The Pickens Conservation District places special emphasis on our forests. Educational programs are provided to local schools, outdoor classrooms are being developed, field days and tours focusing on forestry issues are held. While some might argue this relationship has been in place for many years, the Pickens District took a different approach. Through interaction with local people, certain needs were identified. From these needs, specific goals were determined and priorities were set.
Current focus deals with access roads in forest land.
Access has been determined to be a key ingredient of management. While completing a brief inventory of woodland tracts the district discovered that most tracts had some form of an access road system. Many were impassable due to soil erosion and stream crossings. Ross Stewart, NRCS, demonstrates proper water bar construction. The district pursued an aggressive information program to inform the landowner that help was available.