Chattooga Conservancy Inc

TO PROTECT AND RESTORE THE ECOLOGICAL INTEGRITY OF THE CHATTOOGA RIVER WATERSHED; TO ENSURE THE VIABILITY OF NATIVE SPECIES AND A HEALTHY HUMAN ENVIRONMENT; TO EMPOWER COMMUNITIES TO PRACTICE GOOD LAND STEWARDSHIP.

CHATTOOGA STEWARDSHIP INITIATIVE ADVOCATES FOR STREAM RESTORATION, MONITORS ECOLOGICAL INTEGRITY, AND ENGAGING COMMUNITIES IN STEWARDSHIP OPPORTUNITIES. OUR ONGOING WORK INCLUDES THE IMPLEMENTATION OF A WATERSHED MANAGEMENT PLAN ON A MAJOR TRIBUTARY OF THE CHATTOOGA. IT ALSO INCLUDES A COLLABORATIVE PROJECT WHOSE GOAL IS THE REMOVAL OF AN IMPOUNDMENT, WHICH WOULD RESTORE OVER FOUR MILES OF THE CHATTOOGA RIVER. IN THE MONITORING ASPECT, WE USE ADOPT-A-STREAM METHODS TO ANALYZE TRIBUTARY STREAM HEALTH; 12 BASELINE DATA ENTRIES WERE COMPLETED IN 2022. THIS YEAR WE COORDINATED 22 VOLUNTEERS TO CARRY OUT TWO NONNATIVE INVASIVE SPECIES REMOVAL EVENTS ALONG THE BANKS OF THE CHATTOOGA RIVER. WE ALSO ORGANIZED TWO TRASH PICKUP EVENTS, REMOVING OVER 30 BAGS OF TRASH FROM HEAVILY USED SITES.

WE PROVIDE OVERSIGHT OF THE US FOREST SERVICE'S MANAGEMENT OF OVER 180,000 ACRES OF NATIONAL FOREST IN THREE STATES: THE ANDREW PICKENS RANGER DISTRICT IN OCONEE COUNTY, SC, CHATTOOGA RIVER RANGER DISTRICT IN RABUN COUNTY, GA, & THE NANTAHALA RANGER DISTRICT IN JACKSON AND MACON COUNTIES, NC. IN 2022 WE PROVIDED INFORMATION TO THE PUBLIC REGARDING 8 OPPORTUNITIES TO SUBMIT COMMENTS TO THE USFS; THESE SCOPING PERIODS INCLUDED COMMERCIAL SPECIAL USE PERMITTING, DEFINING MATURE AND OLD GROWTH FORESTS, AND THE NEW NANTAHALA-PISGAH FOREST PLAN. THE LATTER OF WHICH WE PARTICIPATED IN USFS MEETINGS AS QUALIFIED OBJECTORS. WE HAVE CONTINUED TO MONITOR AND INFORM THE PUBLIC ABOUT TIMBER SALES AND LOGGING INITIATIVES, AND WE PARTNER WITH THE USFS TO MANAGE A NATIVE RIVER CANE RESTORATION SITE.

WE HAVE BEEN ACCREDITED BY LAND TRUST ALLIANCE SINCE 2016, AND THIS YEAR WE SUCCESSFULLY COMPLETED REACCREDITATION BY PROVING ADHERENCE TO THE RIGOROUS ORGANIZATIONAL STANDARDS SET FORTH BY LTA. WE HOLD 12 CONSERVATION EASEMENTS PROTECTING 430 ACRES IN THE CHATTOOGA RIVER WATERSHED AND NEARBY REGIONS. IN 2022 EACH OF THE 12 EASEMENT PROPERTIES WAS INSPECTED, AND ONE BASELINE REPORT WAS UPDATED. THIS YEAR WE ALSO MADE SIGNIFICANT PROGRESS ON A DONATED 52.66-ACRE PROPERTY KNOWN AS THE CLEAR CREEK PROPERTY. WE CONTINUED NONNATIVE SPECIES REMOVAL, BUILT A SPRING BOX, AND CONSTRUCTED A BELL TENT PLATFORM. STEWARDSHIP OF THIS PROPERTY IS AN ONGOING PROGRAM AIMED AT PRESERVATION OF THE TRACT'S CONSERVATION VALUES WHILE CREATING EDUCATIONAL AND STEWARDSHIP OPPORTUNITIES FOR COMMUNITIES.