By DAVE HAMRICK
Staff Writer

The city of Atlanta's plans to build a new runway at Hartsfield Airport may provide more than $2 million for an environmental project in Fayette County.

Fayette's Southern Conservation Trust will receive about $2.4 million from Atlanta to manage a 56-acre wetland preserve off Ga. Highway 85 near Fayetteville.

The money is being paid to help mitigate the destruction of wetlands for the airport's fifth runway project. City Council had first reading of the airport plan Monday, with plans to vote on it Dec. 20.

With $1.4 million for design and construction of a series of levies to control water level in the wetlands, and $1 million held in trust to pay for maintenance and repair of future damage from storms and other disasters, the project promises to be good for Fayette's environment and an excellent educational resource, said SCT president Dennis Chase.

“I think it's going to be one of the nicest projects in this part of the state,” said Chase.

SCT was formed in 1990 to manage and protect natural resources entrusted to its care, starting with Peachtree City's Flat Creek wetlands preserve.

Fayette's well-known Sams family donated the 56-acre Sams Lake property about four years ago, said Chase, after breaking the lake's dam due to liability concerns.

The land was part of a larger property that has become Applegate subdivision.

While the donation was appreciated, Chase said, SCT members initially had to scratch for funding just to pay the taxes on the land. “As soon as we got ownership,” he said, “we began trying to find someone who could help us control the water levels so we could enhance the wetlands,” he said.

About two years ago, officials with the Corps of Engineers provided the answer. They put SCT in touch with CH2MHill, biological consultants working with the city of Atlanta's airport project. When a government project destroys wetlands, the federal Clean Air Act requires that government to create wetlands somewhere else to make up for the loss.

“It was just what we were looking for,” said Chase.

The consultants designed five levies of varying lengths, with removable planks. “In the spring, we can put in planks to raise the water and enhance the habitat for water foul and shore birds,” said Chase.

A bird conservation area will be the main thrust of the project, he said, adding that Eagle Scout projects already have provided several bird boxes and bat boxes on the property.

In addition to providing about $1 million to build the levies, boardwalks and observation decks (plus about $400,000 for the design work), Atlanta also will provide a permanent trust of $1 million. “Under the Clean Water Act, this preserve has to last forever, basically,” said Chase.

With the trust in place, he said, “SCT will have the ability to replace the structures if a huge storm comes through and one or more levies is washed out.”

The organization will be allowed to use about $25,000 to $35,000 of interest from the trust to manage and maintain the project, and to pay the taxes.

“This is going to be a really outstanding environmental education area,” said Chase. “I think people are going to be really amazed at how nice it is.”

The money probably will be made available about next March, Chase said, if City Council approves and Mayor Bill Campbell signs the enabling legislation. After that, construction can begin soon, he said.