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City of Euharlee & Cartersville Ranch Host Educational Hikes
Bird and Wildflower Enthusiasts Will Learn About Diverse Wildlife at Euharlee Conservation Easement on Dobbins Mountain
The City of Euharlee and Cartersville Ranch today announced two educational hikes at the Euharlee conservation easement on Dobbins Mountain – one focused on wildflowers and the other on bird species. The wildflower and birding hikes are scheduled for later this month. Invitations have been extended to members of the Georgia Botanical Society, Georgia Native Plant Society and Atlanta Audubon Society.
The Coalition for the Right Road, an organization of Georgia citizens committed to making sure the U.S. 411 Connector is built with minimal environmental impact and at the lowest cost to taxpayers, is participating in the outings. Public access has been limited to protect refuge habitat and species.
The announced educational hikes are consistent with the major purpose of the conservation easement, which is to preserve wildlife and wildlife habitat. Also, the hikes are consistent with the conservation values, as set forth in the recorded conservation easement document.
“The upcoming field trips provide an opportunity to show others why the city designated the conservation easement as a significant wildlife refuge,” said Trish Sullivan, city manager of the City of Euharlee. “People who are especially interested in native plants and birds will be able to see what a unique resource the Euharlee wildlife refuge is and why it should be preserved.”
Wildflower Hike
Jim Allison, a leading expert on Southeastern wildflowers, butterfly enthusiast and botanist for 13 years at the Georgia Department of Natural Resources (DNR), will lead the wildflower hike at Dobbins Mountain. He will also identify and educate attendees about the unique butterflies that live in the refuge. In 2011, Allison conducted plant surveys on 12 separate visits to the Euharlee wildlife refuge, and observed and photographed a total of 88 diverse native flowing plants within the refuge. His most important find was the Georgia aster – discovered in bloom at Dobbins Mountain last fall.
The Georgia aster is a state-protected and federal candidate species, and the population found at Dobbins Mountain is one of the largest in Georgia. The Wildlife Resources Division of the Georgia DNR characterized the new discovery as significant. Allison also discovered a population of native orchids – the state-protected Pink Ladyslipper – within the borders of the refuge. A variety of spring wildflowers is expected, including blue-star, pussytoes, Jack-in-the-pulpit, toothwort, green-and-gold, Quaker ladies, yellow stargrass, spring iris, violet wood-sorrel, five-fingers, Piedmont azalea, rue-anemone, bellwort, at least five species of violets (including bird’s-foot), and many more.
Birding Hike
Joshua Spence, who has 16 years of experience in bird identification in north Georgia, will lead the birding hike through the wildlife refuge. Last year, Spence completed 24 trips to the refuge and he documented the presence of 89 different bird species. More than half of those species were neotropical migratory birds that breed in the United States and during the winter in Mexico, Central America and South America.
One of the rarest bird species not on the Endangered Species List, the Cerulean Warbler, was discovered in the wildlife refuge and is known to spend the winter in South America. Of the 89 species found within the wildlife refuge, 10 are of special conservation status and 46 were found nesting or exhibiting nesting behavior. In addition, bald eagles are observed at Cartersville Ranch approximately 35 times a year, and were seen several times last year during wildlife surveys.
“It is easy to see why the Wildlife Resources Division of Georgia DNR certified that the Euharlee conservation easement, which encompasses 106 contiguous acres of hardwood forest, satisfies three conservation purposes under Georgia’s rules,” said Henry Parkman, attorney for Cartersville Ranch, LLC. “First, the refuge protects wildlife habitat through the conservation of high priority species and habitats. Second, the refuge protects steep slopes, which will reduce erosion. Finally, the refuge protects headwater streams and their buffers, which will maintain and enhance water quality in the area.”
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About the Coalition for the Right Road
The Coalition for the Right Road (CORR) is an organization of Georgia citizens committed to making sure the U.S. 411 Connector is built with minimal environmental impact and at the lowest cost to taxpayers. CORR is opposed to the Georgia Department of Transportation’s current plans for the 411 Connector – Route D-VE – because of its exorbitant cost, inefficient interchange and environmental destruction. The coalition is committed to raising awareness of shorter, cheaper and less destructive routes, and is open to anyone who shares these concerns. For more information, visit www.coalitionfortherightroad.com or find us on Facebook, Twitter or YouTube.
