Conservation district announces conservationist of the year

Shown are, from left: Arthur Rider, Cathy Black and P.A. Rheney. (Photo contributed)

The Brier Creek Soil and Water Conservation District hosted a banquet to recognize an individual that has made an important contribution to soil and water conservation. The District named Cathy Black as the Conservationist of the Year for 2007. The Brier Creek Soil and Water Conservation District is made up of Burke, Glascock, Jefferson, Jenkins and Richmond counties.

The Brier Creek District recognized Black with the Georgia Forestry Commission for her work with the Spirit Creek Educational Center, located in Richmond County.

Spirit Creek is comprised of a total of 570 acres. The Educational Forest consists of 300 acres of wetlands, planted loblolly pine stands, bottomland hardwoods and some agricultural cropland. Spirit Creek Education Forest was dedicated Nov. 17, 1999. Under Black's leadership, schools began visiting the forest in March 2000. Since then the Spirit Creek Educational Forest has taught 1,941 classes to more than 15,000 students. Over 5,000 adults accompanied these students.

Black, with the strong support from the Georgia Forestry Commission, has received grants from the Central Savannah River Resource Conservation and Development Council, the Brier Creek Soil and Water Conser- vation District and many local businesses to build boardwalks, outdoor classrooms and walking trails that assist students to learn more about their outdoor environment.

Black has installed several lessons in the educational forest such as tree identification, study of insects and animal footprint identification. There are also water studies that determine what it takes to keep a healthy stream.

A solar-powered pavilion has been built that will use solar panels to power VCRs and televisions that are used to teach the classes.

The Brier Creek Soil and Water Conservation District Supervisors thanked Black for her hard work and for using the educational forest to educate the public about soil and water conservation.

Supervisors Pete Fulcher and Arthur Rider, along with Black's supervisor, Cliff Hargrove, agreed that she was very deserving of this award.