The project coordinator developed specific activities for each of the goals and objectives, many of which have been accomplished.

Technical Analysis & Implementation
For the assessment goal, existing watershed information was assembled through a water quality data collection project undertaken as a thesis project by a North Georgia College and State University biology student. Identification of primary watershed stakeholders was begun and the identification of potentially available resources (grants, expertise, and technology) was also initiated.

The goal to construct a watershed model was accomplished by establishing a modeling laboratory in cooperation with North Georgia College and State University. The laboratory uses BASINS modeling and Arcview GIS software to assess the affects of land use changes and the use of BMPs within the watershed. The lab is expected to be a resource for further assessment, public education, and a potential decision-making tool for the county and city governments.

Objectives for the education goal have been achieved as well. A series of newspaper articles has provided in-depth information on specific watershed issues and topics including publicizing a local developer’s work with conservation subdivisions. Public outreach was undertaken through radio interviews and opportunities for involvement in stream clean-up days. Further outreach activities have involved contact with regional watershed groups in an effort to broaden the regional approach to watershed issues.

As an outgrowth of the ongoing communication efforts, local citizens began to contact the project coordinator to report erosion and sedimentation violations and possible hazardous waste disposal sites. An inventory of gold mining sites was triggered by citizen concerns related to potential sources of mercury contamination. Other citizen calls resulted in the development of a referral function to connect concerns with the appropriate state agency. The final education objective, to provide convenors with the best possible decision-making information, is an ongoing endeavor.

Objectives under the management goal include the identification of BMPs suitable for the Yahoola Creek watershed and the provision of aid to stakeholders for their implementation. Preliminary work toward these objectives included communication efforts to gauge public opinion on specific watershed issues and practices. In addition, YCWP worked to mitigate the loss of wetlands and trout streams related to construction of the Yahoola Reservoir. As well, in cooperation with the county planning office and the Georgia Soil and Water Conservation District, YCWP pursued watershed-wide implementation of the erosion and sedimentation recommendations in the Chattahoochee River Basin Management Plan.

Furthermore, the YCWP worked with federal agencies to acquire special protection status for National Forest Service property in the watershed. If implemented, over 7300 acres, or about one-third of the total watershed area, would be protected as a Source Water Watershed Management Prescription area. The designation would primarily affect logging and road building activities on Forest Service land in the watershed.

Financial Considerations
The project coordinator position and some administrative costs were funded for one year through a $25,000 319(h) Nonpoint Source Pollution Implementation Grant from the Georgia Environmental Protection Division that was administered by the City of Dahlonega. The city also provided administrative support and local businesses, such as WalMart, provided free materials and equipment for stream clean-ups.

Other in-kind support came from the North Georgia College and State University that provided the computer, technical assistance, space, and use of other hardware to establish the modeling laboratory. In addition, the Georgia Mountains Regional Development Center provided the $1300 GIS software, Arcview, while the BASINS software was acquired at no cost from the US Environmental Protection Agency.

Funding to support the YCWP has ended and until further funds can be acquired, the YCWP is on hold with a very low level of work being undertaken. However, a proposal has been submitted to two potential sources to continue the watershed protection effort. A 2-year, $150,000 proposal has been submitted to the Turner Foundation and to the US Environmental Protection Agency’s Sustainable Growth Program. The proposal links source water protection to watershed protection activities and requests support for a watershed coordinator and public education.

Lessons Learned
Over the course of its first year, the YCWP realized the value of a paid coordinator position and a citizen-based association for the long-term sustainability of a watershed effort. Although volunteers can successfully run a watershed protection effort, it is difficult to find volunteers who can commit the same level of time and attention as a paid coordinator. The paid coordinator also provides an official presence in working with citizens, government entities, and other organizations.

In addition, the YCWP realized the value of grassroots support that a citizen’s input process established early in the effort could have contributed. A citizen group would have provided better partnership opportunities by establishing local Adopt-A-Stream groups for example, which require grassroots interest and a bottoms-up initiative. In retrospect, a citizen’s association should have been developed in conjunction with, or prior to, the hiring of staff to better direct and focus the coordinator’s work and to better ensure the long-term viability of the watershed protection effort. In this manner, all watershed stakeholders have an opportunity to initiate watershed protection by setting goals, while the coordinator implements the community’s vision.