901 acres within the Chattahoochee protected

Today the Trust for Public Land (TPL) and the USDA Forest Service announced the completion of the transfer of 901 acres of Trust for Public Land owned property within the boundaries of the Oconee National Forest to the Forest Service. This transaction occurred in two phases. Previously owned entirely by Plum Creek Timber Company, Inc. — the largest private landholder in the U.S. — the first 461 acres was conveyed from TPL to the Forest Service in 2010. The current sale to the Forest Service is for 440 acres. Funding for both Forest Service purchases originated from the Land and Water Conservation Fund, which is derived from royalties paid by energy companies recovering publicly owned oil and gas on federal lands.

The acquisition protects the waters of Cedar Creek, which the Forest Service has designated as an “outstandingly remarkable stream.” It flows into Lake Sinclair within the Oconee River watershed. Located in Putnam and Jones counties within the Cedar Creek Wildlife Management Area on the Oconee National Forest, this parcel is surrounded almost completely by Forest Service land. This second phase land transfer further consolidates public lands, thus helping significantly to reduce management costs challenges, and protects miles of tributaries that benefit the water quality of Cedar Creek and the Oconee River. Several miles of boundary line and fourteen corners can be removed from national forest boundaries, thereby reducing maintenance costs by several thousand dollars annually.

“This important in—holding land acquisition protects the waters of Cedar Creek, enhances public recreational opportunities and enables more effective forest and habitat management,” said Curt Soper, director of The Trust for Public Land’s Georgia office. “The Trust for Public Land is pleased to assist the Forest Service in furthering the important mission of managing our forest resources wisely.”

The Oconee National Forest, which now exceeds 117,000 acres, offers excellent canoeing, hiking, horseback riding, and hunting. It contains one of the most productive and diverse fisheries in the Georgia Piedmont and includes some of the best shoal bass fishing in the state. Additionally, bottomland hardwood stands of red oak, beech and tulip poplar support abundant wildlife, including turkey, beaver, wood duck, Swainson’s warbler and numerous other neotropical birds.

“This acquisition is a great example of our successful and productive partnership with TPL,” said George Bain, Forest Supervisor for the Chattahoochee-Oconee National Forests. “The additional acres will expand habitat for wildlife, including the federally endangered red cockaded woodpecker, and provide new recreation opportunities for forest users.”

The mission of the USDA Forest Service is to sustain the health, diversity, and productivity of the nation’s forests and grasslands to meet the needs of present and future generations. Encompassing around 867,000 acres across 26 counties, the Chattahoochee-Oconee National Forests provide the finest outdoor recreation opportunities and natural resources in Georgia. Learn more about the national forests in Georgia at www.fs.usda.gov/conf.

The Trust for Public Land is a national, nonprofit land conservation organization that conserves land for people to enjoy as parks, gardens, historic sites, rural lands, and other natural places. Since 1972, The Trust for Public Land has completed 4,500 projects in 47 states, protecting nearly 3 million acres. In the State of Georgia, The Trust for Public Land has completed 207 projects that have preserved 22,644 acres of land valued at $266 Million. The Trust for Public Land depends on the support of individuals, foundations, and corporations.