DOBSON, NC (LOOTPRESS) – Forest Service Surry County rangers Janet White and Elizabeth Edwards have been named recipients of the 2023 Moreland Gueth Water Quality Award. This award is presented annually to the N.C. Forest Service employee or team of employees who demonstrate creativity and dedication toward the protection of North Carolina’s water resources.
“Janet and Elizabeth have embraced water quality,” said Nancy Blackwood, district forester for NCFS District 10. “They both have a passion for clean water and are dedicated to improving the condition of logging jobs in Surry County to protect our streams from sedimentation and flow issues.”
Established in 2010, the Moreland Gueth Water Quality Award pays tribute to its namesake, who served as the N.C. Forest Service’s water quality and wetlands staff forester from 1995 to 2004. Gueth took a firm stance on protecting water quality, but remained fair and used a common-sense approach when working with loggers and landowners to keep forests working for North Carolina.
White began as assistant county ranger for Surry County in October 2019. By January 2020, White had been promoted to county ranger with Edwards becoming assistant county ranger in July 2020. Since then, the number of water quality inspections in Surry County have increased. In 2023, White and Edwards conducted 65 initial inspections for 1,697 acres.
Actions for protecting the quality of water resources include encouraging robust and effective streamside management zones (SMZs), working to advance the installation of erosion and sedimentation control measures and addressing concerns related to minimizing impacts from NCFS fire control operations. Surry County encountered two major wildfires in 2021 and 2022 with the Grindstone Fire in the fall of 2021 and the Gator Fire in the spring of 2022.
“The district quickly addressed rehabilitation needs as usual but it was Janet and Elizabeth who had to carry out the duties by working with N.C. State Parks and private landowners to stabilize the sites. Plans were made and rehabilitation was complete before erosion potential became an issue,” Blackwood said. “I have seen the water quality program in Surry County improve drastically through Janet and Elizabeth’s dedication to ensuring the streams in Surry County are protected.”
To learn more about water quality regulations, laws, guidance and best management practices to help keep forests working for North Carolina, visit www.ncforestservice.gov/water_quality/water_quality.htm.