Soil and Water

Agriculture Cost Share Program

Each year, the Alexander Soil & Water District is appropriated funds for this program from the N.C. Soil and Water Conservation Commission. These program dollars are allocated from the state to address non-point source pollution from agricultural activities. They are available to assist farmers in the installation of conservation practices which help decrease the amount of sediment, animal waste, nutrients, chemicals and other potential pollutants from entering the surface and ground waters of the state. Landowners and operators that are in agricultural production for at least three years may apply for cost share assistance to install Best Management Practices (BMP's) on their farm. These BMP's include: sediment & erosion control, litter storage structures, poultry composters, livestock exclusion from streams in conjunction with alternative watering systems, stocktrails and heavy-use areas for livestock in confined areas, and other practices that benefit water quality. Alexander Soil & Water District's program year begins each year on July 1st and runs through June 30th. Typically, the Alexander Soil & Water District will have a one month sign-up period to accept new program year applications. All applications will be prioritized according to a locally adopted ranking process based on water quality parameters. The applications providing the most water quality benefits will be approved for funding in priority order. Any applications that are not funded in the first batching period will be considered for funding if additional program dollars become available later in the year.

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Agricultural Water Resources Assistance Program

The NC Soil and Water Conservation Commission administers this water quantity program across the state. The Alexander Soil & Water Conservation District can apply for funds under this program to address water quantity issues on farmlands. Best management practices (BMP’s) that may be offered include: new pond construction, pond repair/retrofit, pond sediment removal, new wells, conservation irrigation, and other practices that address water availability on agricultural lands. Projects must be able to show that they have an agricultural need for more water in order to be eligible for this program (for example: no water or limited water resources onsite). If applying for a pond practice, the pond water must be needed for some agricultural use to be eligible. In addition, the particular property must have been in agricultural production for at least one year prior to applying to be eligible. Applications are accepted throughout the year.

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Community Conservation Assistance Program

The NC Soil and Water Conservation Commission administers this water quality program across the state. The Alexander Soil & Water Conservation District can apply for funds under this program to address non-point source pollution on lands that are not considered agricultural lands. These funds are awarded through a regional application process. They can be used to assist schools, local government entities, landowners, and business owners with the installation of conservation practices which help to reduce sedimentation to streams and/or treat stormwater before entering streams. Potential sites must have been developed or released from a sediment and erosion control permit for at least three years to be eligible for cost share assistance. Potential best management practices (BMP’s) include: critical area planting, stormwater wetlands, cisterns, and other practices that benefit water quality.

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Environmental Quality Incentives Program

The Environmental Quality Incentives Program (EQIP) is a federal cost share program administered through the Natural Resources Conservation Service (NRCS) that addresses natural resource concerns on agricultural lands. Financial and technical assistance may be available for the installation of best management practices (BMP’s) through this program. EQIP BMP’s are similar to ACSP BMP’s and include: sediment & erosion control, litter storage structures, poultry composters, livestock exclusion from streams in conjunction with alternative watering systems, stocktrails and heavy-use areas for livestock in confined areas, and other practices that benefit water quality. Applications for EQIP are taken all year long, but decisions on funding are only made at set batching periods throughout the year. Contact the District office for more information.

Classroom Programs

The Alexander SWCD is available to all Alexander County Schools (k-12). Teachers, we can come to your school to help you meet your environmental education objectives. We teach various programs concerning soil and water conservation, agriculture, and other related subjects. For more information about any of our education programs, please contact Pamela Bowman at 828-632-0638 or ptbowman@alexandercountync.gov.

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Enviroscape

The Enviroscape is a unique, interactive learning tool that helps people of all ages make a visual connection between land use and water quality. It is a tabletop hands on model that shows the origin of both point and nonpoint sources of water pollution and how watersheds work. This model is a great way to educate students. It makes complex issues much clearer and helps students and people to understand how to prevent water pollution in their own communities. Once they see it, they don't forget it.

