There's a place called Cedar Creek in Georgia's Oconee National Forest (central GA; Putnam and Jones counties).  It's known for abundant wildlife and remarkable crystal waters.

Unfortunately the area is heavily fragmented with private inholdings. Because of the lovely natural surroundings, these privately owned tracts within the National Forest are very prone to development.

The U.S. Forest Service has an extraordinary opportunity to acquire a 450-acre tract and convert it to national forest. The current owner of the Cedar Creek property is a timber company seeking to sell off its inholdings.

Key to this successful purchase is the securing of Land & Water Conservation Fund dollars - and this is where we need your help by the May 2 deadline. (Background on LWCF is at the bottom of this alert.)

Last year, Georgia received NO LWCF FUNDS! Please let the below elected officials know that you want them to seek LWCF dollars for conservation in Georgia.

In FY 2009, $1.5 million is needed through the Land and Water Conservation Fund to acquire and conserve the first 450 acres of the Cedar Creek property, with an additional $2.5 million to purchase other key tracts on the Chattahoochee National Forest.  

Who to call or e-mail:

• Rep. Jim Marshall, 8th District
  Phone: 202-225-6531
  E-mail form: http://www.house.gov/marshall/contact.html

• Rep. Nathan Deal, 9th District
  Phone: 202-225-5211
  E-mail: scott.cleveland@mail.house.gov

• Rep. Paul Broun, 10th District
  Phone: 202-225-4101
  E-mail: john.kennedy@mail.house.gov

• Sen. Saxby Chambliss
  Phone: 202 224-3521
  E-mail via website: http://chambliss.senate.gov

• Sen. Johnny Isakson
  Phone: 202-224-3643
  E-mail form: http://isakson.senate.gov/contact.cfm

What to say:

Below are suggested guidelines for your call or e-mail. Please use your own wording.

"Dear _______,

I am writing in support of an appropriation of $4 million from the Land and Water Conservation Fund for the Chattahoochee-Oconee Riparian Project. Within this effort, the Forest Service is seeking to acquire several tracts in the Chattahoochee-Oconee National Forests to improve protection of watersheds and water quality.

One of the projects within this program is the 901-acre Cedar Creek in-holding in the Oconee National Forest. Cedar Creek is a headwater stream of Lake Sinclair and falls within the larger Oconee River Watershed. The riparian corridor provides recreational opportunities including fishing, canoeing, camping, hiking, hunting, swimming, and horseback riding. Preventing residential development of this land will also protect habitat for wildlife and water quality.

In FY 2009, a total of $4 million is requested for these acquisitions. Of this amount, $1.5 million would be used to acquire the first phase of the Cedar Creek property, and the remaining $2.5 million would be dedicated to other important acquisitions in the Chattahoochee NF.

Thank you for your support of protecting Georgia’s natural resources. "

Background info about LWCF:

Annually our congressional leaders have the opportunity to secure funds for important conservation lands in Georgia.

Created by Congress in 1964, the Land and Water Conservation Fund (LWCF) provides money to federal, state and local governments to purchase land, water and wetlands for the the benefit of all Americans. From majestic forests and snowcapped mountains, to wild rivers and stunning beaches, these acquisitions become part of your national forests.

Chattahoochee-Oconee National Forest officials have identified key tracts and willing sellers for taking advantage of LWCF.  Often working with partners such as Trust for Public land and the Nature Conservancy, important properties and relationships for land purchases are initiated. 

Note: The Cedar Creek property is part of a larger on-going land acquisition program by the Forest Service. Other than land swaps, funding for outright purchase from a willing seller is the only way the agency can acquire important conservation tracts. Now is the time to make such purchases as large timber companies throughout Georgia are selling their holdings. The time for these purchases will never be better.

For more information, please visit our LWCF Campaign webpage at: http://www.gafw.org/lwcf.html