On August 11, friends and supporters of Pilot View Resource Conservation and Development, Inc. gathered at the Piedmont Club for the ninth annual awards luncheon. Al Engler, board chairman, welcomed the attendees, who heard the remarks of keynote speaker, Richard Rogers, Executive Director of North Carolina’s Clean Water Management Trust Fund.

Again this year Pilot View RC&D recognized the accomplishments of communities who have completed significant work in helping protect and appropriately develop land and water resources in the organization’s service area. Pilot View presented two awards.

The 2009 Project Award was presented by Pilot View RC&D board president Al Engler to Linville Resorts for the West Fork of Linville River project in Avery County. This project continued with this adjacent property owner the stream restoration work, which received the Project Award in 2008. Engineered improvements along a mile of stream restored the natural streambed, reduced stream bank erosion, rejuvenated native vegetation, and reduced the effects of pollutants washing from adjacent roadways into the designated and sensitive trout streams.

Accepting the award on behalf of John Blackburn, President of Linville Resorts, was Shawn Wilkerson of Wildlands Engineering. Wilkerson served as lead design engineer for restoration work along the West Fork of Linville Creek. Wilkerson said, “Working with Pilot View RC&D on these projects has been highly productive and enjoyable. Pilot View brought together the resources and the expertise to lift up and protect this damaged natural resource in the headwaters of an exceptional North Carolina river, one that is treasured throughout the state and the region.”

The 2009 Environmental Award was presented by Pilot View RC&D to Dick Everhart, recognizing his 30-years of service to the Natural Resources Conservation Service and specifically his 20 years in Surry County as District Conservationist to improve water quality. “Because Everhart has earned the trust of landowners in his community,” said Al Engler, “he has been an invaluable help in bringing projects to the attention of Pilot View RC&D. He has enabled us to serve those landowners and the larger community.”

In thanking Pilot View RC&D for the award, Dick Everhart said, “I have had the privilege of working with landowners and government entities from one corner of Surry County to the other. Cooperation has been the hallmark of all our achievements. We have accomplished a lot together and I invite you all to come walk through some of our projects and to see what good people with good intentions can accomplish together.”

Richard Rogers, as keynote speaker and Executive Director of the Clean Water Management Trust Fund, provided an update on the outlook for state funding under current budget conditions. He also acknowledged the effort of Pilot View saying, “Pilot View is a huge part of the equation that has been the success of the Clean Water Management Trust Fund. Over the years, we have provided Pilot View with $6.5 million in funding for 19 stream restoration and stormwater management projects. We thank you for your work.”

Rogers noted that state’s budget reflects the down economy of the state and the nation. He said that the Clean Water Management Trust Fund will receive only half of its historic allocation this fiscal year and can expect reduced funding for several years. “We are in a difficult time facing the challenge of how best to manage the resources that we do have,” he said, and adding, “Partnerships will be an important part of how we accomplish the important work of the Clean Water Management Trust Fund in the future.”

Despite the funding cuts, he reconfirmed the intentions of the Board, saying, “Our trustees remain committed to protecting water quality in this state. They know that just because times are tight, that does not mean we can give up the progress we have made. Clean water investments are just as critical to protecting our economy as they are to projecting our environment.”

Pilot View, Inc. is a 501(c) 3 non-profit organization established in 1991 to work with communities throughout six counties—Davidson, Davie, Forsyth, Stokes, Surry and Yadkin—to support local efforts to conserve and responsibly develop natural resources. The Board of Directors includes representatives from each of the six counties. From Davidson County, John L. Hedgecock and Billy Joe Kepley serve. Jack Jerome serves from Davie County. From Forsyth County, Chuck Green and Jimmy Flythe serve. Al Engler and Horace Stimson serve from Stokes County. The Board includes Earl Sheppard from Surry County and Bobby Todd from Yadkin County.