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Resource Conservation Workshop

Annually the Alexander SWCD sponsors one Sophomore, Junior or Senior to participate in the Resource Conservation Workshop. This workshop is held in Raleigh on the campus of North Carolina State University usually the last week in June each year. Students who have demonstrated advanced maturity and an interest in natural resource conservation are encouraged to apply. High school graduates are NOT eligible to participate in the Resource Conservation Workshop. The Alexander SWCD Board of Supervisors will choose the participant and will pay for the costs. This week of intensive study requires student attention and participation in a wide range of conservation topics.

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SWCD Annual Contests

Every year, the Alexander SWCD sponsors Poster, Essay, Computer Designed Slide Show and Public Speaking Contests for 5th-12th grade Alexander County students. These contests are usually held in the late fall / early winter. They are a great way to educate students about environmental education, and the winners receive cash awards!

The Alexander SWCD Board of Supervisors and Staff would like to congratulate the 2023 Conservation Contest participants and winners on a job well done! We hope that these environmental contests will spark an interest in natural resource conservation in these students.

Alexander SWCD holds an annual banquet in the spring to honor contest winners, their parents, teachers and principals.

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Topic 2024/2025: Wetlands are Wonderful!

Poster Contest - 5th Grade

Students must create original posters depicting a story about the current contest theme. Posters are judged on the conservation message, visual effectiveness, and universal appeal.

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Essay Contest - Grade 6

Students write a 300-500 word essay showing they understand the theme content, using innovative writing style with a clear message easily understood by the reader, correct grammar, and proper paragraph transitions with good opening and closing tie-in with the theme. Essays should be neat and meet all contest rules in order to be considered.

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Computer Designed Slide Show Contest – 6th Grade

Students create a computer generated slide show of no more than 15 slides that gives a message on the current conservation theme. The work should be original, easy to read, and use good variations of text and graphics.

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Public Speaking Contest -Grades 7 - 8

Students give a 4-6 minute speech and are judged on comprehension and knowledge of the subject, organization, originality, skillful use of facts, example, descriptions, speaking skills such as voice and diction, style, body language, poise, eye contact and rapport with the audience.

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Computer Designed Slide Show Contest –Grade 9 - 12

Students create a computer generated slide show of no more than 15 slides that gives a message on the current conservation theme. The work should be original, easy to read, and use good variations of text and graphics.

All contests follow guidelines established by the North Carolina Association of Soil & Water Conservation Districts and are administered by the local districts.

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Envirothon Competition

The Envirothon is an outdoor environmental competition for middle school & high school students, to compete with other teams in a natural resources knowledge and ecology field day. Teams, made up of 5 members compete in the following 5 areas: Soils, Forestry, Wildlife, Aquatics and Current Environmental Issues. Students work together as a team to answer each of the test questions. The competition is based on written and hands on identification questions in the areas mentioned above. Study resources can be found at the following website: www.ncenvirothon.org

The Area II Northwest Envirothon (13 counties) is held at the McGee Center in Wilkesboro. The top 7 teams from high school and the top 7 teams from middle school will advance to the State Competition, and the high scoring team from the State will receive an expense paid trip to the National competition (www.envirothon.org) where some of the prizes include scholarship monies.

The 2024 NW Envirothon will be a two-day event. The middle school competition will be on Monday, March 18, 2024, and the high school competition will be on Tuesday, March 19, 2024. Snow dates will be Tuesday and Wednesday, March 26th & 27th, 2024. The registration deadline is February 2nd, 2024, and the deadline for name changes is March 2nd, 2024. All registration forms must be printed off and submitted to the Alexander SWCD office or emailed to Pamela Bowman at ptbowman@alexandercountync.gov. Visit the Area II website at https://www.area2swcd.org/home to find out more details.

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5th Grade Environmental Field Days

Every year, all 5th grade students in the county participate in this environmental field day on a local farm. On the farm, 8-10 educational stations are set up, and the students rotate throughout the stations during the day, getting a hands on experience with each topic. Topics may vary some from year to year but have included Soils, Groundwater, Wildlife, Livestock Production, Weather & Climate, Forestry, Plants & Pollinators, GIS, Wetlands, and Poster Contest Theme. The day also includes locally produced apples and cheese sticks for a snack.
30th Annual Alexander County Environmental Field Days Event Hosts Almost 400 Students

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Food, Land & People Curriculum

The Food, Land & People curriculum offers lessons for Grades K-12 that show the interdependence of food production, land management, and human needs. Food, Land & People is a national agricultural and environmental education program, which seeks to inspire and educate children and adults about the critical role of American agriculture in sustaining our food supply and conserving our environment for future generations. The program has developed a manual which contains many lesson plans. These lessons have been correlated to the new K-12 science objectives for NC. Workshops will be conducted for educators to become facilitators for the program. If you are interested in learning more about Food, Land & People, please contact the district at (828) 632-0638.

