Environment

Nursing the Conasauga River watershed

June 9, 2025June 9, 2025

By David Pendered

June 9 – Some of the more scenic and biodiverse waterways in Northwest Georgia are the top priority for a new round of environmental improvement grants sponsored by a public-private partnership.

The Southeast Aquatics Fund’s 2025 request for proposal observes that the Conasauga River watershed is “a highest priority for funding” in the current round. Grants of up to $500,000 are available. They’re funded by the US Agriculture Department and US Fish and Wildlife Service, along with private partners Altria and Southern Co.

The Conasauga River wilderness encompasses some of the greatest aquatic diversity in North America. (Credit: usda.gov)

The region covers portions of Georgia and Tennessee and is described as unique in North America for the diversity of its aquatic creatures, such as the federally threatened trispot darter. The wooded mountains were largely timbered off before World War II, as were other Southeastern forests as far west as East Texas.

This area is familiar to hikers who venture off the beaten paths around popular destinations such Anna Ruby Falls and Springer Mountain, the southern terminus of the Appalachian Trail.

To name just two, the Panther Creek trail offers views of a series of falls with a slide in the middle, at least when the water’s high. Hickory Creek offers views of white pines and two species of deciduous magnolia trees that author Tim Homan wrote in “The Hiking Trails of North Georgia” have leaves larger than the leaves of all other trees in North Georgia.

This RFP comes just months after the National Fish and Wildlife Foundation (NFWF) announced $624,300 in public/private funding for a $735,300 project to improve water quality and in-stream habitat along working lands in the Conasauga basin.

The project intends to reduce runoff of nutrient-rich water into the waterways, which intends to help the trispot darter and freshwater mussels.

The current RFP notes that the Holly Creek sub-station is of “particular interest” to the foundation. The RFP says the project could include improving in-stream conditions, restoring riparian habitat, engaging landowners to employ conservation practices and help re-establish the Villosa mussels.

Dan Chapman, writing for the US Fish and Wildlife Service in a story headlined, “An Endangered River Worth Saving,” explored the reasons that “three dozen conservation agencies have spent more than three decades and millions of dollars working to polish the Conasauga’s luster.”