DNR outdoor report [Vol. 4, no. 2 (Spring 1989)]

Georgia Department of Natural Resources

Spring 1989

Vol. 4, No.2

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Bluebird'Back!

Georgia began losing bluebirds in the 1950s because of the combined effects of pesticides and land-use changes that took away nesting cavities in older trees and wooden fenceposts. Now that pesticides such as DDT have been banned in the U.S., bluebirds are making a comeback in Georgia. Because house sparrows and starlings often rob bluebirds of the few nests that do exist, the Georgia Department of Natural Resources is encouraging Georgians to GIVE WILDLIFE A CHANCE by putting out a bluebird nest k>ox this year Easy-to-assemble kits may be purchased from any State Park for $7.50 plus tax. Or, request free nest box plans and instructions by writing DNR at 205 Butler St. S.E., Suite 1258, Atlanta, GA 30334.
(Tel. 1-800-3GA-PARK)

D~m Outdoor ~~~'.Report
Contents
Features _______________________________________

Georgia Fishing Forecast

2

Gib Johnston

Celebrate the state's most popular outdoor sport with some fine fishing in Georgia rivers, streams and lakes during National Fishing Week, June 5th through lith.

Welcome to Liberty Hall

8

Kathy L. Matthews

The National Trust for Historic Preservation urges citizens to "Look Homeward, America!" as historic sites including A.H. Stephens' home in Crawfordville prepare for National Historic Preservation Month in May.

Solid Waste

14

Lucy Justus

As Georgia's space for landfills diminshes, cities and counties must find new ways to dispose ofsolid waste- recycling and other options will work ifeveryone does their share.

Ocean Nomads- Georgia's Sea Turtles 18
Deborah Dewberry
Five species ofthese ancient marine wanderers inhabit Georgia coastal waters. All are fighting a battle to survive. What can we do?

Departments _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ __

Calendar ................... 21 Creature Feature .......... 17 Forgotten Flower .......... 20

'How To' Page ..............6 Naturally Delicious ......... 7 Take a Hike ................ 12

Georgia's DNR Outdoor Report is published quarterly by the Communications Office of the Georgia Department of Natural Resources to promote a better understanding of DNR management and conservation programs. The magazine is distributed as a public service to county and municipal governments, public libraries and schools.
J. Leonard Ledbetter, Commissioner; Katherine Thurber, Communications Director; Deborah Dewberry, Managing Editor; Omar Rasheed, Graphic Production Artist. Regular contributors: Lisa Dudley, Gib Johnston, Lucy Justus, Kathy Matthews, Thomas Smith.
For information write: DNR Outdoor Report, Georgia Department of Natural Resources, 205 Butler St. S.E., Suite 1258, Atlanta, Ga. 30334.

Joe Frank Harris Governor
J. Leonard Ledbetter Commissioner
The Board of Natural Resources
James H. (Herb) Butler Chairman, Member-at-Large
James Griffm, Jr. Vice Chairman, Member-at-Large
Patricia C. Edwards Secretary, Third District
Dolan E. Brown, Jr. First District
J. Leonard Eubanks Second District
Linda S. Billingsley Fourth District
Marshall L. Mitchell Fifth District
Felker W. Ward, Jr. Sixth District
C.W. (Sonny) Jackson Seventh District
J. Wimbric Walker Eighth District
Donald J. Carter Ninth District
C. Tom Griffith Tenth District
Will D. (Billy) Herrin Coastal District
John Lanigan Member-at-Large
Glenn E. Taylor Member-at-Large
1

By Gib Johnston

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Almost one-fourth of all Georgians participate in one of the most popular of all sports in the United States. Fishing is the sport and along with the tremendous interest it generates, it is a billion dollar industry nationally, and growing every year.
Last year there were 610,805 resident and 51,394 non-resident fishing licenses sold in Georgia, bringing more than $4,620,000 into DNR fisheries programs. The number of licenses sold, however, doesn't truly tell the number of fishermen in the state, since residents under 16 and over 65 years of age do not buy licenses. Neither do landowners or their immediate families , who fish on their own land. Altogether, the total figure is about 1.5 million, meaning one out of every four Georgians goes fishing sometime during the year.
Each time a fisherman buys a rod, reel, lure, tackle box, or any of the other things fi shermen cannot do without, an II percent excise tax is paid on each item . This tax is mandated by federal law under the Sports Fishing Restoration Act, better known as the Wallop-Breaux Amendment to the Dingell-Johnson Act. The U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service returns this money to states in proportion to the number of fishing licenses sold. Last year, Georgia's share of these funds was $3,584,752. The money~ used to conduct studies of fishing, build boat ramps, provide access to fishing waters, stock streams, and construct public fishing lakes. These are programs most fishermen are unaware of, but would immediately notice if these programs were suddenly stopped.
Nationally, fishing is a billion dollar industry. Anglers spend lots of money.

Georgia
Fishing Forecast

Celebrate the state's most popular outdoor sport with some fine fishing in Georgia rivers, streams and lakes during National Fishing Week, June 5th through 11th.

They buy boats and motors, equipment for the boats, gasoline for the boat and for the car, they eat in restaurants, pay ramp and dock fees, buy clothing, bait, drinks, and coolers to keep the drinks in, all to make their fishing more enjoyable. The Fish and Wildlife Service estimates that the average fisherman in Georgia spends $259 yearly on his sport. If you multiply $259 by the number of fishermen in Georgia, 1.5 million, the grand total spent is $388,500,000 and that doesn't include the amount spent on boats and motors. Fishing is big business!
One of the goals of DNR's new $30million wildlife lands acquisition program is to provide more public fishing areas in Georgia. To be acceptable, each piece of land must have an area suitable for development of a public fishing lake. The first purchase has been made, in Dodge County, and others will be announced in the coming months. In a few years, these new areas, combined with the existing public fishing areas, will put good fishing within easy distance of every Georgian.
National Fishing Week June 5-11, 1989 is National Fishing
Week, a time to celebrate fishing. Many organizations in Georgia will hold fishing derbies where children are invited to a pond where fish have been stocked and cared for since winter. It is a cooperative program between the organization and DNR's Fisheries Section to introduce youngsters to the sport. DNR furnishes the fish, while sponsors provide the pond and rear the fish to a good, catchable size. Members of the sponsoring organization are on hand to help the kids learn to fish and others provide equipment, transporta-

tion and refreshment. It's a great time, and what better way to introduce new blood into the sport than by showing youngsters the joys of fishing?
These matters are of passing interest to fishermen but certainly not their primary concern. That concern is reflected in the question most asked of DNR Fishery Biologists: "Where is a good place to go fishing"? Any of them can quickly rattle off a couple of dozen places but none of them can guarantee success. That is up to the skill and persistence of the individual fisherman. Those that consistently catch fish have worked at and learned how to catch their favorites, often through years of trial and error.
Where to go is easy. For those who like to fish the large reservoirs, DNR offers the following suggestions:
In North Georgia, Carters Reservoir is located between Calhoun and Ellijay on the Coosawatee River. Ninety percent of the bass taken in the reservoir's fish samples are spotted bass. During summer, spotted bass averaging one-half to one pound can be caught in three-to-six-foot water close to the shoreline with small lures or crickets. Bluegill and redbreast sunfish of one-third to one-half pound can be taken around underwater standing timber still in the lake. Crappie are plentiful and fish up to one-half pound should be easy to take on minnows or small jigs. There are also good populations of flathead and channel catfish in the lake. The channel catfish average three-quarter pounds and flatheads will be from five to fifteen pounds. The large flatheads are concentrated in the creek channels in deep coves. In spring they move to the reservoir's upper portion to spawn on the rocky

shorelines. Walleye are not plentiful but fish up to eight pounds have been taken although the average is three to five pounds. The best time for walleyes is in the spring on rocky points, saddles and underwater humps. Although the main pool of Carters Reservoir supports the major portion of the sports fishery, the smaller lower reservoir and the tailwaters offer good fishing too.
Allatoona Reservoir is a 11 ,860-acre lake on the Etowah River near Cartersville that receives heavy recreational use from anglers, boaters and skiers. Crappie fishing is not expected to be good this year but black bass fishing should be better than last year since there are twice as many catchable size fish this year. Largemouth populations seem to be better in the upper reaches of the lake.
Lake Blue Ridge, a 3,290-acre lake on the Toccoa River in Fannin County, is the best of Georgia's lakes for walleye. It is predicted that the average weight taken in 1989 will be about one pound. Fishing for walleye is concentrated from March through May and October through December. Night fishing along rocky shorelines is most productive and vertical jigging in 20 to 30 feet of water with silver spoons is also popular. Blue Ridge also has good populations of white bass, smallmouth bass and bluegill, and the plentiful bluegill and redbreast sunfish provide quality bream fishing. Other species worth fishing for in Blue Ridge are yellow perch, channel and flathead catfish. Worms, crickets and plastic grubs are the baits of choice for taking yellow perch. Flathead catfish in the 15-to-30 pound range are not rare in the reservoir.
Lake Chatuge is in Towns County, on
3

