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2012 UPCOMING EVENTS
|
EVENT |
Wednesday Workdays - Invasive
Plant Removal, Tree Planting |
|
DATES |
Wednesdays
in February, weather-permitting
(5 workdays:
February 1,8,15,22,29) |
|
TIME |
12:30 - 4:30pm |
|
LOCATION |
Cherokee Co.
Heritage Park, located
behind Andrews Recreation Park on Main Street in Andrews, NC |
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DETAILS
Top |
HRWC is working
with Cherokee County and Andrews park staff to clean up the
existing buffer along the Valley River and to plant native trees
and shrubs in a conservation easement area at the county's
Heritage Park. Come out for one hour, four hours, or any
amount of time in between to volunteer. Wear old clothes
and bring gloves, if you have them; HRWC will provide hand tools
and shovels.
Come out and help insure clean
water, wildlife habitat and natural beauty while improving a
public park for future generations. For more information and
directions or how to get more involved with the Valley River
project, contact Tony
Ward
at
restore@hrwc.net
or call 828-837-5414 x 203. |
|
EVENT |
Winter Bird Watch on Lake
Chatuge |
|
DATE |
Saturday,
February 18
(Re-scheduled from
Jan 21) |
|
TIME |
7:00-9:30am;
breakfast following |
|
COST |
Free; breakfast
is not included |
|
LOCATION |
Mary’s Southern Grill,
1615 GA-17, #104, Young Harris, GA 30582
We will carpool to make the
loop around Lake Chatuge, stopping at selected locations along
the way. |
|
DIRECTIONS
|
Mary’s
Southern Grill is located on GA-17 close to its connection with
US Hwy. 76 in Young Harris. From Hayesville, NC, take NC 69
south. Mary’s Southern Grill is on the right about half a mile
before the traffic light at US 76. |
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DETAILS
Top |
This year's bird watch will
again be led
by Brenda Hull, who is in her eighteenth year of teaching
courses in biology, ecology, environmental science and field
studies at Young Harris College. We will primarily be seeing
waterfowl, but will also be looking out for other birds that
spend the winter with us. Please RSVP to
info@hrwc.net or call
828-837-5414 so that we can notify you in the event of
cancellation due to inclement weather.
Twenty-two species of birds were spotted by 21 participants
during the first winter bird watch and we actually heard loons
calling during the late March outing in 2010. Waterfowl species
likely to be observed include the common loon, coot, hooded
merganser, and bufflehead; other species of birds include
ospreys, hawks, belted kingfishers, gulls, nuthatches, and
woodpeckers. Our tradition is to have breakfast at Mary’s
Southern Grill after the outing; all are welcome. Join us to
learn more about our feathered winter visitors. |
|
EVENT |
"Tree-vitalization of the Valley" Workdays -
Tree Planting Blitz |
|
DATES |
Saturday, February 18 |
|
TIME |
12:00pm-4:00pm |
|
LOCATION |
Cherokee Co.
Heritage Park, located
behind Andrews Recreation Park on Main Street in Andrews, NC |
|
DETAILS
Top |
Thanks to the efforts of dedicated Hiwassee River Watershed
Coalition staff, community volunteers, Andrews and Cherokee
County park staff, crews from the Oconoluftee Job Corps Center,
and local inmates, 1,680 native trees and shrubs were planted
along the Valley River in 2011! Although, this is a fantastic
accomplishment, we still have more than 500 trees to go, and we
need your help.
The next volunteer workday will be held on Saturday, February
18th, weather pending, from 12:00-4:00 p.m. at the Cherokee
County Heritage Park in Andrews. The workday is open to anyone
interested in helping. No previous experience is necessary.
Holes for the trees will be pre-drilled, such that heavy digging
is not required. Gloves and shovels will be provided for those
who need them. Water and other refreshments will be
complimentary.
Come out and help insure clean
water, wildlife habitat and natural beauty while improving a
public park for future generations. For more information and
directions or how to get more involved with the Valley River
project, contact Tony
Ward
at
restore@hrwc.net
or call 828-837-5414 x 203. |
|
EVENT |
Alternative Spring Break
Project |
|
SPONSORS |
HRWC and
Michigan State University |
|
DATES |
March 5-9 |
|
LOCATION |
Various sites around the watershed |
|
DETAILS
Top |
Local volunteers are needed
to help us host an Alternative Spring Break. Participants
will be spending a week of their spring break helping HRWC with
general maintenance duties along stream restoration project
sites, such as invasive plant removal, tree planting, monitoring
success of planted vegetation, and bank stabilization
techniques. Local folks to work alongside them are always
welcome, but we also need volunteers to prepare bag lunches
for the work crews on four days and to help with food for a
social gathering on one evening during the week.
