Press Release:
Private landowners are invited to register for a one-day workshop on “Low-Volume Private Access Road Construction and Maintenance” to be held Tuesday, June 3rd, 2014 at the Coweeta Hydrologic Laboratory in Otto, NC.
The Land Trust for the Little Tennessee (LTLT) is sponsoring the event in partnership with the U.S. Forest Service Coweeta Hydrologic Laboratory. Funding for the workshop is from Duke Energy.
Poorly constructed and maintained private access roads, for forestry, farm, or residential use, are a significant source of sediment to our streams in the Southern Appalachian Mountains. Proper road construction and maintenance is beneficial for the landowner and the environment, reducing long-term maintenance costs and keeping soil on site and out of our waterways.
Topics for the event will include planning, layout, and construction of new roads, and maintenance and reconstruction of existing roads. The workshop will be led by Dr. Lloyd Swift, retired researcher from Coweeta, two professional engineers, Ed Haight and Philip Moore, and an experienced local contractor, Lewis Penland. The all-day workshop will include morning classroom and afternoon field sessions. Landowners will leave the workshop with a working knowledge of proven methods for road construction and maintenance, enabling them to converse effectively with road and grading contractors.
Representatives from agencies such as Macon Soil & Water Conservation District, NC Forest Service, and USDA Natural Resources Conservation Service will be on hand to provide information on resources and programs available to landowners.
Registration is limited to 30 landowners, on a first-come first-serve basis. Cost is $30 per person and includes lunch. Please register online at www.ltlt.org or by calling LTLT at 828-524-2711 ext. 305.
