The Soque Watershed

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Considerations for Habersham County

Clarkesville

Demorest

Cornelia

Batesville

The Soque Watershed Considerations for Habersham County

Land Use Determines Water Quality

SubwatershedArea

(mi2)Forest

%Agriculture

%Urban

%Headwaters 17.3 90.9 5.4 3.1Raper Creek 9.6 91.2 4.2 3.7Shoal Creek 9.8 82.9 5.9 6.5Deep Creek 30.2 57.5 23.6 11.3Beaverdam Creek 14.6 59.7 23.7 7.5Hazel Creek 31.9 46.8 24.5 7.9Yellobank Creek 6.7 48.3 28.9 7.9Total Watershed 159.8 64.3 18.3 9.6

Rapid Stream Degradation occurs at 10% imperviousness and above.

In the years ahead it is our urbanizing landscape we are most concerned with.

Control Stream Impacted Stream

Photos taken within 20 minutes of each otherJune 17, 2013

The Soque Watershed Considerations for Habersham County

How can we avoid the fate of other urbanized and impacted watersheds?

Stream impacts downstream from Judicial Center

Sustainable Practices for a CLEANER SOQUESustainability means - mimic nature’s processes

Recommendation #1 – Treat the Land like a sponge

Fairview constructed 2008

6 acres

2 – 5 years after construction very little permanent vegetation

June 2010

• Without vegetation and good soils the landscape behaves like a brick

• Runoff carries sediment• Stormwater scours gullies and

streambanks

June 2010

• Without vegetation and good soils the landscape behaves like a brick

• Runoff carries sediment• Stormwater scours gullies and

streambanks

August 2013November 2013June 2015Mulch • Stops erosion• rebuilds soils• provides nutrients • slows water• Allows water to infiltrate

replenishing groundwater

Mulch

Trees

Restoration of the Landscape requires• Liming • Mulching• Trees

Lime

Other Recommendations• Allow grasses to grow deep • Don’t overmow • Save and Re-spread Topsoil• Disturb less acres

Aquatic Center

Aquatic Center

Erosion is an eyesore

Restoration improves the aesthetic and beauty of our county. Literally makes us look green.

Behind Ball Fields

Erosion is an eyesore

Restoration improves the aesthetic and beauty of our county. Literally makes us look green.

Behind Ball Fields

Sustainable Practices for a CLEANER SOQUERecommendation #2 – Make all public construction

projects models of SUSTAINABILITY

Pocket WetlandVegetation filters pollutants

Curbless BioSwaleEnhanced soils allow infiltration

Green Site Design

Grassed SwaleSlows water down. Sediments fall out.

EnhancedSwaleVegetation and soils allow water to infiltrate and filters pollutants

Green Stormwater interpretive sign

Erosion and Sediment Control BMPs still rarely implemented.

• Responsibility should be on PROJECT OWNERS.

• Establish very clear and WRITTEN expectations.

• UNDERSTAND how BMPs work.

How to keep projects from polluting?

No silt fenceNo BMP

Green Site Design – construction phase

Development of Green Papers will help to describe environmental BMPs to:

• PROJECT OWNERS• Contractors and Sub-Contractors

• Makes recommendations on how to PREVENT environmental impacts through better planning, communication and establishment of clear expectations.

• Clear checklists to insure that specific activities are completed.

How to keep projects from polluting?

No silt fenceNo BMP

Green Site Design – construction phase

Topsoils conserved at Judicial Center were not re-spread over the site. Explicit expectations must be included in the plans and monitored by the project owner.

Why Green Trails Matter?

• If the public is cut off from natural resources they will cease to care for them.

• Habersham County is not the destination it could be. The unique character of our natural resources coupled with the unique characteristics of our many towns could be that attraction.

• Only time that every single municipality put in requests that all helped to build towards a single goal.

Recommendation #3Continue to Expand

Green Trails

Why Green Trails Matter?

• Unifies and co-markets the municipalities.

• Draws tourists here for shopping, or to spend the whole weekend, or week.

• Protects natural corridors for wildlife and water.

• Creates Recreation which reduces obesity, improves quality of life.

• Defines our community around our natural resources.

What it accomplishes

Recommendation #1 – Treat the Land like a sponge

Recommendation #2 – Make all public construction projects models of SUSTAINABILITY

Recommendation #3 - Continue to Expand Green Trails

SUMMARY

THANK YOU!