Calhoun County Soil & Water

10/21/2026

🌲 This week, we're celebrating Alabama Woods to Goods Week and National Forest Products Week! 🪵 The week highlights the forest industry’s vital impact on Alabama’s environment, economy and communities.

Forests produce numerous products. For generations, wood has supplied resources for paper, building material, and fuel. Beyond wood products, forests are also a part of a broader ecosystem. Sustainable harvesting of forests requires careful conservation.

The U.S. South, nicknamed the world’s wood basket, accounts for over half of all sustainable timber production in the country and generates more than $250 billion annually in economic contributions. More products than you may even realize come from Alabama's forests, from books and lumber to textiles and even some foods!

This week we honor the men and women who work to keep our forest industry growing and we recognize the forest industry's impact on Alabama's economy, environment and communities. 🌲

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10/20/2026

Join us for a free educational event this Saturday morning to learn how to eradicate invasive privet. You will also be helping Choccolocco Creek Watershed by volunteering to remove non-native Privet on the nature sanctuary restoring the beauty of our trails.

10/12/2026

🧑‍🌾Today is National Farmer's Day. Farmers help feed our nation and make locally-led, voluntary conservation possible on their land.🌾

🚜From sunrise to sunset, through every season, their efforts sustain us all. We would like to thank those who work hard and dedicate their lives to putting food on our plates, clothes on our backs and so much more!🐄

🌱 We wish you all a prosperous harvest season this fall. Thank a farmer today and every day for all their incredible contributions! 🌽

10/10/2026

Due to inclement weather conditions the Sky Trail Birding Festival’s events for today are postponed to next Saturday, October 17th.

🌧️ SKYTRAIL GUIDED BIRDING EVENT POSTPONED TO OCTOBER 17!

A rainy forecast may be changing our plans, but it won't dampen our excitement for Calhoun County's first-ever SkyTrail Birding Festival! 🐦

Due to the forecasted weather, Saturday morning's Guided Birding Event at Choccolocco Park has been postponed to NEXT SATURDAY, October 17!

The good news? Everything else stays the same! 🎉

📅 NEW DATE: Saturday, October 17
⏰ 8:00–11:00 AM
📍 Choccolocco Park, Oxford, AL
🐦 Meet at the pavilion for the educational station and guided birding activities.

Bring the family and join us for a fun morning exploring nature, learning about local birds, and discovering the beauty of birding. All ages and experience levels are welcome!

🐦 In the meantime, get ready for your birding adventure with the free Merlin Bird ID app!
👉 https://visitcalhouncounty.s.gy/merlin

10/08/2026

Make plans to attend this fun event!

09/24/2026

🌎🚜 Today's Land Judging Contest was held in The City of Oxford, Alabama on the Choccolocco Creek Watershed property at the back of Choccolocco Park.

🧑‍🌾FFA Students from Alexandria, Ohatchee, Walter Wellborn, Weaver, White Plains, Pleasant Valley, Saks, and Faith Christian schools learned valuable hands-on skills about soil health & quality, land use, and conservation. The young students who participated gained a greater understanding for soil types and their properties, soil and land conversation tactics, and developed leadership and team skills.

Thank you to Coleman Lett, Career and Technical Education Coordinator at the Calhoun County Career Academy, for helping to organize the event. 👏

🌳 We’d also like to give special thanks to the Alabama Association of Conservation Districts, the Calhoun County USDA Natural Resources Conservation Service team, the Calhoun County Soil & Water Conservation District, and the Calhoun County Alabama Forestry Commission for their time, expertise, and continued support in helping students understand the importance of protecting and managing our natural resources.

🌱 It’s inspiring to see the next generation getting hands-on experience and gain greater understanding of soil and water conservation.

09/22/2026

🌾🍅Today's Regional State of Agriculture & Tomato Sandwich Lunch was a fantastic event with almost 150 in attendance! 🍅🌽

The morning began with breakfast coffee & pastries at 9:00 a.m. The program kicked off at 10:00 a.m. with a welcome from Mayor Alton Craft from The City of Oxford, Alabama.

