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Bond Swamp wildlife refuge may grow
By Anna Clark
The Macon Telegraph
Bond Swamp National Wildlife Refuge could triple its size if the Atlanta office of the U.S. Fish & Wildlife Service gives its final approval to a new plan.
The wildlife service is considering expanding the boundaries of the refuge from its current 5,500 acres to as much as 17,500 acres. The refuge, established in 1989, is on the Ocmulgee River in Bibb and Twiggs counties, about seven miles south of Macon.
Comments must be postmarked by Friday. They may be sent to Charles Danner, 1875 Century Blvd., Suite 420, Atlanta 30345, or faxed to 404-679-7273. For more information, call the U.S. Fish & Wildlife Service at 1-800-419-9582. | |
The public has until Friday to express opinions about the proposal. So far, about 20 people have written their comments, only two of which were against the expansion. The negative comments have focused on fears landowners around the swamp would be forced to sell their land involuntarily through eminent domain. The wildlife service's policy, however, is to buy only from willing sellers.
"Many times with our projects, there's the fear we would condemn land," said Rose Robinson, a land-acquisition biologist with the service.
Most comments have focused on the conservation benefits of protecting more of the bottomland hardwood habitat in the area, Robinson said. Main goals of the expansion include protecting wetlands, providing more habitat for migratory birds and to open more land for the Ocmulgee Heritage Greenway, a proposed recreational and conservation park along the river.
"We will be protecting this land against development in perpetuity," Robinson said.
Maconite Tully M. Bond Jr., 71, wrote one of the supporting comments. He owns 60 acres that he is willing to sell for the expansion, provided an acceptable price can be negotiated. In fact, he sold 1,000 acres for the original creation of Bond Swamp refuge, which is named for his grandfather.
"I got the property from my grandfather, and I thought this was a good way to honor him and at the same time perpetuate his memory," Bond said.
The area is home to a pair of nesting bald eagles, the endangered shortnose sturgeon, the endangered wood stork and the threatened American alligator.
Although it is almost 10 years old, the refuge has yet to be open for public use, except on a few isolated occasions. But refuge managers hope that support for the greenway will bring federal and state dollars to the refuge to allow more public access. Officials don't now have enough funds or staff to build trails or patrol public use.
Comments must be postmarked by Friday. They may be sent to Charles Danner, 1875 Century Blvd., Suite 420, Atlanta 30345, or faxed to 404-679-7273. For more information, call the U.S. Fish & Wildlife Service at 1-800-419-9582.
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