Soil and Water gets OK on new program

The Alleghany County Soil and Water District Board got the go-ahead from the county commission on July 5 to take part in the N.C. Ecosystem Enhancement Program.

The program currently offers local soil and water offices funding for locating wetland areas that could be restored.

According to the program’s website, in July 2003, the state “committed its resources to an innovative program to restore, enhance and protect its wetlands and waterways.”

The Ecosystem Enhancement Program combines an existing wetlands-restoration initiative by the N.C. Department of Environment and Natural Resources with ongoing efforts by the N.C. Department of Transportation to offset unavoidable environmental impacts from transportation-infrastructure improvements. The U.S. Army Corps of Engineers joined as a sponsor in the agreement.

Linda Hash, who works in the local soil and water office, and Soil and Water Board Chairman Paul Edwards jointly asked the county to allow funds raised through the program to be placed in the county budget for future use at the direction of the Soil and Water Board.

Lynn Sprague, chief of district operations for the N.C. Department of Environment and Natural Resources, explained the program. He noted that the program has netted about $3.5 million in investment in Watauga County, including about $500,000 in stream restoration funds.

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