Polk citizens are the beneficiaries of the three-year Big Cedar Creek Watershed project, initially launched in January 2009.

The project was originally announced as a way to restore impaired segments of the watershed in both Polk and Floyd counties.

A total of $655,500 was approved for about 90 miles of the stream (Big Cedar) assessed with an estimated 35 miles impaired. The watershed covers 133,000 acres with about 50 percent in Polk, extending from Cedartown to the area known as Brushy Branch in Floyd.

The Lower Little Tallapoosa River Watershed was also approved for $915,000. The two projects were approved for funding through Georgia Department of Natural Resources Environmental Protection Division (EPD).

Cindy Haygood, coordinator, Rolling Hills Resource Conservation & Development Council (RC&D), said that most projects are not county specific and don’t end at boundaries.

“We are seeing a lot of work accomplished,” she said in a report to the Polk County Board of Commissioners.

Most of the activity is in Polk where more than 40 septic systems have been repaired or replaced and about 224 septic tanks pumped.

“Most of these are literally sewers coming out of the ground,” Haygood said.

The property owner agrees to pay 50 percent of the cost. However, there are no eligibility requirements for landowners except they live in the watershed area.

Interested participants have attended four workshops where they received a voucher to get septic work completed. The idea is to help people understand that $300 for maintenance could prevent a $4,000 repair at a later date.

RC&D has also been involved in other Polk projects, including a dirt and gravel road demonstration on Bollen Road. The purpose of the Georgia Better Back Roads Program is to help restore impaired waters by implementing best management practices that reduce dirt road sediments entering state waters. According to Georgia EPD, dirt road erosion is one of the primary sources of sediment in many watersheds.

The Bollen Road project cost about $6,000 in grant funds.

Through funding from the Georgia Forestry Commission, trees are planted on public properties throughout the Rolling Hills RC&D in support local landscape and tree related businesses. A total of 23 trees were planted at Van Wert Elementary School at a cost of $7,000. More trees will be planted this fall and winter at Peeks Park and Cedartown Business Park in Cedartown.