We welcome proposals for pojects in southeastern North Carolina that will further our mission and goals. Please complete and return the Project Assessment Form for consideration by the Cape Fear RC&D Council Board of Directors. Click here to download the form (PDF format - Adobe Reader required to view and print)
Planning for Farmland and Diversity Preservation (Bladen & Columbus Counties)
One of the goals of our newly adopted Area Plan is to “advance public stewardship to promote the protection of farmland and unique and important ecosystems.” Emphasis to meet this goal during FY ‘06-’07 included working with Bladen and Columbus counties—assisting them with initiating county-wide Voluntary Agricultural Districting programs and taking an active role in the conceptualization and establishment of the Cape Fear Arch Conservation Collaborative. Bladen County’s Ag Districting program is up and running while Columbus County’s is in the early stages. Being able to enroll farm land in an Ag District provides recognition of the established farming community in areas where suburbia is approaching. Ag Districting is also one of the first steps for most of the established farmland preservation programs.
The Cape Fear Arch is a 35-million year old geological uplift of sea bottom. Most of the CFRC&D area is within the Arch. Because of its unusual origin, the area contains ecosystems that are unique to this area alone and it is one of the most naturally diverse regions on the east coast. The mission of the Arch Collaborative is to develop and implement a community conservation vision to build awareness, protection and stewardship of the region’s important natural resources. Cape Fear RC&D supports the work of the Arch Collaborative and continues to provide staff to the planning efforts and will work to integrate the farming community and farm programs into the Arch initiatives, while providing for ecologically sound development and enhancement of the quality of life in the region. (Photo credit to Dan Bell, TNC)
The Waccamaw River Debris Removal Project (Brunswick & Columbus Counties)
This project removed storm debris and blockages from over 26 miles of the Waccamaw River in Columbus and Brunswick counties, through a $182,091 grant from the NC Division of Water Resources. CFRC&D, NRCS and the Columbus SWCD provided technical assistance to the project.
The work was done with hand labor and as little channel and canopy disturbance as possible ~ opening the river to recreational navigation and diminishing the extent and duration of flooding. Phase-1 was completed in March 2007. Phase-2, the next 26 miles, is to be completed during Fall 2007.
Landfill Leachate Irrigation Equipment (New Hanover County)
As one of only a few NC landfills that treats and handles its leachate on site, the New Hanover County landfill uses a constructed wetland to innovatively treat part of the leachate that it produces. The treated water is then land applied to grassed areas that are closed landfill cells. This system keeps all of the liquid in a closed system and on site. The first phase of the irrigation system provided enough area to land-apply about 20% of the treated leachate. New Hanover County asked CFRC&D to assist in finding funding to expand the irrigation area to another cell that had been closed. CFRC&D completed a grant application to the NC Clean Water Management Trust Fund, that provided $155,000 for additional irrigation equipment. This expanded the capability to land-applying just over 40% of the leachate—getting the NH Landfill closer to its goal of land- 1applying 00% of the treated leachate. The other 60% of the leachate is currently treated conventionally and is permitted to be discharged. Installation was completed during the fall 2006.
Castle Hayne Drainage Study (New Hanover County)
Working in partnership with the New Hanover County Planning Department and the NC Division of Soil and Water Conservation, CFRC&D assisted the county with a comprehensive drainage study for the Castle Hayne Community. New Hanover County and the citizens of Castle Hayne are working toward a revitalization plan of the “downtown” area. It became apparent that there were some undiagnosed drainage problems that need to be resolved before new plans are developed. The resulting drainage study, that was completed in January 2007, will provide the science for making decisions that are effected by drainage in the Castle Hayne area.
Composting System Technical Assistance (Pender County)
In 2005, CFRC&D assisted the Pender Soil & Water Conservation District, providing financial and technical assistance to develop a forced-air composting system for on-farm disposal of swine carcasses. In 2007, Stoneybrook Farms in Pender County installed a full scale forced-air composting system to handle all of its mortality and allowing the farm to switch from incineration, with a fuel cost of $25,000 per year, to composting. Our earlier project contributed to the NRCS including this practice as part of the Environmental Quality Incentive Program which the producer was able to use for some of the installation cost.
Maple Hill Alternative Sewage System (Pender County)
Established on very wet soils in northeastern Pender County, the Maple Hill community suffers from a high rate of failing septic tanks. CFRC&D has been working with Maple Hill, Pender County and the NC Rural Community Assistance Program seeking money to install an alternative filtration system that will replace individual septic tanks. In 2007, the NC Rural Development Center awarded $2.7 million to the project, enough to serve 75% of the community. The project has been broken into phases and Hobbs–Upchurch & Associates, PA selected to design the project and begin construction of Phase 1. Cape Fear RC&D will manage the grants and continue to seek other money in the form of grants or loans. Work on Phase 1 is expected to begin during early winter of 2008.
STATEMENT OF NONDISRIMINATION
The Cape Fear RC&D Council agrees that the RC&D program will be conducted in compliance with the USDA nondiscrimination policy which states:The U.S. Department of Agriculture (USDA) prohibits discrimination in all its programs and activities on the basis of race, color, national origin, age, disability, and where applicable, sex, marital status, familial status, parental status, religion, sexual orientation, genetic information, political beliefs, reprisal, or because all or a part of an individual's income is derived from any public assistance program. (Not all prohibited bases apply to all programs.) Persons with disabilities who require alternative means for communication of program information (Braille, large print, audiotape, etc.) should contact USDA's TARGET Center at (202) 720-2600 (voice and TDD). To file a complaint of discrimination write to USDA, Director, Office of Civil Rights, 1400 Independence Avenue, S.W., Washington, D.C. 20250-9410 or call (800) 795-3272 (voice) or (202) 720-6382 (TDD). USDA is an equal opportunity provider and employer.