Contact us for more details. |
|
EVENT |
Ani'ama'
Volunteer Monitoring Program
Water Sampling |
|
DATE
|
Sampling
every 3rd Saturday March-November 2012:
March 17 |
|
TIME |
Near Noon |
|
LOCATION |
Streams in the
Upper Hiwassee River Watershed |
|
DETAILS
Top |
HRWC began a volunteer
monitoring program in the fall of 2002. A group of about
50 volunteers called Ani'ama', a Cherokee word meaning
"Water People", collect and test water samples on the third
Saturday of each month as part of Western North Carolina's
Volunteer Water Information Network (VWIN). Currently 10
sites in the Lake Chatuge watershed, 8 sites in the Lake Nottely
watershed and 2 sites in the Brasstown Creek watershed (in GA)
are samples. For details, visit our
Volunteer Monitoring Program
web pages.
If you are interested in
volunteering, contact
Callie Moore. |
|
EVENT |
Alternative
Spring Break Project |
|
SPONSORS |
HRWC and
Northwestern University |
|
DATES |
March 19-24 |
|
LOCATION |
Various sites around the watershed |
|
DETAILS
Top |
Local volunteers are needed
to help us host an Alternative Spring Break. Participants
will be spending a week of their spring break helping HRWC with
general maintenance duties along stream restoration project
sites, such as invasive plant removal, tree planting, monitoring
success of planted vegetation, and bank stabilization
techniques. Local folks to work alongside them are always
welcome, but we also need volunteers to prepare bag lunches
for the work crews on four days and to help with food for a
social gathering on one evening during the week.
Contact us for more details. |
|
EVENT |
2012 Holman Water
Quality Stewardship Award Banquet & Silent Auction |
|
SPONSORS
|
Current sponsors:
The Ridges Resort, Baker
Engineering, Hanging Dog Valley Nursery, Templeton & Associates, Doug &
Teri McGinnis, Silas & Bobbie Allen, United Community Banks of Union &
Towns counties
Click here for sponsorship details. |
|
DATE |
Saturday, March
24 |
|
TIME |
5:30pm - Silent
Auction
6:30pm -
Banquet & Holman Award
Presentation |
|
COST
|
MEMBER RATES: $35.00 per
person; $240 for a reserved table for 8
REGULAR RATES: $40.00
per person; $280 for a reserved table for 8
Reserve by March
19th!
Click here to make reservations. |
|
LOCATION |
The Ridges Resort &
Club Lake Chatuge
3379 US Hwy 76 West,
Hiawassee, GA 30546 |
|
DIRECTIONS |
Click here for directions. |
|
DETAILS
|
HRWC is hosting its 4th Annual Holman Water
Quality Stewardship Award Banquet on Saturday, March 24, 2012 in
the Red Banks Ridge Room at The Ridges
Resort, Lake Chatuge. This year’s award recipient is Cherokee
County, N.C. native and long-time Coalition supporter, Lucy Cole
Gratton. We expect upwards of 150 guests.
A silent auction, raffle and cocktail hour will begin at 5:30
with the banquet and program starting at 6:30. We will again
host a guest speaker and local auctioneer and entertainer, Tim
Ryan has agreed to host the live auction that will take place
during dessert. Join us on the beautiful shores of Lake Chatuge
to celebrate our streams and lakes and honor those who work hard
to protect them!
Click here for more banquet details.
|
|
EVENT |
Alternative
Spring Break
Project |
|
SPONSORS |
HRWC and
University of Missouri |
|
DATES |
March 26-30 |
|
LOCATION |
Various sites around the watershed |
|
DETAILS
Top |
Local volunteers are needed
to help us host an Alternative Spring Break. Participants
will be spending a week of their spring break helping HRWC with
general maintenance duties along stream restoration project
sites, such as invasive plant removal, tree planting, monitoring
success of planted vegetation, and bank stabilization
techniques. Local folks to work alongside them are always
welcome, but we also need volunteers to prepare bag lunches
for the work crews on four days and to help with food for a
social gathering on one evening during the week.