Fishing on Georgia's Oconee River.
the North Carolina border. About half of the 7,050-acre lake lies in each state. Georgia fishermen may fish in North Carolina from a boat as long as the boat is not anchored to the shore or dock. Bank fishermen must be licensed by the state in which they are fishing.
Smallmouth bass make up about half the black bass population, with spotted bass and largemouth bass comprising the rest. Smallmouth bass seem to prefer main river channel banks composed of gravel and boulder-sized rocks with cover of stumps, logs and brush. Hybrid bass fishing in the lake should produce fish topping 10 pounds. The brush attractors constructed by DNR and the Tennessee Valley Authority (TVA) in many coves are hot spots for panfish. The lake supports a good population of channel catfish up to three pounds and crappie averaging about one-half pound.
The third of the TVA lakes in North Georgia is Lake Nottely in Union County. This 4,180-acre reservoir has suffered widely fluctuating water levels and the accompanying impact on fishing. One-half to three-quarter pound spotted bass should be taken, and fish up to four pounds are possible. Striped bass less than 10 pounds will continue to be the mainstay of the striper fishery. The main body of the lake should be productive when fished with bucktail jigs and live bait of shad and bluegill, deep off points and steep shorelines. Crappie fishing was the best ever last year and should continue this year with fish weighing one-third to one-half pouftd. The best areas are the brush attractors. White bass numbers are high and should average
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one pound. Jigs, plastic grubs and live shiners work well for both crappie and white bass.
Lakes Burton, Rabun and Tugaloo in northeast Georgia are three of Georgia Power Company's reservoirs and are the oldest major impoundments in the state. The largest is Lake Burton and its clear, cool water supports good populations of predator species like black and white bass walleye and chain pickerel. This year, the number of two-pound largemouth bass should be higher while spotted bass will decline. Both can be taken when the water reaches 70 degrees F, largemouth along the shoreline with topwater plugs and spots with crankbaits, grubs and plastic worms on rocky points in I0 feet of water. Crappie can be taken at sites where fish attractors have been installed. Crappie and bream frequent these attractors all summer.
In Lake Rabun, bluegill, redbreast and redear sunfish and yellow perch should continue to be excellent around the boat docks and fallen trees that dot the shoreline. Lake Rabun also supports the best crappie fishing of all the Georgia Power Lakes. The best place to fish for them is the upper part of the lake among submerged trees.
The 597-acre Lake Tugaloo, on the South Carolina border at the junction of the Tallulah and Chattooga rivers, supports the best largemouth bass population of the six Georgia Power impoundments. The shad upon which these bass feed have declined slightly, which may signal a boon for fishermen. Plastic worms are most effective in the spring and shad-like crankbaits are best later in the year. Access

to the lake will be limited from the Georgia side for most of the year because of road construction.
On the Georgia-South Carolina border at the junction of the of the Tugaloo and Seneca rivers is 56,000-acre Lake Hartwell. Hartwell water levels fell about 13 feet during the drought of 1988, stranding most of the boat ramps. The strong 1986 class of largemouth bass will reach legal size this year and improve catch rates. Because of limited shoreline cover, bass will concentrate around downed trees, stumps, brush and boulders along the water's edge. Topwater baits and spinners should be effective. Stripers in the IS-pound range should be taken and there is a sizeable population of walleye. These can be taken around rip-rap during the spring. Fishing with minnows and jigs is recommended.
Lake Sidney Lanier is a 38,000-acre Corps of Engineers impoundment on the Chattahoochee River about 50 miles north of Atlanta. It receives heavy fishing pressure throughout the year. Crappie, spotted bass and bream are most often creeled. Bass fishermen can expect another good year Spots will dominate but largemouth numbers seem stable and catches of five pounds plus will not be uncommon. Crappie fishing should be fair to good this year with catches of one pound and more. As usual, the heaviest stringers will be taken early in the year. White bass will be down slightly and channel catfish continue to be numerous in the lake. Striped bass catches should be dominated by fish in the 15-to-20 pound class and even with the decline of the 30-to-40 pound plus fish, occasional catches of these "monsters" will continue. The current record is a 46-pounder taken in April of 1987 The colder months of the year are best for striper fishing. Live bait, trout and gizzard shad, and large shallow running artificial lures work best.
Lakes Oconee and Sinclair dominate the Oconee River north of Milledgeville and are owned by the Georgia Power Company. Oconee is the upstream lake and is considered by most crappie fishermen to be tops. Abundant submerged timber and shallow turbid water make ideal spring habitat. In addition, spring spawning migrations of white bass coincide with crappie bedding. White bass, with some hybrid and striped bass, concentrate in the Oconee ~nd Apalachee rivers and although the number of hybrids is about the same, some 14-inch plus fish should be taken. In summer, schooling whites and hybrids are readily caught in the main body of the lake. Largemouth abundance is high and stable in the lake. Harvest is regulated by the slotlimit which allows taking fish between six and II inches. Both channel and white

catfish are plentiful and some trophy-sized channel catfish have been seen. Most fish will be in the one-pound range, however.
Lake Sinclair is primarily a largemouth bass-crappie-catfish lake, the largemouth being the most sought-after. About half the harvestable fish in the lake are over 14 inches in length. Crappie popq!ations remain stable year after year and the average fish caught will weigh about threequarter pounds. About a third of the crappie caught are over 14 inches long.
Nestled between Lakes Hartwell and Strom Thurmond (Clarks Hill) lies Lake Richard B. Russell, a 26,650-acre Corps of Engineers impoundment. Included in the reciprocal agreement with South Carolina, the lake is open to fishermen with a valid Georgia fishing license.
Largemouth bass fishing continues to be good, with a 20 percent increase in the average weights. The best area for bass fishing in early summer is the middle section of the Beaverdam Creek arm and the middle section of the Savannah River arm. Lake Russell has one of the best catch rates for bass in the state. Large crappie are abundant, with many fish weighing one pound and more. White bass harvests are expected to be low but fishermen are seeing more and more white perch in the lake. Last year, nearly 80,000 rainbow trout were stocked in Lake Russell and about 50,000 more were stocked during the winter.
Lake J. Strom Thurmond has been known to most Georgians as "Clarks Hill" for 20 years. The name was changed a few years ago. This 71,535-acre impoundment boasts excellent striped bass and hybrid bass fishing with a hot spot being the upper reaches of the lake below Russell Dam. Good catches are boated both day and night during the summer. During the height of summer major points extending into deep, cool waters near Fishing Creek, Grays Creek and Bussy Point are good producers. Largemouth bass fishing is excellent, with good summer catches reported from the Pistol and Newford creek areas. Crappie fishing is consistent, with the average fish weighing about half a pound. Channel catfish are plentiful throughout the lake and many over five pounds are taken on liver, cut bait or stink bait.
Middle and South Georgia Almost unknown to Georgia fishermen,
I,750-acre Lake TobesotKee is located in, and owned by, Bibb county. Excellent catches of largemouth bass are caught during spring, fall and winter and there is a good population of hybrid bass. Channel catfish are abundant with many caught in the 5-to-10 pound range. Bream fishing is

How to Attach a Lure

0 ne of the most important parts of preparing for fishing is being sure the hook or lure is properly attached to the fishing line. Any knotting of the line weakens it slightly, but some knots are stronger than others.
Before you start: Clip off damaged line before you make a new knot. This may be one to two feet of line. Check the eye of the hook or lure for rough spots that may rub the line in two. Use plenty of working line for knot tying. Wet the line before tying; wet line cinches up smoothly without kinking or weakening. Tighten the knot with a steady, even motion. Don't trim the tag end too closely. Leave about 1/8 inch of line showing at the knot. Be careful not to jerk or snatch the line. This could pull the hook into your finger. A good, strong, reliable knot that is easy to tie is the "trilene" knot. To tie it:

I) Run the end of the line through the eye and double back through the eye a second time.
2) Coil the line around the standing part of the line about five or six times.
3) Thread the tag end of the line between the eye and the coils.
4) Pull the knot tight with a smooth, firm pull on the hook. Be careful of the barbs of the hook while tightening the knot. Then trim the tag end to about 118 inch.

only fair with the average bluegill and redbreast measuring about four inches.
Near LaGrange on the Chattahoochee River is Lake West Point. Since this 25,900acre reservoir was impounded, largemouth bass, crappie and bream have been the sportfish most taken here. West Point largemouth bass have reached their highest populations in the last five years. The 16inch minimum size limit assures that the fisherman will boat a bass that weighs at least a half pound more than those produced in the average middle-Georgia reservOir.
Crappie fishing will be good but not quite up to the banner year of 1985. The average crappie will weigh nearly a pound with 51 percent exceeding 10 inches. The consistently high stocking rate of hybrid bass has the population at an all time high. Fishermen should benefit by having available fish averaging two pounds. Bream numbers are high but the average size is small. The average bluegill will measure five inches.
Lake Jackson is a very old Georgia Power impoundment formed by the Yellow, South and Alcovy rivers. Popular species here are largemouth bass, catfish, bream and crappie. Almost half of the fish

taken from the lake are bream and a third are catfish with smaller fractions of crappie and bass. Catfish fishermen have their choice of channel catfish, white catfish and three species of bullhead. Most will weigh less than a half pound but a few quality channel catfish of five pounds or so will be taken. An increase in the abundance of bluegills of seven to eight inches in length means an improvement in bream fishing. Redear sunfish (shellcracker) fishing should be good as well.
On the Chattahoochee River above Columbus is a series of small Georgia Power impoundments. Bartlett's Ferry Reservoir, about 20 miles north of Columbus, has good fishing for largemouth bass, catfish bream and white and hybrid bass. Just downstream, Goat Rock Reservoir offers the best catfishing in southwest Georgia, as well as good fishing for crappie, black bass and a dominant population of shellcrackers which average a quarter pound and seven inches in length. The tailwaters of Bartlett's Ferry Powerhouse continues to concentrate hybrid bass during power generation. Many fishermen take their creel limit in a very short period of time. Lake Oliver, in the city limits of Columbus, probably offers the best bream
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How to Handle Your 'Catch'

Fish are best when eaten fresh, or soon after being caught. Whether you plan to cook your catch immediately or much later, freshly caught fish should be kept on flaked or crushed ice in a clean, drainable container, and handled with care so as not to bruise the flesh. If ice isn't at hand, fish may be held for a short while by wrapping in damp paper or cloth and storing in a cool place. To preserve quality, the fish should be cleaned, dressed and repacked in ice as soon as possible.
Cleaning and Dressing Fresh fish should be cleaned as soon as possible. To do this, I) Grasp firn:lly but gently with one hand and insert the tip
of a sharp, narr~w bladed knife or kitchen shears at the vent (anal opening). Cut the belly wall from vent to head, moving the knife slowly.
2) Spread open the belly cavity and remove internal organs, cutting them away at the throat if necessary.
3) With a spoon or knife, scrape away the line of dark red kidney attached to the backbone.
4) Remove gills, if head is to be left on, by pinching them out or cutting them free with kitchen shears.
5) Wash the belly cavity and outer surfaces with clean, cold running water.
6) Pack dressed, washed fish in flaked or fmely crushed ice, or wrap tightly and refrigerate.
Scaling and Skinning Only after fish have been cleaned are they ready for scaling,
to prevent rupturing internal organs which can ruin the flesh.

