The Nature Conservancy Expands the Chattahoochee National Forest by Establishing Holly Creek Preserve

The Nature Conservancy protects 257 acres of forest land in Murray County, Ga.

ATLANTA – July 20, 2005 – The Nature Conservancy has expanded the Chattahoochee National Forest by an additional 257 acres with the purchase of significant forest land in Murray County, Ga. Designated Holly Creek Preserve, the land is located within the Chattahoochee National Forest and provides a protective forested buffer for Holly Creek, the most biologically rich tributary of the Conasauga River.

"This land purchase represents significant strides to preserve critical north Georgia habitat, while expanding and protecting one of the Southeast’s most treasured national resources – the Chattahoochee National Forest," said Tavia McCuean, director of The Nature Conservancy in Georgia.

The Nature Conservancy will maintain ownership of the property and manage it in conjunction with the U.S. Forest Service as part of the Chattahoochee National Forest, making it accessible to national forest visitors and recreational users of Tibbs Trail, a popular north Georgia hiking and biking trail that runs through the preserve. The Nature Conservancy and its partners are developing a management plan for the preserve, which will include various habitat restoration activities such as prescribed burns.

The Nature Conservancy purchased the property with funding from a Section 6 U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service Grant awarded to the Georgia Department of Natural Resources, which entered into a grant agreement with The Nature Conservancy.

"Our conservation partners have made it possible for The Nature Conservancy to pursue its conservation goals in north Georgia by providing necessary funding and stewardship support to protect valuable habitat," said McCuean. "We are fortunate to share a common vision for preserving Georgia’s heritage and safeguarding the future of our natural resources."

The Nature Conservancy is seeking volunteers to help with trail maintenance and prescribed fire preparation at Holly Creek Preserve on Saturday, October 29, 2005. Anyone interested in volunteering, please contact Nate Thomas, north Georgia conservation manager for The Nature Conservancy, at (706) 259-2266.

About the Conasauga River
The headwaters for Holly Creek start within the Chattahoochee National Forest and feed into the Conasauga River. Covering nearly 500,000 acres of land -- including 119,000 acres in the Chattahoochee National Forest – the Conasauga River supports 26 species of rare fish, federally protected mussels, rare dragonflies and ranks in the top six of 2,000 watersheds in the United States in terms of natural diversity. The Conasauga River is also one of 12 U.S. Forest Service National Watershed Projects. The Nature Conservancy has been working closely with private landowners, government agencies, and industries in the Conasauga watershed to establish best management practices, restore and protect riparian habitat, and establish permanent conservation easements.