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We are officially underway in the field with the
“Sope Creek Love” project to restore 6.7 miles of multi-use trails in the Sope
Creek and Columns Drive areas of the Cochran Shoals Unit of the Chattahoochee
River National Recreation Area (CRNRA).
This collaborative project, funded by REI, the
Chattahoochee National Park Conservancy (CNPC), MTB Atlanta, and the CRNRA,
provides $50,000 for trail improvements. The project will include heavy
maintenance on most of the degraded sections of multi-use trails which
are popular with mountain bikers, trail runners and walkers. Certain more
degraded sections which are not easily rehabilitated will be rerouted in the
future following the park-wide comprehensive trail plan undertaken by
CRNRA and CNPC. The project also
includes planned upgrades to signage to improve the visitor
experience. The trail maintenance work is being performed by MTB Atlanta
Pro Trails and a Student Conservation Association trail crew under the
supervision of Dave Thomas of the CRNRA. Thank you to our partners REI and MTB
Atlanta for helping fund and execute the project.
Watch for
maintenance on the trails in October through December. Trails will remain open during
this important restoration and maintenance work.
Love the trails? Contributions
in support of the project can be made to CNPC at www.chattahoocheeparks.org or MTB Atlanta
at https://mtbatlanta.com.
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Thank You To Our Retiring Board Members |
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It is with sincere appreciation
and a tinge of sadness that we honor four retiring CNPC board members. All
four have worked tirelessly for the board and as advocates for the CRNRA
and the National Park Service, heralding the organization through enormous
growth in membership, programming and fundraising efforts.
Sally Bethea, who worked on the
CRNRA's first general management plan in the 1970s while in
graduate school, served as board chair, CNPC community advocate and
rockstar fundraiser. Bob Ruby, vice-president, avid hiker and longtime
volunteer for the CRNRA Volunteers in
Parks (VIP) program, championed the CRNRA's
first comprehensive trail system assessment. Tammy Bates handled many wonderful
events for CNPC and has famously organized hundreds of cleanups in
the Chattahoochee watershed. Jennifer McCoy led CNPC's education efforts,
working with National Park Service rangers to bring students to the river for outdoor
learning and water-related activities.
Sally, Bob, Tammy, and Jen helped build CNPC
into the organization it is today and will always be special members of the
CNPC family. Expect to see them on the park trails and on the river!
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Different mushrooms can be found in
the CRNRA during different seasons. Fall is a great time to see the CRNRA’s
impressive mushroom collection, and it is prime season for Hen of the Woods (Grifola
frondosa or Polyporus frondosus).
This mushroom is found as a five to 20 inch cluster of flat, overlapping caps
and is normally found between September and November. With the cooling weather,
other noteworthy mushrooms along the trail include chicken of the woods, lion’s
mane, and oyster mushrooms.
Hen of the Woods is seasonal and can
weigh between five and 100 pounds. You can often return to the same place one
year later and find another cluster since the aboveground mushroom is just the
fruiting body of the fungus itself. Clusters of this type of mushroom are often
found at the base of deciduous trees like oaks. The fungus’ mycelium threads in
the soil interact with the tree roots in a process called mycorrhizae, which
helps the tree take in nutrients more efficiently. Fungi are also largely
responsible for the decomposition of organic matter and the return of nutrients
to the soil. Without fungi, forests would regenerate more slowly.
Take a hike in the CRNRA and enjoy the
wide array of mushrooms along the way. If you see a Hen of the Woods, just
remember that the foraging of fungi in the CRNRA is prohibited. Fungi are
incredibly diverse and fascinating, so next time you see one, take a moment for
a closer look.
Photo: Evan Barnard
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Crayfish Creek Restoration Project |
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The Upper Chattahoochee Chapter of Trout
Unlimited is working with its project partners to restore Crayfish Creek, a
heavily impaired tributary of the Chattahoochee River. The project will improve
water quality and wild trout spawning habitat through streambank restoration
and removal of invasive plants combined
with the replacement of native species.
To learn more about the Crayfish Creek
Restoration Project, visit the project website:
https://storymaps.arcgis.com/stories/38658907b7e1480e84deac6ccf52e559
Great
things happen when we work together. Recognizing the Project Partners: - Upper Chattahoochee Chapter of Trout Unlimited
- Oconee River Chapter of Trout Unlimited
- UGA 5Rivers Chapter of Trout Unlimited College
Program
- Georgia Council of Trout Unlimited
- Chattahoochee River National Recreation Area
(NPS)
- Georgia Department of Natural Resources (GA
DNR)
- Chattahoochee National Park Conservancy
- Chattahoochee River Keeper
- UGA Warnell School of Forestry & College
of Environmental Design
- River Through Atlanta
- Trout Unlimited National
Photo: Cathy Barnard
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Updates and Opportunities
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September Matching Donation Fundraiser
In the month of September, we collected over
$30,000 in our matching fundraiser under which our board matched $15,000 of
generous donations. Thanks to everyone for helping us meet our September
matching donation goal and end our fiscal year well-positioned to start new
projects in fiscal 2021.
Jones Bridge Overlook Pier Replacement Project
is Underway!
The construction phase of the pier replacement
project is now underway. Access to the pier will be closed during construction,
but soon there will be a beautiful new observation deck and signage for park
visitors to enjoy an upclose view of the shoals and opportunities for fishing.
Explore
a New Park!
Is your favorite CRNRA unit overcrowded with people
enjoying the outdoors? Are you looking to try a new trail? Try a different park
unit! The CRNRA has 15 park units along 48 miles of the Chattahoochee River. Every
unit is unique – try to see them all. For a map of the CRNRA:
www.chattahoocheeparks.org/CRNRA-map
Take
the challenge!
While you are exploring different parks, sign up for the Hikes
for Health Challenge, running from August 2020 to June 2021. Register here and
hike ten different parks in metro Atlanta, including the CRNRA, in this
challenge supported by national recreation retailer REI. Photo: Evan Barnard
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Become a CNPC member or donate today!
YOU can help us achieve our vision of an inspired and thriving community of support for the Chattahoochee River National Recreation Area. |
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CNPC is a 501(c)3 non-profit organization. We are proud to support our Chattahoochee River National Recreation Area, a unit of the national park system managed by the National Park Service. |
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National Park Service Website |
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