To scale fish, l) Take a cutting board or hold the fish under cold running
water. Holding fish firmly by the tail with one hand, take the knife in the other hand and scrape against the scales being careful not to cut the skin. A fish scaler may be helpful.
2) Rinse under cold water to remove loose scales. 3) To skin, place fish on cutting board with head to the right (or left, if you are left-handed). The back should be toward you. With a sharp knife, cut through the skin and flesh behind the head to the backbone. 4) Tum knife to a flat position and cut with a sawing motion toward the tail, running the knife flat against the backbone. Turn the fish over and repeat to remove the other fillet. The fillet will contain rib bones. To remove, lay the fillet skin side down with the side containing the bones to the left (to the right if you are left-handed). Cut ribs away carefully, by inserting the knife close to bones and using a slight upward pressure against the underside of the bones. Remove as little flesh as possible. 5) Trim away fins. Lay fillet skin down, holding the tail end between the thumb and forefinger of one hand. Cut down and under the flesh, beginning at the base of the tail. Keeping the knife at an angle, use a slight sawing motion and pull the skin toward you. Now your freshly caught fish are ready to can, freeze or fry!
(Special thanks to the Alberta Forestry, Lands and Wildlife Division for much of this information.)

fishing in southwest Georgia, with excellent channel catfish and bass fishing as well. Many yellow perch are showing up in this lake, and this new fish and new challenge are welcomed by fishermen . Longnose gar fishing in Lake Oliver is also popular
Further south on the Chattahoochee, fishing on 45,180-acre Lake Walter F. George reservoir should be excellent this year. A die-off of large shad and subsequent spawning of smaller ones has produced a feast for the sportfish in this lake.
The largemouth bass fishery is excellent. Fish are numerous, more than half exceeding 12 inches in length. Large numbers of "slab" crappie will not be found this year but those caught should exceed nine inches and weigh half a pound. Hybrid bass fishing looks good and increased stocking of this species has put pressure on shad to keep shad spawning high. The average hybrid is 17 inches long and weighs over two pounds with many available in the four pound range.
Downstream of Lake George, the I,540acre mainstream impoundment Lake
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George W Andrews offers excellent hybrid fishing, in the Andrews and George tailraces. Striped bass over 30 pounds are occasionally landed from the Andrews tailrace. Channel catfishing should be excellent but largemouth bass, crappie and bream fishing will be only fair.
Lake Seminole, in Georgia's southwest corner, is formed by the Chattahoochee and Flint rivers. This shallow reservoir has been both productive and popular since 1957 Fishing for striped and hybrid bass is good, and for white bass, excellent. Largemouth bass fishing is, as usual, very good. Last year, seven to 10 pounders were regularly taken and a 12 pound, two ounce Junker was reported. Crappie and bream fishing will be excellent as well.
Lake Worth, a Georgia Power impoundment partly in the city limits of Albany, is a very popular lake and a good producer of bass, crappie, bream and catfish. Some of the best fishing for bass and crappie is in the colder months, while catfish and bream are taken earlier in the year. In spring, the tailrace below the dam produces excellent fishing for hybrid, striped and white bass when these fish migrate from Lake

Seminole, up the Flint River. Three pound white bass, three to 12 pound hybrids, and an occasional striper over 30 pounds can be expected.
Lake Blackshear, on the Flint River in Crisp County, is owned by the Crisp County Power Commission and was impounded in 1930. Hybrid and White bass fishing is good to excellent during September and October. Largemouth bass fishing is good from January through May, although night fishing around the docks is popular in summer. Crappie fishing is excellent and bream fishing quite good. One- to two-pound crappie are regularly taken.
To compile this summary of where to fish , DNR Game and Fish Division biologists gathered data throughout the year from creel surveys and scientific sampling methods. While the information is accurate, it does not guarantee success to the fisherman. Success can only come from those who participate in the sport often enough to gain the know-how necessary to catch fish. As someone once said, "You can't catch a fish unless your hook is in the water." So go fishing, and good luck!

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Naturally Delicious
Making a Dish Out of Fish

T here are many ways to prepare fish. Some recipes may call for a specific fish, but other fish may usually be substituted with excellent results. Here are some tips on preparing fish for cooking, and some various ways to serve it!
Whole dressed fiSh Remove scales and trim fins and head away, if desired. Wash
well inside and out under running water and pat dry. Make shallow diagonal incisions across sides and one along the back.
Pan-ready fiSh Remove remaining scales, wash well inside and out and pat
dry. Make shallow, diagonal cuts across the sides and one along the back.
Fillets or steaks Use directly from frozen for some recipes or thaw partially or
completely. Always rinse well with cold water and pat dry.
Judging "doneness" Fish are best cooked rapidly at high heat (400 F up). Because
fish contains little connective tissue, it doesn't need long slow cooking required by many meats to tenderize them. Any high heat method, except for microwaving, requires only that you measure the thickness of the fish and allow five to seven minutes per centimeter for fresh or thawed fish, and 10 to 12 minutes per centimeter for frozen fish. Fish is done when it flakes with a fork and has just become opaque in appearance, with no translucency even in the middle of the flesh. Do not overcook fish - or it will toughen.
Baking Baking is done in an open dish or pan in the oven. The sur-
face of the fish may become dry during baking, so brushing with melted butter or oil, or baking in a sauce, is a good idea.
Broiling Broiling is good for small fish and for steaks or fillets of large
fish. For broiling, cut fish fairly thick to prevent drying during cooking. Frozen fish may be thawed or cooked as is. If you plan to broil frozen fish, place the broiler rack further from the element to prevent overbrowning.
Frying The most popular method of cooking fish is probably frying.
Pan-ready fish and fillets work very well for breading (or battering) and frying. Rolling in cornmeal with salt and pepper is a simple but time-tested Southern fried fish recipe. In a stove-top skillet, heat the amount of oil you wish to use. When oil is hot, turn heat down a little and place fish in pan, turning only once. (Don't forget hushpuppies!)
Barbecuing Barbecuing gives fish a special, smoky flavor and helps it stay
moist. Whole dressed or pan-ready fish that are large or small will do nicely. For the best flavor, the fish should be placed directly on the grill or in a barbecue basket. (Barbecuing in foil is just another way of steaming.)
Brush clean cold grill surfaces with nonstick vegetable oil then place the fish on the grill. Have a water-filled spray bottle near to control flaming caused by fat dripping on coals. Turn only once, halfway through the cooking time.

