|
|
Yadkin River Commission
Projects
In May 2001, the Yadkin River Commission commemorated its decennial anniversary by compiling some highlights of its first ten years.
1991: On May 15, 1991, County Commissioners from Davie, Forsyth, and Yadkin Counties united their support for the Yadkin River by chartering the Yadkin River Commission. Commissioners charged appointed members to focus on water quality, economic, cultural, and natural attributes of the Yadkin River corridor.
Soon thereafter, newly appointed Commission Members tackled their first project by serving as a clearinghouse of information for the Natural Heritage Study along the Yadkin River. This study later served as a springboard for other local heritage studies.
1992: Commission Members produced the first two editions of an educational newsletter series entitled On The Yadkin River. In these four-page newsletters, Commission Members featured articles on:
- water quality improvements,
- volunteer conservation programs,
- local fish species,
- new laws governing watershed regulations and interbasin transfers, trespassing laws that help protect the river, and the Yadkin River Historic District.
These newsletters served as the catalyst for an Achievement Award through the National Association of Counties. The award recognized the Yadkin River Commission for exceptional inter-county communication and promotion of local voluntary conservation programs.
1993: Commission Members produced the third edition of On The Yadkin River. This time, the newsletter featured articles on:
- open space developments,
- animal habitats along the river, and
- a proposed Yadkin River zoning district for Forsyth County.
Later that year and with the help of TV 13, Commission Members produced a documentary video entitled The Yadkin: Its Origins, Its History, Its Future. This 27-minute video took viewers on a stroll through Yadkin River history and led up to current planning efforts to preserve the corridor. Quality filming and scripting prompted UNC-TV to feature the video in its statewide programming schedule.
1994: Two organizations formally recognized The Yadkin: Its Origins, Its History, Its Future as an exceptional video documentary. The National Association of Counties recognized the video with its Achievement Award while the North Carolina Association of County Commissioners awarded it the Outstanding County Program Award.
1995: The regional breadth of the Yadkin River Commission grew as it expanded its membership to include a new participant -- Surry County.
1997: The Yadkin River Commission received a grant to continue producing their newsletter series.
1998: Commission Members improved their newsletter by expanding it to six pages, adding color photos, and printing on glossy paper. Their next two newsletters featured the following topics:
- Yadkin River watershed,
- streambank erosion,
- water quality changes in the Yadkin River,
- local efforts to protect the Mitchell River -- a pristine tributary, phosphorous pollution,
- data results from a nine-year monitoring project, sedimentation, and
- a proposed five-year basinwide plan from the Division of Water Quality.
Later that year, Commission Members also provided technical data and other support to four municipalities -- Clemmons, Lewisville, Rural Hall, and Tobaccoville -- for their joint stormwater grant application to the Clean Water Management Trust Fund.
1999: By combining their technical data with guidance from the basinwide plan, Commission Members supported the City of Winston-Salem Stormwater Department with its streambank stabilization grant application to the Clean Water Management Trust Fund. Trustees approved the application and awarded $1 million for three stabilization projects along Salem Creek.
2000: Commission Members critiqued a graduate project through Duke University that focused on long-term changes in suspended sediment in the Yadkin River. They also researched the feasibility of a River Keeper Program along the Yadkin River.
2001: Charged up and ready to start another successful decade, Commission Members began producing their second documentary video in April. They anticipate that the video will be completed in the Fall of 2001 and will be ready for distribution by the Spring of 2002. The video discusses:
- how the Yadkin River serves as a significant source of drinking water for many counties,
- harmful effects of sedimentation and erosion, and
- how local residents can use some simple techniques to protect the river.
2002: The Yadkin River video will be released in the Spring of 2002.
If you have ideas that will help educate residents on Yadkin River issues or promote its water quality, please contact:
Margaret Bessette
City-County Planning Department
PO Box 2511
Winston-Salem, NC 27102
(336) 727-2087 phone
(336) 748-3163 fax
margb@cityofws.org
|