2008 Accomplishment Highlights
Release Date: Feb 12, 2009
Script for Video
Chattahoochee-Oconee National Forest, Georgia
February 12, 2009
Hi, I’m George Bain, Forest Supervisor for the Chattahoochee and Oconee National Forests. This past year was a successful one for the two national forests in Georgia. Forest Service managers worked to provide:
- A healthy forest environment
- critical habitat for fish and wildlife
- clean clear water
- and abundant recreation opportunities for visitors to enjoy
However, we did not do this alone. Our many partners, such as the Department of Natural Resources and Georgia Forestry Commission helped us accomplish much needed work. Volunteers such as the Georgia Appalachian Trail Club, Trout Unlimited, the Chattahoochee Trail Horse Association, and the National Wild Turkey Federation (just to name a few) made it possible for us to implement projects that would have been impossible without their time and assistance.
As we look back over last year, I’d like to highlight just a few of the successful projects that took place on the Chattahoochee and Oconee National Forests.
The Oconee National Forest, located in Central Georgia, is home to the endangered red-cockaded woodpecker (or RCW). Last year, the Oconee District employees began a stewardship project in Jasper County to provide much needed habitat for this woodpecker. RCWs require an open park-like setting to live in with large older pine trees in which to nest. Forest Service employees worked on 400 acres installing artificial nesting cavities and thinning timber stands to remove sweetgum and hardwood saplings. Additionally, gates were installed to keep off highway vehicles from damaging the area. Wildlife openings were planted with native grasses and squirrel boxes were placed in areas to discourage squirrels from preying on the woodpecker eggs and fledglings. This project was so successful last year that not only did we see a breeding pair of red-cockaded woodpeckers come into the treated area, but biologists also found the pair had successfully nested and produced several young. Much of this work was made possible by the support of the U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service, the Georgia Department of Natural Resources, the Wild Turkey Federation, and the Southern Company.
On the Chattooga River Ranger District in northeast Georgia, employees, with help from the Georgia Plant Conservation Alliance, the Georgia Botanical Society, the Atlanta Botanical Gardens, and the Nature Conservancy worked on a unique project to provide important habitat for a variety of plants and animals, including “rare” or “declining” species. They used prescribed fire and mechanical treatments on the 1,850 acre project to create an oak woodland site in the Lake Russell Wildlife Management area in Habersham and Stephens County. This habitat will specifically benefit the Bachman’s sparrow as well as many desired native and “rare” herbaceous species.
On the Conasauga Ranger District in northwest Georgia, illegal off road vehicle use had caused unacceptable damage to vegetation and soil. Forest Service employees worked in cooperation with Georgia Forest Watch to correct the damage and to prevent future damage by these machines. In the Cashes Valley area, district employees closed approximately twenty-one and a half miles of illegal trails caused by off road vehicles. These vehicles are only allowed on designated trails on both national forests in Georgia. Every year forest managers deal with the damage caused by riders who leave these trails and ride across forest land. This illegal riding can cause significant damage to bog areas, wetlands, put sediment into streams, harm sensitive species and cause other significant damage to the forest environment.
To combat illegal riding, district employees provided a natural barrier along these well worn illegal pathways to discourage future use of the area.
On the Blue Ridge Ranger District, partnership was the key word last year. With extensive public input, and continued involvement with groups like the Chattahoochee Trail Horse Association and the Southern Off-Road Bicycle Association, Forest Service employees were able to finalize plans for re-routing trails and creating new trails on the Jake and Bull Mountain trail system. The system currently has about 32 miles of trails. Some of the problems with these trails were that they were not sustainable due to poor design and alignment and there was significant evidence of soil loss. To correct these problems employees held public meetings and invited local residents, along with trail users, to participate in laying out a design for a new system that meets user needs and provides important protection for the forest environment.
These are just a few of the many accomplishments Forest Service employees and partners made on the Chattahoochee-Oconee National Forests this past year. Overall on the forest we:
- Prescribe burned 16,000 acres
- Wrote 766 violation notices
- Restored or enhanced 27 miles of stream habitat
- Maintained 1,469 miles of road
- Hosted approximately 2.5 million visitors
- And so much more.
We are a working forest and our 141 employees are dedicated to managing the 865,000 acres to provide healthy resilient forests, abundant wildlife, clean water, and plenty of recreation opportunities. I look forward to working with you in 2009, and I hope to see you soon out on our beautiful national forests.
Alerts & Warnings
- #BurnAlerts for Prescribed Fires
- Seasonal Road Closures in Effect
- FS Road 22 Tumbling Creek road hazard - major slump
- Before riding your UTV, Educate Yourself!
- Track Rock Petroglyphs
- Flatlands Road (FSR 256 and FSR 637) Closed
- Road Closures on the Chattooga River Ranger District
- Coleman River Rd (FSR #54) Closure
- CAUTION Waterfall Dangers
- CALL BEFORE YOU HAUL - ATV and OHV
- Panther Creek Trail Temporary Hiker Restrictions
- Don't Move Firewood!