Travelers on Hwy. 9 in Dawson County will have noticed a barrier separating land near the new canoe launch by Bannister Road.  Beyond the fence lays a spread of protected wetlands known as the Etowah River Mitigation Preserve.

“Wetland areas such as this receive legal protection at federal, state and local level because they are a significant ecological resource,” said Dawson County Manager Ross Hubbard.  “Wetlands provide a variety of functions benefitting humans including water purification, flood storage, sediment control, wildlife habitat and groundwater recharge,” he continued.  

Construction and development have impacts on wetlands.  Those impacts vary from small intrusions into the designated area during grading to complete removal of the wetland sites.  Wetland Mitigation Banking involves the restoration, enhancement, preservation or creation of wetland habitat for the purpose of providing compensatory mitigation prior to authorized impacts to resources.  “This means that developers who impinge on an environmentally sensitive area pay for replacement or repair of wetlands they encounter on their sites,” explains Dawson County Community Development Director Lynn Tully.  This allows growth and development to continue while conforming to environmental regulations and guarantee permanent preservation of other wetland habitats. 

Dawson County, in its efforts to create positive impact on the environment, has taken steps to re-establish and preserve this wetland area along the stream bank and upland of the Etowah River. Wetland Mitigation Banking ensures the perpetuity of the ecological benefits of the restored ecosystem.  

To further ensure the full restoration of the ecology, motorized vehicles are prohibited from use on this land.  “This includes ATVs and dirt bikes which can not only disrupt wildlife but may also damage ecosystems and threaten the survival of endangered species,” said Hubbard.  Other non-invasive activities may be allowed and will be detailed further with the official closing of the monitoring period at the end of 2008. 

Please help us keep this bank as pristine a habitat as possible by limiting public activities to the canoe launch at this time.

Source:  Dawson County Government and Community Affairs