Farm Pond Exemption to Clean Water Act Allows Farmers To Do What Oconee County Government, Developers Cannot: Part I

Frazier Creek Disappearing

Over the last 10 plus years, Tony Townley, one of the founders of Zaxby’s and now one of the largest land owners in Oconee County, has built a series of small lakes and ponds on his properties.

Included is a recently constructed small lake on Frazier Creek that backs up to Aycock Road just west of that road’s intersection with Matthews Road. Frazier Creek is a tributary of the Apalachee River.

Farm Pond Exemption to Clean Water Act Allows Farmers To Do What Oconee County Government, Developers Cannot: Part II

Downstream from Aycock Road Small Lake

I first learned of the Tony Townley ponds on Feb. 29, when James Knecht sent me an email message telling me about the small lake being built on Aycock Road on property abutting his.

Knecht and his wife, Sandra, whose address is 1451 Aycock Road, have a home they built overlooking a lengthy shoals on Frazier Creek, downstream from the lake constructed by Townley this year.