The USDA-Natural Resources Conservation Service (NRCS) in Georgia recently held a groundbreaking ceremony and project review at three American Recovery and Reinvestment Act of 2009 dam rehabilitate sites.
The three dams are: South River #4 in Madison County, Sandy Creek #15 in Jackson County and Marbury #22 in Barrow County. Other projects that are part of the ARRA are Little Sandy & Trail Creek #1 in Madison County and Sandy Creek #23 in Jackson County.
Watershed dams, originally built to protect agricultural lands from floods, are now protecting homes, roads and utilities from flood waters. As a result, they are being upgraded, or rehabilitated to meet current public safety standards.
All five dams are scheduled to be completed by August 2011. The first project started, Marbury #22 in Barrow County, began Sept. 29 and is scheduled to be completed by Dec. 11. The second project, Sandy Creek 15 in Jackson County, started work Oct. 18. The estimated completion date for this one is Aug. 18, 2011. The third project, Little Sandy & Trail Creek #1 in Madison County, was started Oct. 25, and has an estimated completion date of January 25, 2011. South River #4 is scheduled to start Nov. 15 with a completion date of May 5, 2011. Sandy Creek #23 is scheduled to start December 5 and it should be completed by July 5, 2011.
Funding is being provided through the American Recovery and Reinvestment Act of 2009.
The NRCS is delivering over $5 million in financial assistance through its Watershed Rehabilitation Program, which is being matched by almost $3 million in state funds through the Georgia Soil and Water Conservation Commission.
