Dave Williams, Capitol Beat.
ATLANTA – The Georgia Department of Natural Resources (DNR) has awarded $24.6 million to help fund 12 land conservation projects across the state through the Georgia Outdoor Stewardship Program.
Voters overwhelmingly approved the program as a constitutional amendment in 2018. The program is funded through a sales tax on sporting goods.
The largest grant in this year’s round of funding – $5 million – will go toward the acquisition of Upatoi Ravines in Talbot County near Columbus.
Three grants worth $3 million each will help acquire an addition to the Phinizy Wildlife Management Area in Richmond County, restore Paradise Park in Thomasville, and renovate the day use area at Amicalola Falls State Park in Dawson County.
Here are the other grants the Georgia Board of Natural Resources approved late last week: * $1.9 million to expand Campbellton Park in Chattahoochee Hills. * $1.8 million to acquire additional acreage at Panola Mountain State Park in Henry and Rockdale counties.
* $1.6 million to acquire acreage on the Pinhoti Trail in Polk County.
* $1.3 million to acquire One Mile Branch Preserve in the city of Madison * $1.3 million for waterway trail improvements at Stephen C. Foster State Park in Charlton County.
* $1 million for improvements at the Ocmulgee Heritage Trail Rose Hill Cemetery Connection in Macon.
* $993,651 for habitat restoration on state lands in Walton County.
* $808,500 to acquire the Grizzard Tract at Black Rock Mountain State Park in Rabun County.
