U.S. Forest Service Invites Communities to Learn about Foothills Landscape Project Ideas
U.S. Forest Service Invites Communities to Learn about Foothills Landscape Project Ideas
Gainesville, Ga. (August 29, 2017) – Community members from across North Georgia have been working together with the U.S. Forest Service over the past year to realize a shared vision to address complex conservation challenges across the Foothills Landscapeof the Chattahoochee National Forest. Through a series of community conversations, the collaborators will share project ideas that have been generated, and the Forest Servicewill outline the next steps for the project. The conversations are open to all.
“These conversations have been very meaningful because we’ve had such a diversity of perspectives,” said Forest Supervisor Betty Jewett. “The result is a draft plan that includes many different – but compatible – values, and foremost a common interest in how best to manage these lands that we all care so much about.”
Through the Foothills Landscape project, the Forest Service is seeking to create, restore and maintain ecosystems that are more resilient to natural disturbances. Specifically, the Forest Service is striving to work with others to enhance and provide quality habitat for rare and declining species, as well as desired game and non-game species; to reduce hazardous fuel loading across the landscape to diminish damaging wildfires; to improve soil and water quality; to provide sustainable recreation and access opportunities; and to awaken and strengthen a connection to these lands for all people.
The Foothills Landscape is made up of 143,419 acres that stretch across the Chattahoochee National Forest and marks the area where the mountains are visibly reduced to foothills. Shortleaf pine and pitch pine forests are the dominant forest types, with hardwoods accounting for about a quarter of the landscape. The area offers lots of recreation opportunities, with nearly 200 miles of hiking, biking, horse and OHV trails and dozens of recreation sites. It includes a portion of the Cohutta WMA and Dawson, Fannin, Gilmer, Habersham, Lumpkin, Murray, Rabun and White Counties.
“After this year of intense collaboration with a large number of stakeholders, we’re ready to see if we got it right,” added Jewett. “I encourage you to join the conversation to help us do the right work in the right places for the right reasons.”
Foothills Landscape Community Conversations:
September 6, 2017 from 6:00 pm to 8:00 pm
Rabun County Civic Center
201 W Savannah St, Clayton GA 30525
September 9, 2017 from 10:00 am to 12:00 pm
Chattahoochee Nature Center
9135 Willeo Rd, Roswell, GA 30075
September 12, 2017 from 6:00 pm to 8:00 pm
Lumpkin County Community Center
365 Riley Road, Dahlonega GA 30533
September 14, 2017 from 6:00 pm to 8:00 pm
Cohutta Springs Conference Center
1175 Cohutta Springs Road, Crandall GA 30711
For those who may not be able to make it to one of these face-to-face sessions, online collaboration is available. Visit http://tinyurl.com/