The Daily Citizen, Dalton, GA

Outdoors

Discussion

Welcome to our online comments feature. To join the discussion, you must first register with Disqus and verify your email address. Once you do, your comments will post automatically. We welcome your thoughts and your opinions, including unpopular ones. We ask only that you keep the conversation civil and clean. We reserve the right to remove comments that are obscene, racist or abusive and statements that are false or unverifiable. Repeat offenders will be blocked. You may flag objectionable comments for review by a moderator.
comments powered by Disqus
March 2, 2010

Fire on the Mountain

Submitted by the Georgia Department of Natural Resources Dalton Daily Citizen

THOMASTON — Participants of all ages are invited

Saturday, March 13, to “Fire on the Mountain!”   a celebration of an

ongoing effort to conserve areas of rare montane longleaf pine habitat

through the use of prescribed fire at Sprewell Bluff State Outdoor

Recreation Area near Thomaston. 

Watching safely from the banks of the Flint River, visitors can observe

the fascinating practice of prescribed burning as professionals

carefully set fire on Pine Mountain ridge.

“Fire is essential to maintaining many species of wildlife and their

habitats found here at Sprewell Bluff,” said Nathan Klaus, a senior

wildlife biologist with the Wildlife Resources Division.  “Natural

resource professionals feel that it is important to share this knowledge

about fire with local citizens, and what better way to do that than with

a safe, first hand experience.”

Beginning at noon, festival goers will enjoy the sounds of bluegrass

music, the tastes of festival foods sponsored by the Future Farmers of

America and crafts and games all surrounded by the natural beauty that

makes Sprewell Bluff such a special place.

Throughout the afternoon, natural resource agency staff will provide

demonstrations on how and why prescribed fires are conducted,

presentations on Georgia’s unique and diminishing longleaf pine

forests, and live animal programs showcasing some of the wonderful

wildlife that call the Piedmont eco-region home.

“With acceptable wind speed and direction, temperature, and humidity

as ‘prescribed’ in our burn plan, we will begin the prescribed fire

demonstration on the mountainside, giving spectators a close up look at

Mother Nature’s fireworks set in the natural amphitheater of the Flint

River Valley,” Klaus said.

Historically, frequent natural fires swept across the unfragmented

landscape, helping shape the diversity of plants and animals found

there.  And fire is still an important tool for maintaining healthy

longleaf pine ecosystems throughout the southeastern United States.

Prescribed fire helps prevent the encroachment of competing hardwoods

and restores a grassy understory lush with ferns, wildflowers and other

herbaceous plants.  It also helps establish important habitat for many

wildlife species such as the bobwhite quail, wild turkey, Bachman’s

sparrow and endangered red cockaded woodpecker.

Wildlife Resources biologists and other burn teams use prescribed fire

on thousands of acres each year throughout Georgia to manage wildlife

habitats and reduce the risk of damage from wildfires.

Sprewell Bluff State Outdoor Recreation Area boasts more than 3,000

acres along the Flint River. The park and natural area are popular among

outdoor enthusiasts for their wildflowers, wildlife, and scenic, rocky

bluffs overlooking the river.

The event organized by the Wildlife Resources and State Parks &

Historic Sites divisions of the Georgia Department of Natural Resources,

the Georgia Forestry Commission, The Flint River-Keepers, The Nature

Conservancy of Georgia, Callaway Gardens, Georgia Power and The

Environmental Resources Network (T.E.R.N.).

For more information on Fire on the Mountain at Sprewell Bluff State

Outdoor Recreation Area in Thomaston, visit www.georgiawildlife.com.

Please visit the Web site before March 13 for updates on possible event

cancellation due to inclement weather.



 

Text Only
Outdoors