Land Trust to Help Euharlee with Easement

Georgia Land Trust, a non-profit conservation organization headquartered in Savannah, announced Tuesday it signed an agreement with the city of Euharlee to assist in the monitoring and stewardship of a 100-acre conservation easement on Dobbins Mountain, according to the press release. Last year, the city designated the easement as a significant and permanent wildlife refuge.

The land, owned by a Rollins-family company, is in the path of Georgia Department of Transportation’s chosen route for the U.S. 411 Connector, commonly known as Route D. With a 1993 federal lawsuit, the Rollins sent the Georgia Department of Transportation back to the drawing board on the four-lane highway proposed to connect U.S. 411 at U.S. 41 toward Rome with Interstate 75 near Highway 20.

Now leading the Coalition for the Right Road, the Rollins are again involved in opposition to the same route, which GDOT now calls Route D-VE. The agency was ordered to evaluate other routes as a result of the 1993 lawsuit.

The Daily Tribune News has the background here and here, including a possible Section 4(f) designation, which could throw a wrench in GDOT’s plan to build Route D-VE.

The press release states that in the agreement, 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 along with city officials and update the baseline ecological condition report as needed.

Additionally, 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,” Executive Director of the Georgia Land Trust Katherine Eddins said in the release. “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.

About Georgia Land Trust

Georgia Land Trust is 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 and its affiliate organizations, including Alabama Land Trust and founding organization The Chattowah Open Land Trust 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.