Southeastern Hellbender Outreach Community Meeting

On July 23, 2019 local Soil Conservation Districts from Jackson County, Overton County, and Putnam County came together to host the Southeastern Hellbender community outreach meeting at the Dodson Branch Community Center.  The agenda consisted of Jeronimo Gomes Da Silva Neto, Private Lands Biologist, from the Southeastern Hellbender Conservation Initiative spoke about what the Southeastern Hellbender Conservation Initiative is and what a hellbender is. Tracy Daugherty, Environmental Consultant, from Tennessee Department of Environment and Conservation spoke about water quality and permits needed.  Mark Thurman, Region 3 Fisheries Manager, from Tennessee Wildlife Resources Agency spoke about water quality and fisheries in the Roaring River Watershed.  Chris Wolkonowski, NRCS Assistant State Conservationist for Field Operations spoke about why our focus is on hellbenders and what we are trying to accomplish and what we need from the community.  We had about 90 landowners from Jackson, Overton, and Putnam County at the meeting.  A meal of pork tenderloin, baked potatoes, coleslaw, and watermelon was prepared and provided to all those in attendance.  The Tennessee Department of Agriculture helped pay for the meal.  If you live in this water shed and would like some information about the programs that may be available to you please contact your local Soil Conservation District.