Daniel Boone Soil and Water Conservation District

Ten Lee County Schools participated in the local recycling contest that was hosted by the Daniel Boone Soil & Water Conservation District, Trex Company and Food City of Pennington Gap. Last year Dryden Primary School piloted the recycling contest with students collecting plastic grocery bags from their homes and neighbors. The bags were counted, picked up and taken to Food City, where they were then transported to the Trex Company for recycling. Each year, Trex utilizes more than 1 billion recycled grocery bags to create its environmentally-friendly decking, railing, and fencing products, keeping this material out of landfills locally and across the country. By working with Trex, local schools and students learn the importance of recycling, keep plastic bags out of landfills and are rewarded for their efforts.

Daniel Boone SWCD held its annual Christmas Awards dinner on Thursday, December 11, 2008 at the Powell River Baptist Association building in Jonesville. The following received awards for 2008.

Clean Water Farm Award – Adam Kinser
Conservation Farmer of the Year – Les Daniel
Enhanced Agricultural Stewardship Award – Barbara Long
Conservation Farm Family Award – Charlie Carter
Outstanding Contributors to the Daniel Boone SWCD – Kathy Turner, Jessica Ingle, Jacob Ingle, Bekkah Britton, Michaela Britton, Lee Bank & Trust Company and Powell Valley News

Sixth Annual Float Trip

On Friday, July 18, the Daniel Boone Soil & Water Conservation District, the Powell River Partnership, and the Upper Tennessee River Roundtable hosted the Sixth Annual Powell River Float Trip. Representatives from area agencies with a vested interest in protecting and maintaining water quality in the Powell River were invited to tour the river and see firsthand how their efforts have resulted in water quality improvements in the Powell.

The Powell River Partnership began hosting this event in 2002 in an effort to reach local decision makers and demonstrate the importance of addressing water quality issues in the Powell River watershed. The tour is designed to highlight the environmental significance of the Powell River and view environmental problems that plague the Powell such as trash dumps, straight pipes, eroding stream banks, and sedimentation.

The Daniel Boone Soil and Water Conservation District is pleased to announce its Kids in The Creek festivities, which were held on October 7th and 9th were a great success. For over 10 years, Daniel Boone SWCD has hosted this event in order to provide Lee County students the opportunity for hands-on exploration of their streams and surrounding environment. The students investigate a local creek, searching for macroinvertabrates and fish, and then discuss how pollutants affect these creatures as well as the quality of water in their watershed. They also discuss forestry, wildlife, endangered species, and alternative energy sources, and how these components relate back to water quality and the overall health of our environment

EnvirothonThe Daniel Boone Soil and Water Conservation District hosted the Area IV Envirothon competition on Friday, April 11, at Wilderness Road State Park. Clintwood High School won 1st place, with Holston High School taking 2nd and Grayson High School placing 3rd. These three teams will advance to the state Envirothon competition which will be held May 18-19 at James Madison University.
The Virginia Envirothon is a natural resources competition for high school students that teach natural resource stewardship and management. Students work in teams of five to solve real and hypothetical environmental problems and are tested on their knowledge of natural resources, specifically soils, forestry, wildlife, aquatics and a current environmental issue. Students visit five "in-the-field" test stations where written and hands-on problem solving is required. They must also prepare an oral presentation that contains a strategy for addressing a current environmental issue. This year’s special issue is Recreational Impacts on Natural Resources.

Jonesville Transfer Station
(276) 346-7788
Jonesville. Open Mon-Fri, 7 am-4:30 pm; Sat, 7am-8pm

St. Charles Convenience Center, St. Charles
Open every day, 7 am-8 pm

Leeman Field, Pennington Gap
Open every day, 7 am-8 pm

Flatwood's Convenience Center, Flatwood