Seafood Marinade

l c. salad oil

1 c. lemon juice

2 tsp. Italian salad dressing mix

2 tbsp. soy sauce

2 tsp. seasoned salt

4 tbsp. brown sugar

112 c. chopped green onion

dash blackened redfish seasontin_g

minced fresh garlic

~~~g~~~J

fresh ginger

Combine all ingredients. Marinate seafood for two to four hours before grilling or broiling. (Our cooks tried it with ginger on broiled fish and it was exceptional!) You may also heat marinade to boiling and use as a dip.

Sage Basting Sauce (for grilled fish)
l tbsp. white wine vinegar l Y2 tbsp. chopped, fresh sage (or one tsp. dried sage) 114 c. olive oil salt, pepper
In a bowl, whisk together the vinegar, sage, salt and pepper to taste. Add the oil in a stream, whisking until emulsified. Brush fish with the sauce and grill, sauced side down on a well oiled rack five to six inches above the coals, basting and turning once.

Poaching and steaming Poaching fish is accomplished by simmering in liquid. Do not
allow liquid to come to a boil. Use a covered vessel large enough to hold a single layer of the fish, plus liquid. Various liquids good for poaching include salted water, milk, fish stock or court bouillon. An electric frying pan is a good choice for small fish, steaks or fillets. A fish kettle with a rack is also useful for larger fish. The poached fish may be eaten hot or cold, or used in salads or sandwiches.
Steaming is convenient for cooking fish and can be done in an oven, over a campfire or on a barbecue. Prepared fish may be cooked in a covered dish or sealed foil. The natural moisture of the fish will form steam, which will cook the fish. Large fish may be seasoned and the cavity filled with herbs, lemon slices, onions, celery, etc., or a seasoned bread stuffing may be used. Spices recommended for small fish, steaks or fillets are salt, pepper, basil, thyme, tarragon and dill. Enjoy!
(The Outdoor Report acknowledges the Alberta Forestry, Lands and Wildlife Division for contributing to this information.)

Above, Liberty Hall in Crawfordville. The historic home of Georgia statesman Alexander Hamilton Stephens has undergone a complete restoration and now stands in full"summer dress," to welcome visitors. Opposite, a portrait of Stephens as a young Congressman.
The National Trust for Historic Preservation urges citizens to "Look Homeward, America!" as historic sites including
A.H Stephens' historic home in Crawfordville prepare for National Historic Preservation Month in May.

S pringtime in Crawfordville, Georgia in the mid-1800's marked Alexander Hamilton Stephens' homecoming from Congress. Best known as vice president of the Confederate States of America, Stephens also served 14 terms in the U.S. House of Representatives.
The eloquent, outspoken representative of the Eight District was very influential in passing or halting legislation. Stephens spoke against the Mexican War, but later favored annexation of Texas. He opposed Georgia's secession from the Union before the Civil War, delaying secession, and was still unanimously chosen to be vice president of the Confederate States of America. Later, he played an instrumental role in Georgia's restoration into the United States. When criticized or opposed, the Southern statesman took an even more adamant stand on the issue at hand. With a political stature much greater than his frail five-ft.-f~e, 94-lb. physical stature, the great Southern leader became known in Georgia as "Little Aleck," while nationally he became known as a powerful man.
Stephens' Crawfordville home, Liberty Hall, stands as a permanent memorial to the statesman. Operated by the Parks, Recreation and Historic Sites Division of the Georgia Department of Natural

Welcome to Liberty Hall
By Kathy L. Matthews

Resources (DNR), Liberty Hall has been reopened to the public after a nine-month, $100,000 restoration project. The house now hints at what visiting its proprietor must have been like in the mid-1800's.
Liberty Hall today stands in "summer dress," complete with mosquito nets and woven mats, as it was each spring when Stephens returned from Congressional session. Mainly used as a summer home, the house once again greets visitors with springtime freshness. The contrasting textures and colors bring a purely Victorian harmony to the house, which for so long has welcomed friends and strangers. Stephens' room is set as researchers believe it often was, his wheelchair resting at the reading table. A china doll and toys scattered in one room suggest Stephens' neice might be visiting.
"The house is as nearly like it was as research and available furnishings can make it," says Billy Townsend, DNR's Historic Interpretive Supervisor. "Liberty Hall is one of the finest Victorian restorations in the state. Period design consultant Reneau de Beauchamp has done a marvelous job of piecing together the documentary, physical and oral information."
Polished brass fixtures once again contain flickering gas lights, with dancing flames bringing the multi-textured rooms alive. Gilt wallpapers sparkle against the contrast of matte borders. Cotton velvets and cotton satins cover the furniture , suggesting middle-class Victorian elegance.
Plain by comparison to homes that flourished when Liberty Hall was in its glory, but perhaps gaudy to the 20th century eye, vivid purples, greens, blues, and oranges decorate the sitting room.

Bold black-and-white diamonds decoratively painted on the hall's wooden floor point toward the dining room where "Little Aleck" entertained many guests.
Margaret Mitchell once said that the Tara of Gone With the Wind fame only existed in her mind, but the house was more or less of the same general type as Alex Stephens' Liberty Hall, though not as attractive. Liberty Hall will now appear like Tara, warm and full of life, with visitors coming and going.
Liberty Hall has changed many times through the years. The structure was first

built in Powelton and then taken down and rebuilt in Crawfordville 1827 As a young lawyer, Stephens began boarding there in 1834 with Reverend William Bird and his family, until after Bird's death. In 1845, Stephens, then serving his first term in Congress, purchased the estate. The house remained unchanged until 1848 when a servant's building was attached by a roof and a breezeway to the main house and became the statesman's library, private office, and sleeping room.
During the Civil War years, politically estranged from Confederate States of
9

The "renovated'' dining room of Liberty Hall, above, as finished by the Civilian Conservation Corps. During the home's restoration, the staircase was removed. The lower photo shows how it " cut across" two windows, which led period design experts to conclude that it was not part of the original room.

America President Jefferson Davis, Stephens spent many of the war years in Crawfordville. In 1869, Stephens was crippled when an iron gate fell on him, and confined to a wheelchair. Stephens then returned to the political arena, first as a state representative and then once again as congressman for the Eighth District.
Liberty Hall After 1875 In 1875, with widened doorways for
easier wheelchair paths and larger guest quarters in mind, Stephens decided to remodel his home. A much larger structure emerged, built with some pieces of the old house. Only the two back rooms remained unchanged. Seven years later, in his fourth month as governor of Georgia, Stephens died. People mourned the death i6lround the nation. In Virginia, flags were flown at half-mast. In Vermont, state offices were closed. Flags were lowered over the U.S. 10

Capital as newspapers around the country reported his death and reminisced about his life.
The Stephens Monumental Association purchased Liberty Hall in June 1884 with the intent of building a monument to Governor Stephens and establishing a first-class high school in his name. The 1890 Georgia Legislature decided Liberty Hall would become a branch of the University of Georgia, but funds were never appropriated.
From 1893to 1932thebuildingwasused as a residence and for additional classrooms by teachers and students of Stephens High School. Liberty Hall was adapted to meet the needs of the school. The library, once lined with books and watched over by a bronze bust of Daniel Webster, was converted to a meat room and later renovated to make space for more students at the high school. The

Association sold Liberty Hall to the State of Georgia in 1932 with the understanding that the state would use it to establish a memorial park in Stephens' honor.
Renovation and Restoration Efforts
The structure, not designed for the wear imposed on it by the school, was badly damaged. During the Depression, the Civilian Conservation Corps' (CCC) "Camp Liberty" Company worked to renovate Liberty Hall. CCC workers completely replaced the floors, ceilings, and 90 percent of the walls. Baseboards were replaced and the tramp staircase was completely rebuilt using white pine, a wood similar to the original yellow pine. The southern virgin pine (white) is no longer available except recycled from ta1n down buildings. The CCC used materials similar to those used originally, as well as locally available paint and wallpaper. Efforts by Mrs. Horace M. Holden (Stephens' great niece) and the United Daughters of the Confederacy resulted in the return of many of the original items to Liberty Hall, along with many furnishings similar to others that were once part of the home. A museum building was constructed adjacent to Liberty Hall, on the lot donated to the state by the Georgia Division of the United Daughters of the Confederacy.
Last August, for the first time in over 100 years, Liberty Hall was closed to the public when DNR's restoration project began. The two-fold purpose of the project was to depict A.H. Stephens as an individual through the tastes he displayed in his home, and also to educate visitors as to what a typical middle class Victorian home in the South was like.
Period design consultant Reneau de Beauchamp of Decatur checked historical records, interviewed Stephens family descendants, and the "CCC boys" who carried out the 1930s restoration, to obtain and verify details about Liberty Hall.
"Obviously you cannot go to a Victorian home in New England and say that is what they all looked like," explains de Beauchamp. "Things were done differently in the South, lack of money being the main reason. Southern Victorian is not as overblown, perhaps more tasteful."
Before full restoration could begin, a climate control system designed to protect the hollse and furnishings had to be installed. In compliance with standards set by the American Association of Museums, the environment within the' finished building is maintained at 68 degrees F, with a variance of no more than five degrees, and a relative humidity of 50 percent with a variance of no more than five percent. Climate maintenance, important to protect

the furnishings from expanding and contracting, keeps finishes, joints and fabrics from being damaged by changes in the weather.
When putting in the climate control compressor outside the kitchen, workers came upon a seemingly innocuous find. A wash, just below the old dishwashing area, had been filled as a trash pile. Remnants of ham and chicken bones substantiated the large dinner parties Stephens was reputed to have had. The number of old wine and liquor bottles and broken wine glasses found indicate Stephens was not as abstinent as legend has it, or at least that guests were served alcohol with meals at Liberty Hall. Pieces of china, drapery and shades found in the rubbish have given more clues in the restoration of the dining room, and copies of the china and drapery will add to the room's authenticity.
