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County watershed director outlines beaver-management program and past drainage grants

Governing body and effectively city of Whiteville · August 27, 2024
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Summary

Morgan Hayes, director of Saltwater's watershed program, told Whiteville officials the Beaver Bounding program helps private landowners work with USDA to remove beaver dams and prioritized drainage outlets; she also summarized prior Hurricane-era debris work and recent grant awards totaling about $500,000 plus a later $143,000 award.

Morgan Hayes, director of a group identified in the meeting as Saltwater, presented a Beaver Bounding program designed to help private landowners manage beaver-related flooding and open drainage outlets. "When I started Sloan Water in '21 I came into this program after Mr. Edward Davis and since I have been there that program has been very fruitful," Hayes said, describing a partnership with USDA and a district coordinator available to take landowner requests.

Hayes said the office used Hurricane Florence and Matthew funds to perform debris work across Columbus County and reported, "We spent all of that $500,000 by January 2024." She added the office sought a second round of STRAT funding for $1,200,000 but received $143,000, and that work has been prioritized to underserved areas and main drainage outlets. Staff and residents discussed limits on applying those funds outside municipal boundaries and the requirement to follow program standards when removing debris and relocating logs so they do not return to wetlands.

Hayes said the program is landowner-driven: private property owners must request assistance and, where eligible, the program helps cover legal or contractor fees through grant dollars. She also noted related county services such as a Columbus County vehicle-bounty program that is free to landowners and funded through the water district. "If a private landowner contacts Tyler or contacts me, our office is going to assist in that matter," Hayes said.

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