'Hurricane Creek Stirs Storm of Concern' by Mike Rund, Published June 22, 2011 in The Dahlonega Nugget: 

      I have just viewed pictures of recent pond construction activities at Hurricane Creek Wildlife Preserve, being undertaken by the Biology Department at North Georgia College & S.U. under the direction of Dr. Tom Nelson. I want to share my thoughts on this project as they reflect new information that the photos provide.

      I visited the site with Katie Klemenchich, when Dr. Nelson and others were present, a few months ago immediately after the holes were excavated out of a wetlands area and I am long familiar with the area.  My background is in the environmental earth sciences, and I worked for the US Geological Survey's Water Resources Division.

      My opinion is that there is something terribly wrong with the constructions and I will here describe these photos and their interpretation. The principal photo of note, taken on May 11 shows the middle pond half full of water while the surrounding ponds are empty.  And this one week or more after it has rained.  This indicates a grade error with pooling in the middle of the pond field and likely intersection with a rising water table, which, in turn indicates the pond constructions are not graded correctly and at the same time very close to a fluctuating water table.  If we look at the hydrologic profile and apparent water table we can see it is clearly very affected by three things: runoff and seep from the nearby hills to the south and west; the adjacent Etowah River level; and rain: how wet a year it has been.   Also, site compaction of the soils on the construction area appears likely, a result of allowing heavy earth moving equipment on the site, further causing incorrect runoff and pooling. 

      The combined effect will be disastrous for the planned ponds: runoff will just pool to the center of the entire construction and soon create ONE GIANT LAKE versus the separate vernal pools the builders expect, especially in times of a high water table.  Complicating this is that the excavated pond bottoms are very close to the top of the water table.

      This is not a good area to build vernal ponds: in a place where there is a high and fluctuating water table and flood plain (see ref. Thomas Biebighauser, a noted authority in these constructions).  Further, as we know and as North Georgia has admitted they realize too, this area is on an acknowledged and important flood plain, the known confluence of Hurricane Creek and the Etowah River which is historically flooded.   This area WILL be flooded again and the ponds filled and destroyed as debris and the plastic liners are washed away into the woods.   Look at what is happening with the Mississippi River right now where fish ponds are being overwhelmed and from this week's news, “... you have to drain the pond, get everything out and start over. ...”

      As I recommend in a previous Nugget Letter to the Editor, all constructions should be stopped until a qualified hydrological engineer can evaluate the water table, a soils scientist can evaluate the local degradation of the soil profile caused by the earth moving equipment and compaction by such heavy equipment, and an environmental impact study can be made reflecting flood aftermath.   One likely result: it may be difficult or impossible to extract the liners from tons of mud and debris after a flood. 

      In summary, it is my estimation that grossly improper construction and environmentally inconsistent methods are being implemented.  In simple terms, they are MAKING A TERRIBLE MESS and sooner or later this wilderness study area will be degraded due to impact, and no one will want to visit there anymore.  The ponds will no longer be a pleasant study site for students; they will be an environmental disaster and a stain on the land.   These plastic liners in themselves weigh one ton in total dry weight of plastic!        

       Further, if the liners were to be washed into the Etowah or back washed into Hurricane Creek, we know that this could affect breeding of the endangered Etowah River Darter, by obstructing their access to shallows. As the U.S. Fish & Wildlife agency representative has explained to us, at least two federally protected and endangered darters live and breed in Hurricane Creek, an important breeding tributary for these fish.  This is supported by other work that the North Georgia has done on area streams, where they concur in a Biology Dept. poster, that the Darter does live in these waters. 

       Since this construction is fraught with pitfalls and contested by the community, I wonder how any scientist, like Thomas Biebighauser were enlisted; and do they know all the facts? This is an example of precarious and thoughtless alteration in a delicate, protected, riverine environment.

      Also of note, the photo of the historic wetland in the NW corner of the farm field that is immediately adjacent to the property line shared by the NGCSU Hurricane Creek Area and just yards from the new pool constructions. I have seen this wetland myself in the past when it had cat tails growing on it in summer.  This clearly indicates to me that the entire floodplain area IS a wetland niche with chirping frogs and cat tails, although partly forested by pine.   In the past, proponents of the ponds have argued that since pine grows there, it is not a wetland.  However, these photos and the high water table just a few feet below grade, indicate to the contrary. 

    Hurricane Creek is an unusual pine forest that supports rare habitats on our range.  The area provide a unique opportunity in our region to walk lovely trails on a river, as designed Dr. Parker and the original planners (see Hurricane Creek origin documents at http://sites.google.com/site/protecthurricanecreek/). Overall, the Etowah River and its Lumpkin County watershed are very special and nationally recognized!  It is recognized as critical habitat and protected by both the Upper Etowah River Alliance and the very large and important group known as The Nature Conservancy.  The latter has recently given the upper Etowah lands high accolades for actively protecting endangered lands on the river.  Therefore, I'd expect a local institution like North Georgia to act in a way consistent with protection and to help set an example to local landowners on how to care for riverside lands, just as The Nature Conservancy, based way up in Washington, D.C., has already done for us locally.   

       I strongly believe that these constructions should stop immediately and the area returned to its natural state to preserve all this.  Additionally, no timbering operations should commence on the site (cutting is planned) without a full environmental impact study.  

       If North Georgia College goes ahead with the current plan, I assert that the pond constructions will not be of long use for science study or naturalists.   WHEN and not IF they are flooded, they will be transformed unexpectedly into a lake-like slurry of mud, their contents disgorged by Mother Nature, and resident amphibians and fishes will be washed away as litter in the woods. We might find a dry bit of humor or satire if this debacle proceeds….perhaps North Georgia could look into stocking that newly formed LAKE with Bass or Trout and making a recreation area for fishermen.  A small boat ramp and refreshment stand would be nice, and North Georgia biology students in green t-shirts could sell drinks and fishing licenses to raise money for the “Reclaim” Hurricane Creek effort. In between customers, students might read their assigned environmental textbooks and look longingly at the nice glossy photos of what REAL ponds should look like.