From Southern Polytechnic State University website:

Marietta, Ga. (May 17, 2011) – Southern Polytechnic State University (SPSU) has selected Dr. Thomas Nelson, professor and department head of biology at North Georgia College & State University (NGCSU), to serve as the next dean of the School of Arts and Sciences beginning July 1.

In early October, 2010 this wetlands was altered, to the point of removing any trace of it, presumably by someone from the University. The area was bulldozed and six craters, each measuring 15 feet in diameter and sloping to three feet deep in the center. Several large trees were removed, and a large colony of jack in the pulpit plants destroyed. This area was a feeding ground for deer, turkey, turtles, frogs, toads, and salamander, and numerous birds. The nature of the wetlands soil has been severely if not permanently altered. 

 I had intended for that area to remain basically undisturbed except
 for removal of debris, privet "trees" and some of the pine trees.  Ten years
 ago there were many black willow trees growing in the area, some over a foot
 in diameter.  With about a 5-year drought period most of them died.  Some of
them rotted and fell down, while I removed other dead ones using a chain
 saw.  There were several nice colonies of jack-in-the-pulpit plants (Wetlands plants, the
only ones on the property), but I think they have destroyed them by the
bulldozing operations.--Dr. James Parker

Whoever did this damage demonstrated disrespect for the environment, the college, and the law.  It is believed that this alteration was done without securing the necessary permits, and is in violation of the laws protecting areas such as these.

Private road owners Steven Hatfield, George David and Clinton Turner along River Highlands did not and would not give permission for logging trucks to use the road.  There is a future planned logging project at Hurricane creek also proposed to use River Highlands, and they are opposed to that as well. Removal of wetlands is not mentioned in Tom Nelson’s Executive Summary (see site) that proposes to log 1/3 of the Hurricane Creek Forest.   Who gave permission for this action, or who was passed over in getting permission to do this?

We have collected 500 signatures of those opposed to logging at Hurricane Creek, and these were presented to the College President, Mac McConnell, and the  Board of Regents. We will also present them to VP of Academic Affairs Patricia Donat. 

There has recently been so much logging in this River Highlands area it has affected the drainage along the Crest. One homeowner on Frank Christian Road sees a field where a forest was.  In addition to initially opposing the logging project, all this logging around the Wildlife Tract makes preserving the tract itself all the more important.

The road owners, I, and many others will continue to oppose more logging on the Biology Tract. 

We encourage the University to acquire the farmland adjacent to Hurricane Creek for future planting projects. Acquiring this historic centennial farm is an obvious choice for an expanding University and its programs, and would make the entire area easily accessible from Hwy 9. 

We encourage and urgently hope the University will take a leadership role in protecting Hurricane Creek, permanently, as well as all its lands. 

Katie Klemenchich

jamiek.klem@gmail.com