The interior of the house was stripped completely. All painted and wallpapered surfaces were thoroughly cleaned. In previous renovation efforts, a blowtorch was used for stripping. Many of the resulting dry, brittle pieces of the house crumbled away as conservation workers cleaned them, but these pieces were replaced. Scientific paint analyses offered hints about original paint colors and textures, but none of the original wallpaper remained. Invoices found in the records of Jas. G. Bailie and Brother of Augusta offered information about the original 1875 wallpaper Based on Stephens' personal taste as evidenced through research, as well as on comparable sites of the 1875-1883 period, Scalamandre, Inc. was able to custom print gilt wallpaper of the same materials as originally ordered. Samples of the wallpaper applied in the 1930s have been preserved for future historians .
Painted surfaces were revitalized in the original colors, including hallway floors which in 1875 were painted in a pattern of six-inch black and white diamonds. Walled-over gas outlets discovered in the wall stripping were wired for electricity and once again light the house. Windows have been treated with ultraviolet shields to further protect the interior. Lee Cole of DNR's Preservation Lab has refinished every major piece of furniture in the house to reflect the new lights and colors. Overall, the changes have brought the house to life.
Burn tests of sample strands of carpet indicate one original carpet and several copies were part of the furnishings .
The original carpet has been removed for preservation and replaced by a matching reproduction. The cut and method of installation of the carpet in A.H. Stephens' bedroom is consistent with installation methods of the day. Micro-

examination of the original bedroom carpet showed crushings and abrasion criss-crossing typical of wheelchair pressure. Tobacco and cotton muslin strand traces were found under the bed and wardrobe, consistent with the way wool carpets were stored. In summer, wool carpets were replaced by cooler woven mats. Tobacco leaves and camphor flakes were strewn over wool rugs, which were then rolled with a protective muslin between layers and stored in heavy cotton bags. They were placed in a sandbox with a burning candle or kerosene lamp, where they would be safe from moth damage. Moths would be attracted to the flame and the sand would guard against fire.
The part of the house with the most colorful history is probably the tramp staircase that allegedly connected the kitchen with upstairs sleeping quarters. Stories say the passageway was used by tramps traveling through Crawfordville, who often became Stephens' guests for a night or two. But evidence indicates the stairway was never part of the 1875 Liberty Hall. Though some descendants of former occupants are certain that the stairs belong, the passageway has been removed.
"In this case, the oral history grew to fit the house ," Townsend explains. The staircase was added to the existing structure between 1886 and 1889, three to six years after Stephens' death. Paint analyses indicate that the ocre color with apple green trim applied to the walls and celings of the house was only one of the many colors used in the rooms, but was the original paint used on the stairs. The type wood and nails used on the stairs did not

A more pensive Alexander Stephens is shown here in mid life. The 1858 portrait by George P.A. Healy hangs in the state Library .
match that used in the rest of the house. Also, the staircase cut across a window, as if it were an afterthought. Researchers were convinced of the staircase's anachronism when the original dining room table was found. Dinner parties hosting up to 12 people in the dining room have been documented, yet the staircase would have allowed only six to eight people at the dining room table.
"The stairs are true," assures de Beauchamp. "But not to this building. The stories have been repeated so many times and the house has been remembered with stairs for so long, the two houses get melded together in people's minds."
The existing building was Stephens' home for only seven years of his life. The tramp staircase was part of the original and much better known Liberty Hall and a similar staircase in the 1875 structure has been a part of the building for over 100 years.
Visitors today can see beyond the legend of the political Alexander H. Stephens and see more of the personal tastes behind the powerful man. Liberty Hall has been restored so that future generations can understand more about the Victorian South.
A.H. Stephens Historic Park, open 7 a.m. until 10 p.m., is located in Crawfordville just two miles off I-20. For more information about this and other state parks and historic sites, write the Georgia Department of Natural Resources, 205 Butler Street, S.E., Suite 1258, Atlanta, GA 30334 or call toll free in Georgia: l800-3GA-PARK. (Outside Georgia calll800-5GA-PARK.)
11

Take a Hike!
Seminole's Gopher Tortoise Trail
By Kathy L. Matthews

Seminole's gopher tortoises are a protected species. The tortoise burrows tunnels that are homes for up to 80 other species.
As the sun rises on the flatlands of southwest Georgia, the countryside springs alive. Dew covered spider webs glisten in the dawn's light as a low fog across the marsh and lake burns away. The avid angler, awake for hours now, pauses to notice the unspoiled beauty of the morning.
Lake Seminole attracts thousands of sport fishermen, and even more hunters tramp Lake Seminole wildlife management area each year, but nearby Seminole State Park offers much more than a sports outing. The park's sandy soil and unique habitat is home to over 200 species of plants and animals, affording visitors rare photographic and observation opportunities. As part of Georgia's Nongame Wildlife Program "Give Wildlife a Chance!", administered through the Georgia Department of Natural Resources, Seminole State Park has built a nature trail that will showcase the nongame creatures at home in this tucked away state park.
Named the Gopher Tortoise Trail for its unusual resident, the trail leads through the park's sandhill, wiregrass prairie to a boardwalk extending the trail over a natural lime sink.
"We feel the nongame fund project will enlighten southwest Georgia of the significance of the wiregrass community," explains Don Whitmire, park superintendent. "It will help promote an environmental awareness of this unique habitat."
Interpretive naturalists are available to lead group walks along the 2.2 mile trail and explain unique facets of the ecosystem. Signs posted along the trail also point out interesting features of the habitat.
The nature trail loops through the sandy gopher tortoise community. Visitors have the chance to see the creatures' burrows and even see gopher tortoise~ sunning on spring and summer afternoons. One of Geor{ra's protected species, visitors are asked to observe, but not disturb the gopher tortoise and its habitat.
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---.-~ ---
The gopher tortoise (Gopherus polyphemus) occupies the sandy regions of the coastal plains from South Carolina to the extreme areas of eastern Louisiana, the sandy plains of Georgia and most of Florida. It is the only turtle native to the United States and is near endangerment due to destruction of habitat. Known as the "Gophers" of the deep south, the prolific burrowers dig tunnels that slope downward from the surface and level off underground.
The 30 to 40 foot tunnels become cool refuges intermittently used by over 80 species of animals, including the grey fox, opossum and the endangered black indigo snake. The small wildlife and insects attracted to the burrows bring owls, grey and red fox, snakes, and other predator animals to the community. If the gopher tortoise were to suffer further decline, then many of the species that use the burrows would decline as well.
The sandy, sunny habitat often gets choked out by trees like the turkey oak. As the tall, leafy oaks begin shading the ground below, the gopher tortoise's wiregrass food and other undergrowth dies.
"When habitat starts growing up with turkey oaks and shading the area, the gophers go to sunnier sandy areas where food is more abundant," Whitmire says. "In searching for new homes, they often cross the road and are run over by cars."
In nature, the dry, dying plants of choked out undergrowth are subject to fire. A forest fire today is often a safety hazard and is put out. But the fire is what would allow the habitat to continue. After an area is consumed by fire, the turkey oaks bend and die while trees like the longleaf pine continue to grow-the bulk of a longleaf pine is at its top, not usually reached by a fire. The cleared areas below allow the wiregrass to grow and give warm, sunny patches for the animals to sun.
Without the fires wildflowers indigenous to the wiregrass community die out, but for less obvious reasons. Most wiregrass community wildflowers require a quick flash of heat at 800 degrees F to germinate, as would be generated by a strike of lightning that starts a summertime fire.
Staff at Seminole State Park has begun controlled burning in some areas of the park to manage the gopher's habitat, which is shared by some 200 plant and animal species. The aftermath of the fires may seem an unattractive char, but the fires allow the habitat to continue and will geQTiinate the park's wildflowers that will bloom in late summer to early fall , bringing a splendor of color and fragrance to the trails for visitors to enjoy.
The nature trail traverses two very different ecosystems. The path continues beyond the sandy wiregrass to a freshwater marsh lined with southern cypress and wax myrtles. A boardwalk allows visitors to step across a natural lime sink and see, up close, the aquatic ecosystem of Lake Seminole. An observation platform allows group interpretation of the area or

provides a comfortable spot to watch the park's resident beaver remodel and defend his dam. American alligators can also be spotted sunning along the shores. A lattice top over the platform provides cover so waterfowl inbound to the marsh will not be disturbed by observers.
Seminole State Park and the Lake Seminole area is home to a wide variety of plants and animals not common elsewhere in the state. The park's armadillo and indigo snake populations are particular to this South Georgia region. On the lake, visitors may come upon a wading great blue heron, spot an occasional bald eagle fishing for food, or even witness a spectacular aerobatic display performed by an osprey, another of Georgia's threatened birds of prey.
Three boat ramps, two fishing docks, six picnic shelters, a swimming beach, and family and group shelters are available at the park for recreational use. Overnight facilities on the park include 50 tent and trailer sites available for only $8 each per night. Walk-in tent sites and primitive camping are also available. The 10 rental cottages on the park offer comfortable accommodations for weekend getaways or a comfortable fishing trip. Each cottage is located on the lakeshore offering spectacular views of the sun setting on Lake Seminole from the screened-in back porches. Rates for two- and three-bedroom units range from $45 to $65 per night. Make reservations in advance by calling the park at (912) 861-3137
Annual special events at the park include numerous fishing tournaments, an annual Easter egg hunt, and this year a Water Festival to feature the Florida State University skiiers on July 1. An Independence Day fireworks display will take place on July 3, and a novice and expert water ski competition July 8 and 9,

Park staff work on the nongame wildlife trail that will take visitors from the park's sandy wiregrass community through a freshwater cypress marsh lined with wax myrtles. The trail is funded through DNR's Nongame Wildlife Conservation Program.
