Crews have begun to clear several waterways in Polk County.

Our community is making significant strides in enhancing our waterways through the Streamflow Rehabilitation Assistance Program (StRAP), funded by the state.

In the first round of funding, a total of $400,052 has been allocated to clear Polk County waterways, including the Upper Green, Lower Green, and North Pacolet rivers, along with White Oak Creek.  These projects were carefully selected through a ranking system by state and county officials, prioritizing the most impactful improvements.

Working in collaboration with the local Soil and Water Conservation District, our County has diligently managed the funds to maximize their impact. The completed projects, which included vegetation removal, clearing of beaver dams, and unclogging culverts, spanned eleven sites and nearly 12,000 linear feet, resulting in the removal of over 1100 cubic yards (361,900 tons) of debris from our local waterways.

Thanks to recent approval from the NC General Assembly, an additional $20 million has been allocated for the StRAP program in the 2023-25 biennial budget. This unexpected boost means more opportunities for us to continue the vital work of clearing vegetative debris from blocked sites throughout the County.

We’re excited about the positive impact this ongoing initiative will have on protecting and restoring the integrity of our drainage infrastructure.  If you’re curious to learn more about this program or want to get involved, please reach out to Polk County’s Soil and Water Conservation District Director, Kelly Gay, at 828-894-8550. To dive deeper into StRAP, check out the details https://www.ncagr.gov/divisions/soil-water-conservation/programs-initiatives/strap.