Source: NCDA&CS, 7/1/21


When Hurricane Matthew swept through eastern North Carolina in October of 2016, Russell Thompson’s dream of leaving a good piece of property to his son was put in jeopardy. While most of his land survived the flooding rain without too many issues, the influx of water at his pond broke the dam. For Thompson, it was a major blow.

He lives in the Green Pond area of southern Nash County on land that’s been in his family since an original land grant from the king of England. Part of his property also includes the pond with the dam that was built in 1954. He used the pond for his cows, for fishing and to irrigate his fields.

“It was completely drained,” Thompson said.
 
So he reached out to the Nash County Soil and Water Conservation District and his local Farm Service Agency office (an office of USDA). Edward Long who is the district’s director said he helped Thompson apply for financial assistance from FSA and the North Carolina Department of Agriculture and Consumer Services. Part of the disaster recovery funds approved by the N.C. General Assembly went to the department’s Soil and Water Conservation Division. The division was then able to allocate millions of dollars to pond repair needs across eastern North Carolina.

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