The LWCF received permanent funding through the Great American Outdoors Act, and expands Forest Service conservation efforts on national, state and private lands through voluntary land acquisition. We need to act now, to keep forests as forests with the help of our partners and elected officials, before these areas are sold and developed.” 'The Etowah River and Jones Creek are special waterways that provide clean drinking water and excellent habitat for endangered fish and other wildlife. 'Every acre of national forest system land in Georgia was purchased or donated to permanently conserve these lands and waters for generations to come,' said Edward Hunter Jr., Forest Supervisor for the Chattahoochee-Oconee National Forest. The new lands acquired include the confluence of the Etowah River and Jones Creek, a popular watershed that is stocked with trout. The Etowah River is also a popular recreation resource to the millions of people in the greater Atlanta and Chattanooga areas.

The Etowah River flows through the acquired lands and provides important habitat for many aquatic species, including the Federally Endangered Etowah Darter and State Endangered Etowah Crayfish (see map below). “This tract of land is critical to protecting water quality and quantity for downstream users in the Coosa Basin.” “The Forest Service’s acquisition of this land will reduce forest fragmentation and improve public access and resiliency to climate change in the national forest in an area of high biological diversity,” said Andrew Schock, Georgia State Director at The Conservation Fund. Today, the land is permanently managed by the Forest Service and available for public access. The lands were acquired and held by national nonprofit, The Conservation Fund, while the Forest Service awaited funds through the federal Land and Water Conservation Fund (LWCF). The additional lands include 1.2 miles of riverfront and help consolidate the Upper Etowah watershed within the national forest so that it is protected from development. The property is located along the Etowah River approximately 10 miles northwest of Dahlonega, Ga. Forest Service and The Conservation Fund are pleased to announce the addition of a 272-acre tract of land to the Chattahoochee National Forest. Forest Service and repurposed here with permission. This news release was originally published by the U.S.

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