Diverse Wildlife Discovered At Euharlee Conservation Easement (future location of GDOT’s proposed route for 411 Connector)
2011 Field Surveys Validate City’s Designation of Easement as a Significant Wildlife Refuge
At the recent Euharlee City Council meeting, Henry Parkman, an attorney for Cartersville Ranch, LLC, presented results about the diverse wildlife discovered during 2011 field surveys at the Euharlee conservation easement on Dobbins Mountain.
According to the reports, the City of Euharlee has a direct surface water connection to the conservation easement at Dobbins Mountain. Numerous Cherokee darters (on the federal Endangered Species List) were found in a stream flowing from the lake at Cartersville Ranch into Pettit Creek. In addition, bald eagles are observed at the ranch approximately 35 times a year, and were seen several times during the 2011 wildlife surveys.
“The overall success of the 2011 field surveys completely validated the City of Euharlee’s designation of the conservation easement as a significant wildlife refuge,” said Parkman. “The protected hardwood forest of more than 100 contiguous acres provides habitat for an incredible variety of native plant and animal life, and is an important stopover location for migratory birds. Georgia’s Department of Natural Resources correctly recognized the conservation value of the Euharlee wildlife refuge because it protects high priority species and habitats.”
A wildlife diversity study conducted by Quality Timber and Wildlife Management during a three-week period in March documented the presence of numerous deer, raccoons, coyotes, red-tailed hawks, gray foxes, wild turkeys and a bobcat. Most of the gray foxes, coyotes and red-tailed hawks were observed within the Euharlee wildlife refuge boundaries. The report also confirmed the greatest movement of wildlife was inside the conservation easement in a north-south direction, a natural travel corridor between the westernmost Dobbins Mountain ridge and I-75 to the east.
The author of the report, Matt Haun, president of Quality Timber and Wildlife Management, said, “The conservation easement represents an important refuge for wildlife. Not only does it provide habitat for a great range of mammal diversity, it protects over 100 acres of contiguous, diverse hardwood cover (including both overstory and understory habitat types), plants and smaller animals that provide food for the wildlife.”
Numerous Cherokee darters (on the federal Endangered Species List) were found in a stream flowing from the lake at Cartersville Ranch into Pettit Creek. (photo: Tracy Rogers)
Joshua Spence, who has 16 years of experience in bird identification in north Georgia, made 24 trips to the Euharlee wildlife refuge during 2011. During his visits, he documented the presence of 89 different bird species within the wildlife refuge, more than half of which are neotropical migratory birds that breed in the United States and during the winter in Mexico, Central America and South America. One of the rarest bird species not on the Endangered Species List, the Cerulean Warbler, was found in the wildlife refuge. The sky-blue warbler is known to spend the winter in South America. Of the 89 species found within the wildlife refuge, 10 are of special conservation status, and 46 were found nesting or exhibiting nesting behavior.
Spence stated, “The Euharlee conservation easement provides an important refuge for migrating birds to rest, feed, and nest before resuming their travels. The discovery of Cerulean Warblers on the property is a significant find, as breeding populations are declining faster than any other warbler species in the U.S. Its population is less than one-fifth of what it was 40 years ago.”
Further, Jim Allison, a leading expert on Southeastern wildflowers and botanist for 13 years at the Georgia Department of Natural Resources, conducted plant surveys during 12 separate visits to the Euharlee wildlife refuge in 2011. His most important find was the Georgia aster, discovered in bloom at Dobbins Mountain last fall (October 29, 2011). The Georgia aster is a state-protected and federal candidate species, and the population found at Dobbins Mountain is likely the largest in Georgia. Allison also discovered a population of native orchids – the state-protected Pink Ladyslipper – within the borders of the refuge. He also observed and photographed a total of 88 diverse native flowing plants within the refuge.
About the Coalition for the Right Road
The Coalition for the Right Road (CORR) is an organization of Georgia citizens committed to making sure the U.S. 411 Connector is built with minimal environmental impact and at the lowest cost to taxpayers. CORR is opposed to the Georgia Department of Transportation’s current plans for the 411 Connector – Route D-VE – because of its exorbitant cost, inefficient interchange and environmental destruction. The coalition is committed to raising awareness of shorter, cheaper and less destructive routes, and is open to anyone who shares these concerns. For more information, visit www.coalitionfortherightroad.com or find us on Facebook, Twitter or YouTube.
