Conservation News

Water Quality Monitoring

Over the years, increased runoff from developed areas around the Preserve has led to various stream and lake management problems. Erosive stormflows have caused significant downstream channel and streambank erosion, and deposition of large quantities of sediment in streams and lakes. In 2002, Elachee completed a watershed assessment...read more

Habitat Restoration Projects

Riparian areas in the Chicopee Woods Nature Preserve are under attack by exotic invasive plants. They are causing loss of habitat for native wildlife, and loss of plant diversity in the park. An invasive species is any species that is not native to a given ecosystem; and whose presence causes economic or environmental harm or harm to human health. Read more...

Gainesville/Hall County Weed Management Area

The Gainesville/Hall County Cooperative Weed Management Area (CWMA) was created in 2007. The first of its kind in Georgia, the partnership's mission is to strengthen, support, and coordinate weed management efforts in our community. Partners in the WMA include The Chicopee Woods Area Park Commission, City of Gainesville, Hall County...read more

Chicopee Woods Mitigation Bank Restores Streams

A Stream Mitigation Bank is funding mechanism for stream restoration projects which allows the owner of degraded streams to sell credits after restoring, stabilizing, and preserving those streams. Read more...

Stream Restoration

As part of our ongoing efforts to ensure the health and biodiversity of the Nature Preserve, a portion of Walnut Creek was restored in 2007 as part of a 319(h) Watershed Restoration Grant, funded by the US EPA through the GA DNR Read more...

Pervious Paving

Elachee installed an innovative pervious paving system in our Lake Trail head / Overflow Parking lot. The area is heavily used by hikers, families visiting during special events, and school buses. The parking lot was in need of paving...read more

150' Suspension Bridge

Opened in 2005, the 150' suspension bridge on the Dunlap Trail crosses Walnut Creek. The rustic-looking timber bridge, funded by the Georgia Department of Natural Resources Recreation Trails Program, links the East Lake and West Lake Trails. View Trail Map

Important Bird Area Designation

In 2001, the National Audubon Society designated the 1500-acre Chicopee Woods Nature Preserve an Important Bird Area (IBA). This designation recognizes the Nature Preserve as an essential area for migrating and nesting birds. Read more...

Nature Preserve Legally Protected

In 2001, The Chicopee Woods Area Park Commission approved a conservation easement for the Nature Preserve with Elachee Nature Science Center as the Land Trust to hold the easement. Read more...

History of the Chicopee Woods

The Chicopee Woods has a very interesting history. Chicopee Woods Nature Preserve is part of the 6,000-acre upper Walnut Creek watershed. Read more...