Contact us for more details. |
|
EVENT |
Seminar - Alien Plants:
Invading a Natural Area near You! |
|
DATE |
Saturday, April 28 |
|
TIME |
1:00pm |
|
LOCATION |
Moss Memorial
Library, downtown Hayesville, NC |
|
DETAILS
Top |
Many natural areas
and public spaces throughout the Southeast are plagued with
non-native, invasive plants. This seminar by HRWC
restoration coordinator, Tony Ward, provides and introduction to
several of the species that are the most ecologically damaging
and some options for control. If you are a gardener
or interested in protecting the environment, this program will
give you knowledge necessary to maintain totally "natural" areas
that are both beautiful and environmentally friendly. |
|
EVENT |
Spring Lakes Celebration -
6th Annual Wine Tasting
Fundraiser |
|
SPONSORS |
HRWC &
Crane Creek
Vineyards |
|
DATE |
Thursday, May 17 |
|
TIME |
6:00pm - 8:00pm |
|
COST |
TBD |
|
LOCATION |
Crane Creek
Vineyards,
916 Crane Creek
Road, Young Harris, GA |
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DIRECTIONS
|
From US76 in
Young Harris: Take Hwy. 66 North from the traffic light at
Young Harris College. After 3.3 miles, turn left onto
Crane Creek Road (sign for the winery at turn). Crane
Creek Vineyards is 0.7 miles; parking is on the right.
[Please note: Old Hwy 64 is closed for
bridge construction with a significant detour between the
Brasstown & Warne communities.]
Click here
for a detailed map. |
|
DETAILS
Top |
The Hiwassee River Watershed
Coalition's 6th Annual Spring Lakes Celebration Fundraiser will
be held on Thursday, May 17th at beautiful Crane Creek Vineyards
near Young Harris, GA. This increasingly popular event begins at
6:00pm and features tasting of local wines offered by Crane
Creek as well as amazing hors d'oeuvres. In addition to
great food and great wine in a beautiful setting, once again
we'll be offering a unique game of watershed trivia for those
who'd like to play. All proceeds are used to protect and
improve our water quality locally.
Tickets may be
purchased using cash or check from any HRWC
board or
staff member, the Coalition office,
or from
Crane Creek
Vineyards.
Tickets may also be
purchased online using a major credit card or PayPal
account.
Visit our
Scrapbook to view pictures of previous
events!
|
|
EVENT |
HRWC Annual Meeting |
|
DATE |
Saturday,
September 8 |
|
TIME |
4:00pm; other
activities all day (detailed schedule coming soon!) |
|
LOCATION |
Meeks Park,
Pavilion #3 |
|
DIRECTIONS
|
Meeks Park is
located in Union County, Ga. approximately one mile west of
Blairsville on Hwy 515. Look for a long left turn lane
before you get to North Georgia Technical College. Parking
for pavilion #3 is at the end of the main road. Look for
"HRWC Event" signs. |
|
COST |
FREE |
|
DETAILS
|
Have you heard about the HRWC and wondered what the organization
does? Or maybe you’ve heard about a local stream restoration
project or the Lake Chatuge Watershed Action Plan and want to
learn more? Maybe you want to volunteer to do something to help
our environment, but you don’t know how to get involved?
Although a variety of events will take place throughout the day,
the actual meeting will be held at 4:00pm at Pavilion #3. The
meeting is a great opportunity to not only learn about our
organization, but also to give us your own input about concerns
you have related to water quality protection. Displays for
various program areas will be set up and staff and board members
will be available to discuss specific projects and ideas.
|
|
EVENT |
9th Annual Trout
Dinner Fundraiser |
|
DATE |
Saturday,
September 8 |
|
TIME |
6:00-7:30pm |
|
COST |
TBD |
|
LOCATION |
Meeks Park,
Pavilion #3 |
|
DIRECTIONS
|
Meeks Park is
located in Union County, Ga. approximately one mile west of
Blairsville on Hwy 515. Look for a long left turn lane
before you get to North Georgia Technical College. Parking
for pavilion #3 is at the end of the main road. Look for
"HRWC Event" signs. |
|
DETAILS
Top |
For the eighth
consecutive year, HRWC will serve up locally farmed, smoked
rainbow trout along with baked beans, coleslaw, potato salad,
cornbread, your choice of homemade desserts and a drink.
This event has
become pretty popular, so come early to get a table seat and
bring a lawn chair (if you have one) to relax in after you eat.
To-go containers will also be available.
Proceeds go to
support water quality improvement projects throughout the upper
Hiwassee River watershed. Butternut Creek and Friends will
play during the transition between our Annual Meeting (4:00pm)
and Trout Dinner (6:00pm) in the gazebo next to pavilion 3. |
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