Haywood Waterways Association

Haywood Waterways Association Achievements

Haywood Waterways Association became a non-profit, member corporation on September 23, 1998, and received its 501(c)(3) tax-exempt status from the Internal Revenue Service on January 29, 1999.

As of December 5, 2007, HWA membership totaled 433 members as of Decem b er 31, 2008.

Technical Advisory Committee currently includes 25 representatives from 19 agencies, corporations, and organizations.

Over the past 12 years, HWA and its partners have collaborated on 64 successful grant applications. These awards have brought over $5.4 million to Haywood County for water conservation and educational projects. Our key partners are the Southwestern RC&D Council and the Haywood Soil & Water Conservation District; we would not be able to work without them!

Serve as a key partner in establishing awareness and education opportunities for students and adults. These include a one year mini-grant program for Haywood County Public Schools, GLOBE program water testing with middle school students, a one week Summer Camp focused on water quality, Greenway education, Haywood County Schools Foundation Video and Water Quality Curriculum, Haywood Environmental Initiative, Storm Drain Stenciling Projects, Kids in the Creek, the HWA and Home Builders Association Erosion and Sediment Control Workshop, and several public forums focusing on non-point issues in the Pigeon River Watershed. HWA also sponsors local Clear Water Contractor workshops.


HWA School Mini-Grant Presentation	Kids in the Creek	Students amazed by Bugs	Watershed sign

Participate in on-going efforts to create a system of Greenways in riparian corridors on Richland Creek, Jonathan Creek (Maggie Valley), and the Pigeon River. Actively support the permanent protection of the Lake Logan watershed.

Serve on countywide committees addressing water quality issues affecting Lake Junaluska. Provide technical information, grant and brochure writing skills, and networking skills to address current and long-term issues.

Publish a newsletter and conservation brochures, such as "It’s Not Just Dirt", a newspaper insert and "Stewardship Begins In Our Backyards, A Landowner's Guide to Protecting Our Land and Streams"

Maintains a growing Volunteer Water Information Network to gather baseline water quality data for the Pigeon River Watershed. Currently have 27 VWIN monitoring stations in Haywood County.

Began a sediment monitoring program in 2002 to gather the first true storm water sediment data. Seven monitoring stations are in place.

Contracted with TVA using Pigeon River Grant Funds to obtain an inventory of non-point source pollution sources in the Pigeon River Watershed. This survey data has been incorporated in a geographic information system database and associated with many other GIS themes to provide a powerful analysis tool for the watershed. Acquired two data sets - 1999 and 2006.


Lake Logan	Lake Junaluska Sediment removal	VWIN Sampling	Pigeon River Watershed

With input from the Technical Advisory Committee and the community, wrote a Watershed Action Plan for Haywood County. The 85 page plan has been endorsed by the County and all four municipalities. EPA is using the plan as a model for other watershed groups across the nation. Acquired two data sets - 1999 and 2006.
www.haywoodwaterways.org/watershed.htm

Tennessee Valley Authority honored HWA as its "Partner of the Year" in 1999.

Also in 1999, HWA was selected "Water Conservationist of the Year" for North Carolina - one of the Governor's Conservation Achievement Awards.

EPA included a case study of HWA in a 2003 national publication on successful non-point pollution management.
www.epa.gov/owow/nps/bldgcapacasestdfinl.pdf

The Hugh Hammond Bennett Chapter of the Soil and Water Conservation Society selected HWA to receive their 2005 Natural Resources Enhancement Award.

The Commission for a Clean County Community honored Haywood Waterways with a First Place finish in their 2008 Community Pride Awards program.


Bethel School rain garden	Livestock watering hole	Restored Stream Bank