Emergency Watershed Protection (EWP) Program & State Emergency Disaster Funds

Alexander Soil & Water Conservation District was able to secure Emergency Watershed Protection (or EWP) Program funds for 3 sites in the county for stream debris removal resulting from Tropical Storm Eta (November 2020). This federal funding is only available when a federal disaster declaration is given. These “emergency” funds can only be used where an emergency situation is deemed (for example: when a bridge, building, or residence is in jeopardy). Therefore, only the 3 sites completed were determined eligible for these funds. Debris removal for these 3 sites totaled 5,300 linear feet of stream.

The District was also able to secure State Emergency Disaster Funds that supplemented EWP funds on the stream debris removal from the 3 sites mentioned above. In addition, these funds were able to be used for debris removal from 4 additional sites with 5,798 additional linear feet of stream.

Below are some of the before and after pictures of debris removal sites cleaned up with EWP & State Emergency Disaster funds. Before and After Pictures

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Streamflow Rehabilitation Assistance Program (StRAP)

The Streamflow Rehabilitation Assistance Program (StRAP) provides essential funding for projects that reduce flooding, restore streams, and protect drainage infrastructure across North Carolina. This new program was created by the NC General Assembly, which approved $38 million in funding for StRAP for the 2021-2022 fiscal year. Eligible Projects across NC include vegetative debris removal, instream sediment removal, stream bank stabilization, stream restoration, other stream repair needs, and beaver dam removal.

The Alexander SWCD Office decided to utilize any StRAP funding received to remove vegetative debris from streams, since this is the most cost-effective measure allowed. The office received some funding in round 1 (2022) and was able to remove debris from 4,915 linear feet of stream, spanning 3 project sites, thus protecting the adjacent land and bridges from eroding and failing. The Alexander SWCD Office will continue to seek additional funding for stream debris removal through this program and others, as the funds are available.

What does the Alexander Soil & Water Conservation District do?

• Soil & Water Conservation Districts are political subdivisions of state government.
• There are 96 of them in North Carolina, covering the state's 100 counties.
• The Alexander County Soil & Water District develops farm conservation plans, identifies and plans local resource conservation work and coordinates the conservation efforts of federal and state agencies within the district.
• The districts work closely with the United States Department of Agriculture (USDA), Natural Resources Conservation Service (NRCS) and the Division of Soil and Water Conservation in the North Carolina Department of Agriculture & Consumer Services.
• NRCS provides district conservationists and engineers to provide technical assistance with farm conservation plans, design and implementation of best management practices.
• The division provides financial, technical and administrative support to the districts.
• Technical assistance can be provided to the landowner in varying capacities based on his/her needs.
• The district also provides educational services for schools, civic groups, and any organization.

If you have any questions regarding what our office is capable of, please call us at: (828) 632-0638.

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Free Services Offered

• Soil Surveys
• NRCS Program Info
• Ag. Cost Share Program Info
• Educational Materials
• Voluntary Farmland Preservation Program
• Farm Conservation Planning
• Soil, Topo, and Other Maps
• Soil Sample Boxes

• NC Department of Environmental Quality
• Natural Resources Conservation Service
• National Agroforestry Center
• NC Division of Soil & Water Conservation
• NC Association of Soil and Water Conservation Districts
• Alexander County
• US Department of Agriculture
• United States Geological Survey
• NC Dept. of Agriculture
• Successful Farming

The Alexander Soil and Water Conservation District (SWCD) is now publishing "The Alexander SWCD Times" newsletter. The purpose of this newsletter is to keep the community informed of the programs we offer and to provide pertinent information.