Buncombe County Government North Carolina
Buncombe County Government North Carolina

departments & agencies

newfound watershed

155 Hilliard Ave. Suite 204
Asheville, NC 28801
(828)250-4785

Cost Share Money available for Newfound CreekResidents

Buncombe County Soil & Water Conservation has received a new grant of $415,000 from Clean Water Management Trust Fund (CWMTF) to improve water quality in Newfound Creek. Newfound Creek is listed on the EPA State 303d list as being severely impaired by non-point source pollution (NPS), caused by sediment and fecal bacteria contamination. Non-point source pollution is caused when water in the form of runoff flows across the earth’s surface and picks up natural and man made pollutants, depositing them directly into streams, lakes and subsurface waters. The main sources of sediment are bare eroding areas, construction sites, cropland, eroding streambanks and dirt roads. Fecal bacteria can come from failing septic systems, straight pipes, livestock in streams or wildlife. Excessive nutrients in streams can come from use of chemical fertilizers, graywater pipes, straight pipes or animal wastes.

Grant money from CWMTF can financially assist Newfound Creek Watershed landowners with water quality improvement projects installed before May 2006. Cost share will be used for installation of conservation practices such as seeding down eroding areas, eliminating erosion on roadside ditches and banks, excluding livestock from streams, building waste/feed storage structures, waste management systems and other practices that improve water quality. If you have property in Newfound Creek Watershed area and are interested in grant money assistance, please contact Kara M. Cassels, Watershed Resource Coordinator at 828-250-4792 or email Kara.Cassels@buncombecounty.org. Buncombe County Soil & Water is here to assist you with any community conservation needs.

Workshop Success!

Buncombe County Soil & Water Conservation District hosted an Erosion Control Workshop on Saturday, November 13, 2004 in the Newfound community. Fourteen members of the community were present to discuss topics such as erosion control resources, funding opportunities, native plants and conservation developments.

Conservation developments are a new concept that is catching on in the Western North Carolina community. The developments focus on lower impacts to mountain lands by maintaining views, biodiversity and the natural appeal to mountain living.

John Ager of Drover’s Road Preserve, Randy Burroughs, Native Plant expert and David Tuch of Equinox Environmental and Consulting were dynamite speakers! Pictures are also shown on our website. Ingles of Erwin Hills, Manager Philip Fisher donated lunch for the day. Don’t miss these free opportunities that are available to Buncombe County citizens.

If you would like more information about this workshop or any other programs at the Soil and Water Conservation District, please contact Kara Cassels at 828-250-4785 or email at kara.cassels@buncombecounty.org.