plus many more surprises! Seminole State Park is located in the extreme southwest
corner of Georgia and is accessible from Georgia Highway 39 south of Donalsonville or from GA 253 west of Bainbridge. For more information about this and other state parks, write the Georgia Department of Natural Resources, Communications Office, 205 Butler Street, S.E., Suite 1258, Atlanta, Georgia 30334 or call tollfree in Georgia: l-800-3GA-PARK. Outside Georgia call 1-800-SGA-PARK.
A special thanks to Don and Jane Whitmire; Conservation Ranger Chuck Crews, Albany District Game & Fish Division; and Herb Cawthorne, Camera 1, Columbus.
13

Solid aste
Options and Opportunities

As space for landfills diminshes, cities and counties must find new ways to dispose of solid waste. Recycling and
other options will work if everyone does their share.
By Lucy Justus

I f all the household waste Georgians produce in a year were put in one place, it would make a stack 40 feet high filling one side of I-20 from Atlanta to Augusta and would need 365,000 10-ton trucks to move it in one trip.
Georgia has a landfill crisis because people discard an enormous amount of trash. Of the state's 195 sanitary landfills, 139 will reach the limit of their capacity in the next four years. Eighty-eight will be filled next year and the remaining 56 within eight years.
As Georgia cities and counties confront the challenge of disposing of enormous volumes of garbage, most also confront strong opposition to the siting of new sanitary landfills.
Paradoxically, while the primary opposition comes from private citizens, some private citizens are the primary cause of the problem. Most industrial solid waste is disposed of in industrial landfills on company property. Although some industrial waste does go to municipal facilities, most of the public landfill space is taken by household waste.
Georgia homeowners discard 10,000 tons of solid waste each day. Of this, 41 percent is paper and paperboard; 17.9 percent is yard waste such as leaves, shrubbery trimmings, cut grass and broken branches; 8.7 percent is;,metal; and 8.2 percent is glass. Rubber, leather, textiles and wood account for 8.1 percent; food wastes, 7.9 percent; plastics, 6.5 percent; and miscellaneous inorganics, 1.7 percent. 14

How Landfills Became a Habit
According to John Taylor, Chief of Land Protection for DNR's Environmental Protection Division, sanitary landfilling has been the predominant way of disposing of solid waste in Georgia. In the past, suitable land was plentiful and relatively cheap and the population density was sparse enough to allow facilities to be located away from crowded residential areas. Landfilling was also convenient for homeowners. They bagged their garbage, set it outside and it disappeared like magic without their giving it another thought until the small collection bill arrived.
Unfortunately, this relatively cheap method of disposal, combined with societal affluence, encouraged the "use it once and throw it away" ethic. With no need to reuse items made of glass, paper, paperboard, plastic, aluminum or other recyclable materials, people discarded mountains of garbage and trash. But the magic wand has broken ~and both citizens and governments now recognize that an alternate approach is necessary. In the future, recycling, waste reduction and volume reduction such as incineration must take care of most of the waste with only a small proportion remaining for land disposal. "Currently, 95 percent of all our solid waste goes to sanitary landfills," Taylor says. "Some landfilling will always be necessary but we cannot expect to continue burying the large volumes of waste we have buried in the past. We must reduce

, ..
Metals such as tin and aluminum are everyday items in waste bins andjunkyards. Recycling them can help conserve the world's limited supply of ores, and save landfill space.

volumes through recycling and reuse."
Progress Being Made
Significant progress is being made in the area of recycling. A number of communities throughout the state have had effective recycling programs for several years and cities and towns which have had no recycling programs are beginning to develop them. Other municipalities are examining the practicality of incineration with or without converting the resulting heat into working energy. In some cases, local governments are crossing traditional boundaries and considering regional facilities.
Eight counties included in the Southeast Georgia Area Planning and Development Commission (APDC) are currently considering a regional solution to mutual problems. The Atlanta Regional Commission, the Georgia Mountains APDC, and Brunswick/Glynn and Albany/Dougherty Counties are studying waste-to-energy facilities. For example, the City of Savannah has a 500-ton-per-day system to incinerate the city's solid waste and generate steam which is used by a local industry.
However, government alone cannot solve the problem. Citizens must help. Here are some things that can be done.
Minimize waste volumes: Buy products wrapped in paper rather than plastic. Purchase reusable items rather than disposable ones. Compost leaves, grass clippings and food wastes. The com-

post makes an excellent addition to heavy clay or porous sandy soils.
Find creative uses for products designed for a single purpose. Most brands of margarine and a number of other products are packaged in colorful, lidded bowls. The containers can be used for leftover foods or as organizers to hold small items in kitchens, pantries or workshops.
Glass jars are good storage containers for fresh herbs, cold cuts and other foods and beverages kept in the refrigerator. Scouring pads placed in a glass container of water and liquid detergent will not rust.
Strips of nylon hosiery are excellent for fastening up plants and vines. The nylon is strong and pliable but will not cut into branches and stems. Spray bottles such as those containing glass cleaners are useful for misting plants.
Worn shower curtains make good drop cloths for use when painting.
Paper cups and cardboard milk cartons filled with paper are handy for starting fires in fireplaces.
Cardboard or plastic milk containers filled with water are an excellent way to freeze fish.
Large plastic bottles, such as one-gallon milk containers, can be converted into bird houses or bird feeders. With the small top portion removed and the larger portion inverted over small plants, they become miniature greenhouses to prevent
15

Most of the things people throw away can be recycled, or reused
Here, glass is collectedfor recycling.
plants from freezing. The same type of bottle can keep plants thriving in dry
weather when outdoor water use is restricted A small hole can be made in the bottom and the bottle filled with "gray water" left in the bathtub or kitchen sink after use. Placed beside plants or shrubs, the device will provide a constant supply of water.
Egg cartons are good organizers for such items as paper clips, rubber bands, thumbtacks or nails. The cartons also make good packing material whole or cut into small pieces when placed around certain types of breakable items.
Towels, which frequently become worn at one or both ends, can be trimmed and the remainder hemmed or fringed to make aprons, washcloths, small hand towels for the kitchen, dustcloths or other cleaning cloths. Worn sheets and pillowcases also make good cloths for dusting and other cleaning.
Recycle Paper, Glass, Aluminum, Oil
The Department of Natural Resources and the Department of Community Affairs, through the Clean Communities program, have long encouraged recycling as many materials as possible. Paper was one of the first products to be extensively recycled and is still among the most recyclable wastes. Many communities have now integrated paper recycling with their solid waste disposal programs, picking up packaged wastepaper from curbsides along with household garbage. Georgia now has 14 mills more than any other state in the nation which recycle paper.
To help citizens recycle used oil, DNR's Environmental Protection Division recently began a program called Project PETRO (Protect the Environment Through Recycling Oil). The project is aimed at conserving petroleum resources while preventing contamination of water supplies from discarded oil.
Do-it-yourselfers who change the oil in their cars, trucks or lawnmowers should take the used oil they drain from vehicles to a service station or other facili~ for recycling. A list of collection points is available from the Department of Natural Resources (1152 East Tower, 205 Butler Street, S.W., Atlanta, Georgia, 30334).
16

"Used oil exemplifies the ecological advantages of recycling," Taylor says. "Reuse can prevent environmental contamination and conserve energy, landfill space and raw materials.
"An aluminum can made from a recycled can requires only five percent of the resources needed for manufacturing one entirely from raw products. And the more aluminum we recycle, the less aluminum-bearing ore needs to be mined.
"Manufacturing plastics requires petroleum and the world's petroleum supply is limited. When we send plastic products to a landfill, we are burying part of that supply."
Some community recycling programs deal with only one product; others deal with as many as four and the collection systems vary from one community to another.
Gwinnett County's innovative recycling bank has been selected by the Keep America Beautiful program as a national model and has attracted visitors from around the nation and from other countries.
The bank, opened in 1986, is operated by the Gwinnett Clean and Beautiful program and functions much like any other bank. "Tellers" accept and pay for items to be recycled. Organizations can raise funds by opening accounts by bringing paper, glass, aluminum, corrugated cardboard and plastic soft drink bottles to the bank. The materials are weighed and credited to the organization's account. Eighty civic groups currently have accounts with the bank.
"In 1988, we recovered four million pounds of materials from the waste stream and saved 230,000 cubic feet of landfill space," says Connie Wiggins, executive director of Gwinnett Clean and Beautiful. "And in the past two years, we have paid Gwinnett residents more than $250,000 for the materials they broughtin."
There are other benefits as well. The program began on a small scale in 1980 because the county had a problem with landfill space and illegal dumping and littering. "In 1988, there was 94 percent less littering and dumping than in 1980," Ms. Wiggins says.
Every Community Can Participate All communities are encouraged to recycle as much solid
waste as possible. A list of those which have recycling programs is available from the Department of Natural Resources or the Department of Community Affairs. In addition to programs sponsored by local governments, many private agencies and organizations collect materials and recycle them as fundraising projects. In Brunswick, the Easter Seal Speech and Hearing Center began recycling paper in 1987 and later included glass, aluminum cans and corrugated cardboard. "In the past 16 months, we have recycled more than a million pounds of materials and grossed more than $35,000" said Becky Rowell, executive director of the center. "We have also saved approximately 1,500 cubic yards of landfill space.
"Everybody has been extremely supportive of the program. The County gave us a surplus forklift and an old ambulance we use for collection. We pick up recyclable materials from businesses but everyone else brings theirs to one of two locations."
In addition to conserving landfill space and providing funds for the Speech and Hearing Center, the program provides five people with part-time employment and uses five to 10 others who have been sentenced by the courts to perform community services .
