The Choctawhatchee, Pea and Yellow Rivers Watershed Management Authority provided funding of $5,000 to the Crenshaw County Commission to correct a drainage problem on Old Three Notch Road. The funds were presented to Crenshaw County Commission Chairman Ronnie Hudson and Crenshaw County Engineer Benjie Sanders by Barbara Gibson, Executive Director of the agency.

Hudson also represents Crenshaw County on the Board of Directors of the Watershed Management Authority.

The roadside ditch of Crenshaw County Road #43 (Old Three Notch Road) was badly eroded which produced off-site sedimentation as well as a safety hazard to motorists by creating a dangerous gully.

To correct the problem, the county’s highway department removed debris from the ditch and hauled in clay material to fill in damage from erosion. The ditch was then graded to drain properly, and a rip-rap flume and filter fabric were installed to control the flow of water in the ditch and to prevent sediment from settling in the newly graded ditch. The roadside ditch areas were seeded and mulched to restore vegetation to prevent erosion. The project should reduce the occurrence of erosion, which will reduce the amount of sedimentation in Pea Creek and improve the quality of water.

“We appreciate the Watershed Authority with their help in this project,” Sanders said. “It was a small project, but one that needed to be done. The safety issue for drivers is always a main concern for us.”

The Choctawhatchee, Pea and Yellow Rivers Watershed Management Authority is a state agency created in 1991 with the responsibility of protecting and managing the watersheds in the ten southeastern counties of Alabama. Primary responsibilities of the agency are to address issues relating to water quality, water quantity, flood control and prevention, and water conservation.