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The Nature Conservancy Purchases Additional Acreage in Chickasawhatchee Swamp

Atlanta, GA — December 12, 2001 — Adding to their landmark acquisition last year of over 15,000 acres of Chickasawhatchee Swamp, The Nature Conservancy has purchased an additional 5,480 acres of the swamp for approximately $10.6 million.  The Conservancy purchased the property from three private landowners and will transfer the land to the Georgia Department of Natural Resources (DNR) to be used as a wildlife management area.

"It was always our goal to preserve as much of the swamp as possible, and we are pleased that we were able to expand the protection of this vital natural resource.  This acquisition also provides us an opportunity to once again work with Governor Barnes and DNR," said Tavia McCuean, vice president and state director for The Nature Conservancy.

Located near Albany, Ga., Chickasawhatchee Swamp is one of the largest remaining, relatively intact, freshwater swamps in the southeastern United States.  It is a critical site for migratory birds, freshwater fish and mussels, numerous plants, animals and plant communities.  Many of these are federally or state threatened or endangered species, such as the bald eagle, wood stork, gopher tortoise, shinyrayed pocketbook, oval pigtoe, gulf moccasinshell, swamp buckthorn and variable-leaved Indian plantain.

The swamp also serves as a habitat connector to other protected areas such as Elmodel Wildlife Management Area and the Joseph W. Jones Research Center, both just to the south.  It is the primary recharge area for the Floridan aquifer, which provides water to Florida and Georgia's Atlantic coast.  The conservation of this area will help protect flows into the Flint and Apalachicola Rivers. 

"The Chickasawhatchee Swamp purchase is our largest single land purchase in recent history," said David Waller, director of the Wildlife Resource Division of DNR.  "We believe the addition of over 5,000 more acres to the existing acreage will allow us to preserve an environmentally significant piece of property for future generations as well as provide many opportunities for outdoor education and recreational activities such as hunting, fishing, birdwatching, hiking and canoeing."

This newest tract is located on the eastern side of the 30,000-acre wetland, and is as biologically significant as the initial tract purchased.  Without the additional acreage, only half of the Kiokee, Chickasawhatchee and Spring creek system in the swamp was protected.  These creeks support rare mussels and important fish habitat.  The tract also includes an upland buffer that helps prevent siltation from flowing into the creeks and wetlands as well as erosion.

While Governor Barnes and the State of Georgia are working to secure the funds to acquire the property, the Conservancy will lease this tract to DNR to manage in the interim.