For the convenience of people who wish to begin recycling programs, a free directory of recyclers throughout the state is available by writing to the Department of Natural Resources at the address given previously or to the Department of Community Affairs, Suite 800, 40 Marietta St., NW, Atlanta, Georgia 30303.

The -Otter
By Joe Kurz Assistant Chief, DNR Game Management
...

The otter is elusive, and rarely glimpsed in the wild, though its numbers in Georgia have not declined.

The otter (Lutra canadensis) is a particularly graceful animal. Even though many people are familiar with the otter as the star of nature programs and cartoons, most Georgians have never actually seen an otter in the wild. The animals are elusive and rarely observed except by hunters and trappers. Many sportsmen regard seeing an otter while hunting or fishing as the highlight of an outdoor trip.
This is not only because they are hard to glimpse - they can also be extremely entertaining. While I was duck hunting a few years ago, a female otter and her young began investigating my decoys. I don't recall how many ducks I took that day, but I have fresh memories of those critters diving in and out of the decoys!
Otters frequent streams, rivers, and adjacent wooded areas. They dig a permanent den along a stream bank with an entrance well below the water line. Inside, they build nests of grass, sticks, reeds and leaves. These rapid, expert swimmers will occasionally roam far from water and are known to visit ponds, especially where fish are abundant. Otters may create small mudslides at the water's edge, but they cause no other damage.
Populations Vary in Regions
Nationally, numbers of otters vary greatly in different regions. Otters presently range mostly in the extreme north-

western U.S., including northern California, in the northern Great Lakes states, as well as in New England and throughout the mid-Atlantic and southern states. Some states in which otter populations have declined - Tennessee, Missouri and Arkansas among them - have set up restocking programs. A former DNR wildlife biologist, Jane Griess, helped start the re-introduction of otters into Great Smoky Mountains National Park.
The otter has expanded its range considerably in Georgia. Thirty-five years ago, retired University of Georgia professor and Game and Fish biologist Jim Jenkins conducted a survey of all game animals in the state, including the otter. In 1953, he found otters occurring only infrequently north of a line fr~m Heard, Clarke, Oglethorpe and Lincoln Counties. Dr. Jenkins also indicated that otters were very rare throughout the Piedmont. Today, otters may be found in most beaver ponds in the Georgia Piedmont. Unlike otter populations in the Midwest, there is no evidence that Georgia's otters have ever declined in numbers.
Because the otter is a predator, its populations will be lower than animals that feed on plants. Slight increases in otter populations are probably traceable to improved habitat, created by beavers. The animals are most abundant along the fall line, which stretches along an east-west

route from Augusta to Columbus. Otter populations are also high in southeastern portiorfs of Georgia. However, north of Cherokee and Bartow Counties, otters are very seldom found. Along rivers inhabited by otters, there is generally one animal per two miles of river corridor. In good swamp habitat, such as that found in South Georgia, there may be four or five otters per square mile.
The fur of the otter is dark brown along the back, with pale brown on the belly. When wet, the otter usually looks black its thick, dense pelt makes the otter one of the most valuable species of furbearers, and trappers have sought it since the nation was colonized. Fur prices fluctuate greatly, depending on supply, demand and fashion trends. However, the otter is always highly prized for its pelt and last year the average animal brought over $20 to Georgia trappers. In the late 1970s, when fur prices were at an all-time high, trappers received $46 for pelts.
An Unusual Reproduction Pattern The otter's unusual reproduction pat-
tern is known as "delayed implantation." In most animals the fertilized egg immediately attaches to the wall of the placenta and begins to grow. With the otter, however, the fertilized egg does not start to grow for many months - it simply "floats" inside the uterus. About eight months later the embryo implants into the uterine wall, and a litter is born between 60 and 63 days later, usually in March or April. From breeding to birth, the total gestation period is almost 12 months. Otters raise only one litter, consisting of one to four young per year. A litter of five is considered rare. As adults, the animals are large, weighing up to 24 pounds and reaching lengths of four to five feet.
The otter, a carnivore, has diverse eating habits. Though it sometimes eats vegetation, most of its diet consists of insects, shellfish, and fish like carp, suckers and catfish. Some pond owners fear than an otter can ruin a fish population, but this rarely happens. Most fish caught by otters are rough fish, or those not sought by fishermen, and the number caught in any single pond is usually very small.
Sometimes river otters work together to catch fish. Large fish are carried to land, and others are consumed in the water. They are known to communicate with one another, even over distances, and offer a variety of shrill, chattering calls during mating season.
So, if one or more of these elusive, playful critters begin utilizing your pond, count yourself lucky to be one of the few people to see their antics, and enjoy the visit!
17

Clockwise, from left: a loggerhead in captivity; Ridley hatchlings scurrying to the sea; the aggressive hawksbill.

Ocean Nomads

Georgia's Sea Turtles
By Deborah Dewberry
The extraordinary life of the sea turtle is spent almost entirely in marine waters. Except for the nesting female that comes ashore by night to lay her eggs, all sea turtles are at home in the oceans of the world, and have been adapting to their marine habitat for more than 100 million years. Like oceangoing nomads, these ancient reptiles migrate thousands of miles between nesting seasons but return to the same beaches to nest year after year. Georgia's barrier islands, with their relatively quiet, warm beaches, are among the North American shores that sea turtles still frequent for nesting.
The mysterious lives of sea turtles have been of great interest to conservationists in recent years, as their populations have drastically declined. Some species have been pushed to the brink of extinction by overhunting, their oil, meat, leather, eggs and shells having brought subsistence incomes to fishermen for many years. As a result, increasingly fewer females have returned to nest on Georgia shores and elsewhere.
Many sea turtle carcasses wash ashore on Georgia beaches yearly. While some die of natural causes, sea turtles and their habitats are increasingly endangered by man's activities. Continued beach developments, shore and ocean litter, and even fishing nets and propellers pose added threats to turtles that inhabit Georgia waters. To help these endangered or threatened reptiles survive, the Department of Natural Resources' Coastal Resources Division carries out a number of programs on their behalf.
Five species of sea turtles inhabit Georgia's waters. These include the endangered leatherback (Dermochelys coriacea), the largest of sea turtles; the endangered green turtle (Chelonia mydas), which takes its name from the color of its body fat; the endangered hawksbill (Eretmochelys imbricata), which has been prized for its shell; the threatened loggerhead (Caretta caretta), which is Georgia's most common;"and Kemp's Ridley (Lepidochelys kempi), the most endangered of all five species. Of these, the only one that nests routinely in temperate zones such
18

The leatherback, largest of sea turtles.
as Georgia is the loggerhead. The others prefer beaches in tropical climates, but pass through Georgia's coastal waters while migrating. Occasionally, greens and leatherbacks also nest on Georgia beaches. Whether the sea turtles are nesting or swimming, and whether they are alive or dead, all are protected by Georgia law, as are their eggs.
Nesting Habits Nesting loggerheads are the t~rtles most likely to leave "tractor
marks" on Georgia beaches, stretching from the tidemark up to the dunes and back. Because they lay many clutches of eggs during each mating season, from late May to mid-August, nesting loggerheads are fairly common on Georgia's barrier island shores. During nesting, the sea turtle performs an exacting ritual.
When ready to lay her eggs, the sea turtle cruises nearshore

waters and "scans" the beach from the water. If everything seems safe, she hefts her large, 300-to-400 lb. body along the beach all the way to dry sand above the high tide mark. This is a very strenuous effort for the reptile, which is an agile swimmer and supremely well adapted to the ocean but poorly suited for locomotion on land. As though single-mindedly determined, the turtle chooses a nesting spot and begins digging into the sand with her rear flippers. This goes ~ until she can no longer "reach" the sand in the cavity. Then, the turtle deposits between 100 and 150 small, white leathery eggs, resembling ping-pong balls, and again uses the rear flippers to cover the nest with sand. When the sand is packed over the eggs securely, to further disguise the nest the turtle tosses sand around with her front flippers and then slowly makes her way back to the sea.
After eight or nine weeks' incubation, 90 to 100 hatchlings emerge and begin scrambling toward the ocean. The tiny newborn turtles recognize the water by a lighter horizon. As a result, bright, artificial lights such as those from streetlights, residences and hotels and restaurants, may all interfere with the hatchlings' ability to reach the sea. Artificial lights may even cause them to be stranded in dunes, shrubs, parking lots or streets. Currently, research is being directed at finding lights that will not disorient hatchlings as they try to get to the ocean. Local ordinances limiting beachfront lighting have been enacted in some coastal towns.
According to Charles Maley, DNR's coordinator for Georgia's Sea Turtle Stranding and Salvage Network, when the hatchlings make it to the water, they face tremendous odds against surviving to adulthood. "Depending on which experts you talk to, the survival rate is from one in 100 to one in 1,000 for the first year of life at sea," Maley says. When fully grown, the sea turtle has few natural predators and may live for many years. Tagging studies have documented that the life span of some turtles approaches that of man.
Anyone who finds a nesting loggerhead should not disturb the turtle. It is also illegal for persons to disturb the eggs in any way. The eggs are eagerly sought by predators, including man.
How Are Turtles Being Helped?
The Department of Natural Resources participates in the Sea Turtle Stranding and Salvage Network administered by the National Marine Fisheries Service (NMFS) of the U.S. government. This organization collects information on dead turtles that wash ashore in the U.S. from Texas to Maine, and in Puerto Rico. Information is gathered by volunteers patrolling beaches regularly, and reporting to a state coordinator.
Research on behalf of sea turtles is extensive, too. Scientists have tagged the reptiles in efforts to record their nesting behavior. Tagged turtles carry information that is vital to their species' survival. Every year, the Sea Turtle Biology and Conservation Workshop brings international scientists together to discuss their findings and the latest and best conservation techniques for keeping all species safe from harm. In 1989, this meeting was held on Jekyll Island and attended by scientists from 14 countries.
