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The Dawson Forest
July 26, 2014 @ 9:00 am - 1:00 pm
We’ve just opened another walk in the Dawson Forest due to popular demand!
Few Atlantans are aware that the City of Atlanta owns a large 10,00o-acre forest just 45 min north of the City that hosts several beautiful creeks that join a portion of the Etowah river. Managed by the Georgia Forestry Commission, this area holds many forested areas, from timberlands to true native forest and a wealth of wildlife. It is perhaps the largest and most interesting natural area close to Atlanta.
The site has an odd history, including being used as a research station for a nuclear-powered aircraft in the 1950’s (part of the site remains off-limits to the public) and plans for a proposed 2nd airport for Atlanta, but the topography made this impracticable. Today it is used by hikers, fishermen, horseback-riders, hunters, birders, naturalists and those who just enjoy being out in nature.
Our walk will be along an old road and trail and that leads to a remarkable series of waterfalls in a delicate area of forest that hosts many of our classic forest plants and wildflowers. You will want to tread carefully in this area, also a nesting site for the Louisiana Water Thrush and the ground-nesting Ovenbird.
To RSVP click HERE – Details & Directions sent to Registered Participants.
photo: science@smith.edu (thank you)
On an unfortunate note — several developers would like the City to sell off the site so they can dam at least one of the large creeks creating a lake that would “drown” much of the native forest in order build an expensive homes in a “lakeside” development. The proposed dam, roads and associated construction would destroy the natural value of most of the area — it would be a great shame to lose perhaps the last large intact natural in our region near Atlanta.
Narrow-leaved Sabatia (likely Sabatia stellaris) uncommon native wildflower of wetland habitats.
photo: K Kolb