2007 Watershed Workshop

Updated 02/13/2008

The 2007 Watershed Operation and Maintenance Sponsor Responsibility Workshop was held October 16-17, 2007 in Hopkinsville, Kentucky. This educational workshop was presented by the National Watershed Coalition in cooperation with the Kentucky Division of Conservation, East Fork Pond River Watershed Conservancy District (WSCD), West Fork Pond River WSCD, City of Hopkinsville, Upper Tradewater WSCD and the USDA-NRCS. General topics included sponsor roles and responsibilities, legal issues, dam safety, information management, dam inspection basics, and emergency action planning.

The first day of the workshop was spent in the classroom however, on the second day, participants boarded a chartered bus for a tour of dams throughout Christian and Todd Counties.

Stopping points included

1.) North Fork of Little River multiple purpose structure (MPS) #5

             (locally known as Lake Blythe) located just north of Hopkinsville;

2.) East Fork Pond River flood retarding structure (FRS) #2 (Swinney Lake); and

3.) East Fork Pond River FRS 4A (Winery Lake).

While at Winery Lake, a number of informative presentations were given on the latest management and rehabilitation tools available to watershed managers. Participants also had the opportunity to inspect a watershed structure that was currently undergoing rehabilitation.

Classroom session topics:

• The Dam Basics: How a Floodwater Retarding Structure Works
• Improving Structure Operation and Maintenance
• Watershed Project Sponsor Responsibilities
• Introduction to Rehabilitation of Aging Dams and Local Sponsors Actions
• Products, Tools and Techniques for O&M
• Do you need an Attorney in your O&M Toolbox
• Be Prepared: Emergency Action Planning Basics
• A New Public and New Partners: Building Support for your Watershed Project
• Inspection is the Key to Keeping Dams Safe
• Watershed Program Partnership Roles and Responsibilities

In-Field demonstration at Winery Lake:

• Hardware Store to High Tech: Tools for O&M
• Tips and Tricks for Dealing with Plugged Towers and Old Slide Gates
• Somebody Bent the Stem and Stole the Manhole Cover…Now What?
• Principal Spillway Conduit Inspection
• New Materials for Maintenance and Repairs: HDPE Liners and Towers
• Gate and Valve Replacement without Losing a Drop