Public involvement and awareness has also played a part in helping sea turtles in Georgia. Individuals and groups are designing educational materials to promote public awareness of the importance of rescuing eggs from poachers, predators and erosion. Other efforts are being directed at reducing the number of accidental deaths among sea turtles and protecting their nesting habitat. Turtle Excluder Devices (TED's) have been distributed at no cost to Georgia commercial fishermen in efforts to keep the reptiles from being caught and drowned in fishing nets. Funds from the Georgia Office of Energy Resources have helped DNR purchase and distribute more than 800 TEDs to

Hatchlings like this baby green sea turtle face survival odds estimated as high as one in a thousand.
Georgia shrimpers. These devices are successfully saving turtles' lives. According to a 1987 federal law that will take effect May 1, 1989, all shrimpers with vessels over 25ft. long are required to have TEDs while fishing in offshore waters. Regulations enacted by the National Marine Fisheries Service will require all shrimping vessels offshore south of Jekyll Island to be equipped with TEDs. These laws will apply through the end of shrimping season, and will hopefully keep sea turtles from being accidentally killed by fishing nets. Nesting grounds are also being protected, often as strictly as the species themselves. The breakdown of healthy barrier island dune systems that the turtles cannot live without is being fought. The Georgia Shore Assistance Act of 1979 helps ensure that beaches and dunes are not overly encroached upon by development. Beach renourishment is another measure that helps reclaim eroding beaches from the negative impacts of rock seawalls and dredged shipping channels, impairments to beaches and dunes that provide suitable nesting habitat.
If You Find A Turtle
Those who discover a dead or stranded sea turtle on any of Georgia's shores should immediately contact DNR's Coastal Resources Division at (912)265-7218. If the turtle has been tagged, effort should be made to record the numbers on the tag. The tags should not be removed unless they will be turned over to authorities. The tags contain valuable information concerning the species of the turtle to which they are attached. Carcasses that have been accounted for by authorities will be marked with brightly colored paint. Dead or alive, a sea turtle is legally protected, and a carcass should be treated with as much respect as a living animal.
As previously mentioned, nests should be left alone. If a turtle is observed nesting, it is permissible to .sit quietly in the dark at a good distance, to watch. The turtle should not be subjected to lights, noise or disturbance of any kind.
People can help the sea turtles survive. The Department encourages public support and awareness in helping conservationists, ecologists, scientists and government agencies in all efforts to restore and protect these "ancient mariners" from extinction.
19

Forgotten Flower

The Plumleaf Azalea
Thomas S. Patrick Botanist, Georgia Natural Heritage Inventory

0 ne of Georgia's most colorful stateprotected plants is the plumleaf azalea (Rhododendron prunifolium). Azaleas are rhododendrons with deciduous leaves; most have showy flowers that are known to attract butterflies and hummingbirds. They brighten the woodlands, and add sparkle to homesites throughout Georgia. Most of the gaudyflowered types are imports from Eastern Asia, where rhododendrons are much more diverse, although our own native species are becoming more and more popular. Azaleas are sometimes called honeysuckles because several are sweetsmelling: some even have a spicy, clove-like fragrance.
The plumleaf azalea was discovered near Cuthbert, Randolph County, on Georgia's coastal plain in the early 1900s. The same year another collector discovered the same undescribed species in adjacent Alabama near the Chattahoochee River. Tw~things are very peculiar about the plumleaf azalea
its bright red to reddish-orange flowers
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massed atop smooth, deep green leaves and its late-blooming period. Peak of bloom is from mid-July through midAugust. However, specimens are known to bloom sporadically well into October. Horticulturists have developed strains with larger flowers, longer and later blooming times, and with compact stature. In the wild, specimens resemble small trees as large as dogwoods. When smothered with their reddish blooms in late summer they are a sight to behold. The species occurs in a narrow band near the Chattahoochee River in southwest Georgia and ~djacent Alabama. Its natural habitat is a northfacing ravine slope dominated by hardwoods. The largest known naturally occurring population is in the custody of the Georgia Department of Natural Resources at Providence Canyon State Park near Lumpkin, Ga. Here, plants occur mostly along the stream margins at the bottom of the canyon where filtered sunlight and moisture from the sandy bottom are fairly constant.

Callaway's 'Vermillion Wonder'
The plumleaf azalea is linked strongly to the establishment of Callaway Gardens near Pine Mountain, Ga. "The inspiration for the gardens resulted from the discovery of this plant by Cason and Virginia Callaway on their land," according to Dr. Bill Barrick, Director of Callaway Gardens. Today, a visit to the gardens in July and August, especially, provides another good opportunity to view the vermillion wonder of the plumleaf azalea in full bloom.
During an intensive survey for remaining natural stands of the plumleaf azalea during the 1988 growing season, field botanist Jim Allison, working for the Department's Natural Heritage Inventory, discovered some 30-odd new populations in Georgia. The species has withstood human encroachment quite well, in contrast to many other of our rare plants. Perhaps there are two reasons for its success in the wild its ability to persist after selective logging, taking advantage of exposed mineral soils to germinate new seeds and, secondly, its proliferation by vigorous root sprouts. Although some new stands were located, the species remains threatened by heavy equipment used in logging of hardwoods from steep fragile ravine slopes of the coastal plain. Changes in land use could drastically affect several of the remaining wild populations. Since it is an extremely attractive summer bloomer, demand for it as a landscape plant will only increase. Fortunately, the plumleaf azalea is so adaptable by cultivation that many nurseries carry stock and the raiding of wild J?Opulations by collectors has been avoided.
A visit to Providence Canyon State Park, Callaway Gardens, or other azalea gardens to see the plumleaf azalea in late July or early August is a rewarding experience. Be prepared to listen for the whir of the hummingbird as it seeks a reward from the bright red flower!

Calendar
MAY
WILD AND ENDANGERED SPECIES May 20, 9 a.m. - 5 p.m. Fort King George Historic Site, D<1[ien 912/437-4770.
ENDANGERED WILDLIFE AND PLANTS IN SOUTH GEORGIA May 20, 10 a.m. 1:30 p.m. Laura S. Walker State Park, Waycross 912/283-4424.
APPALACHIAN TRAIL 52ND ANNIVERSARY CELEBRATION May 20, 10 a.m.- 8 p.m. & May 21, 10 a.m.-3 p.m. Amicalola Falls State Park, Dawsonville 404/265-2885.
BLUEBIRDS, EAGLES AND BATS May 20, James H . Floyd State Park, Summerville 404/857-5211.
CRAFTS IN THE CLOUDS May 20 & 21 , 9 a.m.-5 p.m. Cloudland Canyon State Park, Rising Fawn 404/657-4050.
ALTAMAHA RIVER DAY TRIP May 27, 9 a.m.-5 p.m. Fort King George Historic Site, Darien 912/437-4770.
ANNUAL SENIOR-JUNIOR CATFISH RODEO May 27,9 a.m. 3 p.m. Victoria Bryant State Park, Royston 404/245-6270.
BATILE OF PICKETI'S MILL COMMEMORATION May 27, 9 a .m. 6 p.m. Pickett's Mill Historic Site, Dallas 404/424-6177
INDIAN SKILLS DAY May 27, 10 a.m.- 4 p.m. Etowah Indian Mounds, Cartersville 404/387-3747
BLUEGRASS-COUNTRY WESTERN FESTIVAL May 27 2-6 p.m. Florence Marina State Park, Omaha 912/838-4244.
KUDZU: NUISANCE OR NECESSITY? May 27 Amicalola Falls State Park, D awso nville 404/265-2885.
MEMORIAL DAY CELEBRATION May 27, II a.m.-4:30p.m. Fort McAllister Historic Park, Richmond Hill 912 / 7 2 7-2339 .

Participate in a fishing derby this spring!
NOBLE JONES AND THE WAR OF JENKINS EAR May 27, II a.m.- 4 p.m. & May 28, 2 5 p.m. Wormsloe Historic Site, Savannah 912/352-2548.
FACTORY SHOALS ARTS & CRAFTS FESTIVAL May 27, 10 a.m.- 6 p.m. & May 28, Noon 6 p.m. Sweetwater Creek State Park, Lithia Springs 404/944-1700.
MEMORIAL DAY CELEBRATION May 29, 10 a.m.- 4 p.m. Georgia Veterans Memorial Park, Cordele 912/273-2190.
JUNE
FISHING RODEO FOR KIDS June 3, 9 a.m. Noon James H . Floyd State Park, Summerville 404/857-5211.
PIONEER SKILLS DAY June 3, I p.m .- 6 p.m. Hart State Park, Hartwell 404/376-8756.
NATIONAL FISHING WEEK June 5-11 Contact DNR Fisheries 404/656-3524.
OLD ENGINES AND TRACTORS DAY June 10, 10:30 a.m.-3:30p.m. Jarrell Plantation Historic Site, Juliette 912/986-5172.
PIONEER SKILLS DAY June 10, 10 a.m.- 5 p.m. General Coffee State Park, Nicholls 912/384-7082.
MOUNTAIN LORE & LEGENDS June 10, 10 a.m.-10 p.m. & June II , 10 a.m .-3 p.m. Amicalola Falls State Park, Dawsonville 404/265-2885 .
BROAD RIVER DAY TRIP June 17, 10 a.m. Victoria Bryant State Park, Royston 404/245-6270.
lOM/$ 4,933

ALL ABOUT MOUNTAIN TROUT June 17, 8 a.m.- 9 p.m. Moccasin Creek State Park, Clarkesville 404/94'7-3194.
SONGS OF THE SOUTH June 17 Watson Mill Bridge State Park, Comer 404/783-5349.
SUNDAY IN THE PARK June 18, 1-3 p.m. George T Bagby State Park, Fort Gaines 912/768-2660.
BIATHLON June 24, 8 a.m. Kolomoki Mounds Historic Park, Blakely 912/723-5296.
SOUTH FORK BROAD RIVER DAY TRIP June 24, Watson Mill Bridge State Park, Comer 404/783-5349.
INDIAN ACTIVITIES DAY FOR CHILDREN June 24, 10 a.m. 3 p.m. Etowah Mounds Historic Site, Cartersville 404/387-3747
BATS: MYTHS & REALITIES June 24, 4 10 p.m. Amicalola Falls State Park, Dawsonville 404/265-2885.
1776 POLITICAL RALLY June 30, 8-9:30 p.m. Wormsloe Historic Site, Savannah 912/352-2548.
BLUEGRASS MUSIC FESTIVAL June 30, 7-11 p.m. & July I, 4-11 p.m. Victoria Bryant State Park, Royston 404/245-6270.
JULY
COASTAL RANGERS July I, 9:30 a.m .-5 p.m. Ft. King George Historic Site, Darien 912/437-4770.
INDEPENDENCE WEEKEND CELEBRATION July I, Kolomoki Mounds Historic Park, Blakely 912/723-5296.
INDEPENDENCE DAY CELEBRATION July I, 4 p.m. Florence Marina State Park, Omaha 912/838-4244.
July is National Recreation and Parks month. Many Georgia parks and historic sites will host special programs every week during July. These include All-American Festivities; Historic Georgia events; Hobbies Week; and Health, Fitness and Wei/ness Week. Contact specific parks and sites for information.
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Project

P rotect the E nvironment T hrough R ecycling
On

Project PETRO is a voluntary program
developed by the Georgia Department of Natural Resources to promote used oil collection, recycling and reuse . Citizens are asked to participate in the program by collecting used oil

and delivering it to collection points for eventual recycling and reuse. Through recycling and reuse of waste oil , Georgians can reduce the amount of used oil released into the environment. For the location of the nearest collection point call:

1-800-33-GA-EPD
Support Project PETRO by Recycling Used Oil
Georgia Department of Natural Resources Suite 1152 East Tower 205 Butler Street, S.E.
Atlanta, GA 30334 (404) 656-2833

DNR Outdoor Report Georgia Department of Natural Resources 205 Butler St., S.E. Suite 1258 Atlanta, GA 30334

BULK RATE U.S. POSTAGE
PAID Permit No. 1043 Atlanta, Ga. 30334