Committee requested the RC&D’s assistance for this event.
| ACTION PLANNED
1998 |
1998-99 | GRANT FUNDS NEEDED | COUNCIL REPRESENTATIVE |
| Planning Phase | Complete | $200 & technical assistance | Cecile Dingus |
Progress:
BIG MOCCASIN WATERSHED - Project #051
Provide grantwriting assistance to the Natural Tunnel and Clinch Valley
SWCDs and to the Big Moccasin Committee to secure funds promoting rotational
grazing in the Big Moccasin Creek Watershed. If funded, five demonstration
farms will be established promoting the advantages of rotational grazing
to neighboring farms throughout the Big Moccasin Watershed Community.
| ACTION PLANNED
1998 |
1998-99 | GRANT FUNDS NEEDED | COUNCIL REPRESENTATIVE |
| Planning phase | Complete? | $50,000+ & technical assistance | J.B. Swiger |
WILDLIFE HABITAT INCENTIVES PROGRAM (WHIP) - Project #052
A cooperative agreement was entered into with TVA in December 1997 by
the RC&D Council to administer up to $20,000 during calendar year 1998
for WHIP contracts. TVA needed a nonprofit organization, similar to project
#025, to administer funds that they had secured from a federal program.
| ACTION PLANNED
1997 |
1998-99 | GRANT FUNDS NEEDED | COUNCIL REPRESENTATIVE |
| Planned | Complete | $20,000 & administrative assistance |
Progress:
This will be the RC&D’s first attempt to try a Kids in the Creek Day outside of the Clinch-Powell River Basin. TVA has provided fantastic support for previous events by sending 6 to 8 biologists up for the day to handle the water activities. In lieu of TVA staff, we will work with biology students at Garden High School to pull this event off. Garden High School received a $3820.00 grant from the Virginia Environmental Endowment (project #30) to monitor the Levisa River which cuts across their school’s campus. At the end of their first year of monitoring, we will work with their students to host 100 Buchanan County sixth graders for this day-long event.
Students get to seine for fish, scoop up aquatic insects (macroinvertebrates)
from the streambed with dip nets, learn about water chemistry and how a
watershed is impacted from pollution. Potential partners in this project
could be the Lonesome Pine Soil & Water Conservation District, Natural
Resources Conservation Service, Buchanan County Clean Team, Virginia Department
of Forestry and Garden High School.
| ACTION PLANNED
1998 |
1999 | GRANT FUNDS NEEDED | COUNCIL REPRESENTATIVE |
| Implement | Complete | technical assistance |
PROJECT AQUATIC WILD WORKSHOP - Project #055
This project is a component of the successfully funded project #030
(Project Levisa Riverwatch - Garden High School). Besides providing expertise
in preparing the grant proposal for Garden High School, another way that
the RC&D adds value to their project is to coordinate educational events
as components of the proposal. Several thousand dollars of valuable in-kind
match can be raised through a teacher workshop to match hard monies provided
by the grantor. Also, this workshop and Kids in the Creek Day (#054) will
raise awareness among Buchanan County residents concerning the condition
of their waters.
| ACTION PLANNED
1998 |
1998-99 | GRANT FUNDS NEEDED | COUNCIL REPRESENTATIVE |
| Planning phase | Complete | technical assistance |
VIRGINIA RC&D WORKSHOPS - Project #059
The Virginia RC&D Association successfully sought a national RC&D
grant ($11,000) to put on local workshops in each RC&D area to promote
stronger community organizations. Possible topics could include grant writing,
non-profit management, grant management, how to start a non-profit organization
(1/2 day) and board development. Workshops will be planned for the fall
98/winter 99. Each RC&D will receive $2,200 towards the costs of hosting
three to five workshops in their respective area.
| ACTION PLANNED
1998 |
1998-99 | GRANT FUNDS NEEDED | COUNCIL REPRESENTATIVE |
| Planning phase | Complete | $2,200 & technical assistance | J.H. Rivers, Jr. |
SOUTHWEST VIRGINIA 3 DAY GRANTSMANSHIP COURSE - Project #060
The New River-Highlands RC&D and the Black Diamond RC&D submitted
a joint proposal to the Community Assistance and Rural Development Division
(CARD) of the Natural Resources Conservation Service to host a three day
grantsmanship course. This project was funded. A nationally acclaimed instructor
will be sought to facilitate this course. Twenty scholarships will be provided,
ten per RC&D, to enable many local individuals who desire the training
to attend. Twenty-five to thirty participants will attend this course.
Fall of 1998 is the anticipated date for this course.
| ACTION PLANNED
1998 |
1998-99 | GRANT FUNDS NEEDED | COUNCIL REPRESENTATIVE |
| Planned | Complete | $11,000 & technical assistance |
Top priority projects for the Black Diamond RC&D have been explained in detail in the preceding pages. Other projects that have been previously adopted are listed below. Time will be devoted to these when possible. They are in varying stages of development. Some might move into a top priority category if an opportunity develops, for example: Regional Earth Camp - Project #041 - an organization is found who will be the lead sponsor.
#040 - Forestry Meeting - work to bring "all" players to the table to try to build consensus
#041 - Regional Earth Camp - need a lead sponsor before moving forward; Natural Tunnel State Park is very willing to be the site.
#046 - Additional Farmers Markets for SW Virginia - technical assistance is being provided to new markets in Pennington Gap and Lebanon. Leadership is being provided by other groups.
#053 - 1999 Envirothon - RC&D has requested that the Area IV Association of Conservation Districts coordinate this regional contest in future years, since it is a SWCD contest. RC&D coordinated the first four annual contests for this region.
#056 - Norton School Project - beginning to look for a potential project
#057 - Lee County School Project - trying to find a teacher who wants assistance
#058 - Wise County School Project - expecting a proposal from
Powell Valley High School
The Black Diamond RC&D
Council prohibits discrimination in its programs on the basis of race,
color, national origin, sex, religion, age, disability, political beliefs
and marital or familial status. (Not all prohibited bases apply to all
programs).
This plan of work was approved and adopted by the Council membership at a regular Council meeting held on April 16, 1998.
_____________________________________
J. H. Rivers, Jr.
Chair
Black Diamond RC&D Council
This plan of work is approved and agreed
to on this date of ____________________.
_____________________________________
M. Denise Doetzer
State Conservationist
Natural Resources Conservation Service