Today's speakers included: Jakob Williamson from Calhoun County Area Chamber & Visitor's Center; Kathy McCrimmon, Chair of Calhoun County Soil & Water Conservation District; Ray Hilburn, Associate Director, Alabama Poultry & Egg Association; and Dan Chappell, Assistant Division Director, Alabama Forestry Commission - Management Division. The featured speaker was Rick Pate, Commissioner Alabama Department of Agriculture & Industries. A special thank you to all of our local, state, and federal speakers for sharing your time and insight with us.

Following the presentations, the talented students at CCCA Culinary Arts Program prepared delicious food and serving up coffee with a smile. Our local schools, 4-H, and FFA clubs for also assisted with the Tomato Sandwich Luncheon.

We are grateful to those who also made this event a success:
✨ Our amazing local farm vendors for providing the freshest food and most beautiful flowers: Aquality Farms, Smith Tomato, LLC, Southern Girl Coffee Roasting Co., Hubbard's Off Main and McLeod Family Farm.
✨ All of our vendors who attended, set up, and showcased the incredible work their organizations do.

Today's event was sponsored by: Calhoun County Area Chamber & Visitor's Center, Regions Bank , Calhoun County Conservation District, Alabama Soil and Water Conservation Committee, and Choccolocco Creek Watershed.

09/18/2026

💧 September 18 is recognized as World Water Monitoring Day. This designation aims to increase public awareness for water monitoring and recognizes the importance of protecting the world’s water resources. America’s Clean Water Foundation (ACWF) established World Water Monitoring Day in 2003.

Water monitoring offers one way to ensure people have access to clean drinking water. Monitoring water involves knowing what chemicals are in drinking water. Other factors that affect water quality include temperature, acidity, clarity, and dissolved oxygen.

🔗 For more information about Alabama's water quality monitoring program visit https://aaes.auburn.edu/alabamawaterwatch/

09/15/2026

🚽💩Septic Smart Week is September 14-18, 2026. This week stresses the importance of caring for and maintaining your septic system.

🚿About one in five U.S. homes relies on a septic system, making proper care and maintenance essential to protecting public health, water quality, and homeowners’ investments.

🪠Your septic system is probably one of those things you don’t think about very often… until you have a problem. Home septic systems are one of the most important — and expensive — systems in your home. A little knowledge and routine care can go a long way toward keeping it working properly and helping to avoid costly problems. Everything you put down your drain impacts your septic system and the environment. To keep it running smoothly, limit what you pour down the drain.

💧Help protect Calhoun County and the Choccolocco Creek watershed by being !
🔗 For septic best practices check out https://www.epa.gov/septic/septic-system-care-and-maintenance?fbclid=IwY2xjawUWnghwZG9mAWV4dG4DYWVtAjEwAGJyaWQRMXREdTVnTjE0RmUzTU9xRUdzcnRjBmFwcF9pZBAyMjIwMzkxNzg4MjAwODkyAAEeykPuHB2zZ4ruYUw7g8WGQgv-pQl2t-LE0vAAS_mLwARH2F9OBmg6FVRuXRY_aem_VGSBPVLfJRaKdlvTFiOmJA for more information.

09/10/2026

🍄‍🟫September is National Mushroom Month. The U.S. Mushroom Council created National Mushroom Month as part of the Mushroom Promotion, Research & Consumer Information Act of 1990. The U.S. Department of Agriculture also takes advantage of the opportunity to educate people on the versatility mushrooms offer, including health benefits.

Mushrooms contain many nutrients. Because of this, mushrooms are an excellent source of vitamins. Eating mushrooms is a great way to naturally get copper, fiber, potassium, protein, selenium, vitamin B, and zinc into your body.

Mushrooms have a fascinating growing process in a highly controlled environment unlike that of any other produce item. Mushrooms grow indoors on a year-round cycle. Unlike green plants, mushrooms don’t need light to grow and double in size every day.

Calhoun County is fortunate to have Aquality Farms located in Anniston as a source of fresh mushrooms for the community. They are an urban hydroponic farm that offers the most sustainably healthy produce.

🔗 For more information, you can visit their website https://www.aqualityfarms.com/