EcoAddendum

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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. 

Ovenbird science.smith.edu

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.

 

Dawson Forest sabatea detail by KKolb

Narrow-leaved Sabatia (likely Sabatia stellaris) uncommon native wildflower of wetland habitats.

photo: K Kolb

 

 

 

 

Details

Date:
July 26, 2014
Time:
9:00 am - 1:00 pm