About $14 billion in federal, state, and local funds have been invested in the program since it was created in 1954.  In South Carolina, the state’s watershed program provides $6 million in annual flood benefits for the state with an additional $10 million in water supply, recreation, water quality, and drainage benefits.  It is estimated that the program also directly benefits 500,000 South Carolina residents, over 5,000 farms, 8,000 homes and businesses, 4,000 acres of recWS Lakereation for public access, and benefits over 1 million acres.   

The Oconee County Soil and Water Conservation District maintains 8 watershed lakes throughout the county.  Four of these watershed lakes are located in the Coneross Watershed District.  One of the well-known lakes in this area is the Poor Farm Lake, which is 57 acres in size.  The other 4 watershed lakes are located in the Beaverdam Creek Watershed District.  The 8 watershed lakes combined cover approximately 236 acres in water.

The 4 watershed lakes in the Beaverdam Creek Watershed District are governed  by a Board of Directors.  The Directors are George Olbon, Chairman, Gwen McPhail, Don Stone, Stan Metcalf and Rainey Walters.

 

 

 

 

 

One of the county's eight watershed lakes at work during a tropical storm event.

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

   Directors Oath of Office
Pictured from left to right: Directors Rainey Walters, George Olbon, Gwen McPhail and SCDNR Program Coordinator Tammy Wactor

 

Beaverdam Creek Watershed Conservation District Directors Given Oath of Office

Voters in the Beaverdam Creek Watershed Conservation District elected three directors to serve on their board in the November 2008 General Election.  Two of the three elected were incumbents, George Olbon and Rainey Walters.  Gwen McPhail was elected to fill the position vacated by John Shirley.  At the January 12, 2009 Business Meeting, Tammy Wactor, Program Coordinator for the South Carolina Department of Natural Resources, administered the Oath of Office to the newly elected directors.

 Directors are elected to four-year terms, must be registered voters, and live in the watershed.  Responsibilities of the Watershed Directors include overseeing maintenance and repairs to the structures, addressing soil and water issues in the watershed, and preventing structures from being located in the flood pool.