Georgia Land Trust, Inc. to Monitor and Protect City of Euharlee’s Conservation Easement on Dobbins Mountain
We obtained a full copy of the release about the agreement between the City of Euharlee and the Georgia Land Trust, Inc. to manage the conservation easement. Read more about the announcement below.
Georgia Land Trust, Inc. to Monitor and Protect City of Euharlee’s Conservation Easement on Dobbins Mountain
Conservation Leader to Monitor and Steward 100-Acre Significant Wildlife Refuge in Bartow County
(Euharlee, Ga. – March 1, 2011) – The Georgia Land Trust, Inc. (GLT), a non-profit 501(c)(3) conservation organization headquartered in Savannah, Ga., announced today that it has signed an agreement with the City of Euharlee to assist in the monitoring and stewardship of a 100-acre conservation easement on Dobbins Mountain. Last year, the city designated the easement in Bartow County as a significant and permanent wildlife refuge.
According to the agreement, the GLT, which protects more than 110,000 acres of land in Georgia with conservation easements, will utilize its staff to further the goals of protecting the refuge property. The group will conduct regular site visits (with city officials) and will update the baseline ecological condition report as needed. Additionally, the GLT will make annual presentations to the city on the status of the refuge and will provide instruction for Euharlee employees or representatives on implementation of the wildlife habitat management plan.
“We are excited about helping to protect this beautiful and environmentally pristine land on Dobbins Mountain,” said Katherine Eddins, executive director of the Georgia Land Trust, Inc. “The wildlife refuge is positioned in one of the largest contiguous tracks of hardwood forest remaining in the Pettit Creek watershed. The watershed directly impacts the City of Euharlee and flows into the Etowah River. Our involvement helps protect these vital resources for future generations.”
The primary purpose of the refuge is to preserve wildlife and wildlife habitat in perpetuity. The refuge will protect downstream water quality and headwater tributaries that support the threatened and federally protected Cherokee dater. Additionally, it preserves 100 contiguous acres of hardwood forest from encroaching development and is of sufficient size to serve as a wildlife corridor and habitat for sensitive species.
Eddins added, “The Euharlee wildlife refuge advances Bartow County’s policy of avoiding development in environmentally sensitive areas, preserving natural resources and allocating at least 20 percent of land to green space.”
The conservation easement is a legal agreement between the property owner and the easement holder (the City of Euharlee) to limit development on the property. The parcel is located between SR 20 and US 411 in Cartersville and was created as a conservation easement by Cartersville Ranch, LLC.
About Georgia Land Trust, Inc.
Georgia Land Trust, Inc. is a non-profit 501(c)(3) conservation organization headquartered in Savannah, Ga. dedicated to protecting land for present and future generations, primarily by helping private landowners establish conservation easements on family and investment lands. Georgia Land Trust protects more than 110,000 acres in Georgia. Georgia Land Trust, Inc. and its affiliate organizations, including Alabama Land Trust, Inc. and founding organization The Chattowah Open Land Trust, Inc., permanently safeguard more than 172,000 acres of land with more than 480 conservation easements, thereby protecting more private land than any other regional conservation group in the southeast. Learn more at www.galandtrust.org.
CORR in the Community
In recent weeks, members of Coalition for the Right Road attended the Euharlee Covered Bridge Fall Festival and Cartersville Business Showcase to educate residents and business owners about the Georgia Department of Transportation’s costly, environmentally destructive Route D-VE.
At the events, the coalition successfully obtained hundreds of signatures to stop the proposed route and reached thousands of residents with our message. Also, CORR presented maps and diagrams of the 411 Connector to attendees and distributed petitions, fact sheets, stickers, etc. at the events. The positive reception was overwhelming.
Shockingly, hundreds of residents knew very little about the road’s ballooning cost estimate (now $280 million and climbing), negative environmental impacts and complicated, dangerous interchange at I-75…. even after GDOT’s “18 public meetings” about the road.
CORR is planning to participate in additional community events and we need your help. If you would like to attend and provide assistance, please email us at us411connector@gmail.com. Just an hour of your time could make a huge difference in this ongoing fight.
A special thanks to 
everyone that has worked tirelessly to help stop this ill-fated route. Also, thanks to those of you that attended the recent events on behalf of CORR. Together we can and will stop this route.
