"U.S. Rep. Kingston Tours Alternative Irrigation Pond"

Pierce County Press
March 3, 2010
"Kingston Tours Alternative Irrigation Pond"

By Edward L. Morris
Press News Editor

Congressman Jack Kingston, together with local conservation officials, recently toured a pond, which was especially constructed in Pierce County to take advantage of alternate irrigation methods.

Kingston on March 1 visited the four-acre pond, which is owned by Allen Bowen and located off of Hall Farm Road.

Conservation Specialist Dane Smith, from the US Department of Agriculture Blackshear Office, conducted the tour and briefed Kingston on the background, construction and benefits of the pond, which will be used to irrigate fields in the adjacent area to grow cotton and other crops.

The pond was constructed with federal funds from the USDA through a grant program administered by the Georgia Soil and Water Conservation Commission. Kingston has been the chief sponsor of the grant program since 2001. The pond cost $75,000 to construct and the grant covered $50,000 of the total construction cost. 

Local farmer Jerry Smith manages farming activities at the location. Smith briefed Kingston on the advantages of alternative pond irrigation over traditional well irrigation methods. Smith pointed out:

• The energy cost to use pond water rather than well water for irrigation is considerably less
• Pond pumping equipment is less expensive to purchase, operate and maintain than well pump equipment
• Pond water often has a better PH factor than well water and requires less crop treatments
• Usage of pond water conserves ground water
• Wildlife habitat is improved, particularly for waterfowl
• Loan officers take a more positive view of loan applications from farmers who are using alternative irrigation sources.

Smith added that now is a good time to put in a pond; construction companies are looking for work and the price is right, he said.

Specialist Smith said the program goal is to award construction grants for one or two ponds per-county per-year. Smith noted, while they receive more applications than they have funds for, “I encourage applicants not to give up and to reapply the following year if they need to.” Smith also advised permitting requirements are easier to meet if the planned pond is less than ten acres in size.

Accompanying Kingston on the tour were Brent Dykes, Executive Director of Georgia Soil and Water Conservation Commission, Kenneth Bennett, GSWCC Advisory Committee Member and David Hall of GSWCC Cochran Office.

Dane Smith can be contacted at 912-449-5303, extension 3.