Boone Watershed Partnership

Ninth Annual Recognition Event

June 12,2006 Sycamore Shoals State Park

Elizabethton, TN

Awards presented by Gary Barrigar, Chairman

Boone Watershed Partnership

This event, held at Sycamore Shoals State Park recognized six extraordinary efforts. A picnic lunch was provided for participants, followed by the awards ceremony. Congratulations to the awardees and thanks to all who helped make it a success.

Participants have a chance to chat before the event begins.

The BWP display provided information on water quality in the watershed and projects of the Boone Watershed Partnership.

Chairman, Gary Barrigar, presented the awards.

Perry Rindfleisch, President of the Overmountain Chapter of Trout Unlimited, accepts the Civic Volunteer Award for TU member, Bill Beazell, who has worked tireless many years with stream projects. Bill, while serving as Conservation Chair of the Overmountain Chapter, has been responsible for many stream restoration projects, forming a stream watch program and numerous stream clean-ups.

Lisa Gallagher receives the Higher Education Aquatic Stewardship Award for her extraordinary achievements while pursuing her Master's degree in the Department of Environmental Health at East Tennessee State University. Her current work is using bacteria source tracking in the Sinking Creek Watershed using ARA and ribotyping.

Elizabethton City Councilman, Sam Shipley accepts the Local Government Watershed Stewardship Award for the City of Elizabethton. Elizabethton, recognizing the unique assets it has with the Watauga River and other quality streams running through the community has been very proactive in taking steps to insure top water quality. The City has set stormwater standards which exceed state standards. New development in the community has in place devices that provide treatment for stormwater. Also, A recent experimental project using pervious concrete not only allows stormwater to soak into the earth instead of running into the river has saved the city about $22,000.

Florette Buckles accepts the Lifetime Aquatic Conservation Achievement Award for Russell Kinser. Russell retired in March, 2006, after spending 32 years in dedicated service to the people of upper east Tennessee, working with the Natural Resources Conservation Service. During his career, he was responsible for millions of dollars of stream restoration projects.

Bob Whittemore, Geologist with General Shale Corporation, accepts the Industrial Aquatic Pollution Prevention Award for the company. General Shale is a leader in recognizing the role that industry must take in preventing water pollution. For example, recently, General Shale donated 50 acres along the Watauga River in Carter County to the state, creating the Watauga River Bluffs Natural Area.

John Little accepts the Farmland Aquatic Conservation Award for his stream improvement work on his farm. . John, with the help of the NRCS, installed 600 feet of fencing and 7 gates to limit cattle access to a branch of Buffalo Creek. He also installed three frost-free watering tanks to provide water for his cattle.