Developing A Great Resort While Protecting an Even Greater Asset
Nestled in the mountains between Young Harris and Hiawassee, Georgia, Brasstown Valley contains challenging topographic character and significant components of the regions ecosystem. The natural beauty of the site challenged the Georgia’s Department of Natural Resources to set the standard, making this project a model of how to design and construct facilities that protect, preserve, and co-exist with the environment.
To create this model, a Master Planning team of professionals, including civil engineers, wildlife biologists, and archeologists, studied the land and developed goals to minimize the impact to the valley’s natural resources. The final Master Plan resulted in zero impact to jurisdictional wetlands and trout streams. Significant animal habitats, archaeological sites, and botanical zones were preserved.
Committed to Conservation
The development goals relative to all environmentally sensitive areas throughout the design process focused upon avoidance first, minimization of impact where necessary, and mitigation of impact where possible.
The Brasstown Valley team designed state of the art management practices to protect the environment throughout the construction phase and beyond. These systems were effectively constructed and continuously maintained.
Implementing stringent erosion control policies was a primary concern throughout the design development process. Over 12 miles of sediment barriers, such as silt fences and hay bales, were placed to protect sensitive areas from sediment deposits.
By planting more than 2000 trees and other vegetation, wildlife specialists are helping to preserve and protect the valley’s stream, keeping them cool for aquatic life.
The grading design of the resort’s development directed surface run-off water to excavated ponds, ditches, and pipes, and created wetlands, rather than to streams. Controlling run-off water keeps the amount of silt in the stream at or below allowable limits, protecting aquatic life and their habitat.
Brasstown Valley streams are protected through methods such as bottomless culverts, silt fencing, trout structures, streamside buffer zones, and cold water releases from ponds. Trout structures create a pool below and above the structure, providing trout with a new habitat.
Approximately 3.5 acres of wetland habitat was created along pond edges throughout the golf course. Successful implementation of these areas resulted in the creation of an entire habitat type not found, to any large extent, on park property in its undeveloped stage.
The Department of Natural Resources designed and installed bottom release control systems for pond discharges into trout streams. Water at the bottom of a pond is cooler than the upper layers. When released into trout streams, pond water helps to maintain cool, steady temperatures which sustain trout and associated aquatic life.
The Brasstown watershed covers 20 square miles and yields an average annual flow of 31 million gallons per day. Brasstown Creek and its tributaries are classified by the State of Georgia as primary trout streams, where trout can both live and reproduce. More than 23 species of fish have been found in Brasstown Creek.
Rare birds, such as the Purple Gallinule, and a threatened species of fish, the Blotched Chub, exist here in Brasstown Creek. These and many other species have adapted to the life giving waters of the mountain stream. Their safety and survival are ensured through ongoing management practices here at the resort.
Interpretive trails wind throughout the park, traversing alongside Brasstown Creek and crossing over wetlands. Bridges and boardwalks were installed in these areas to provide individuals with the opportunity to see these pristine areas up close and learn more about diverse habitats.
Extensive surveys identifying the habitats of protected and/or rare plants, as well as aquatic and terrestrial animals in the Brasstown Valley site, were conducted and are ongoing. Where rare and protected habitats are identified, impact to those areas is avoided. State protected plants, like the pink and yellow lady slipper, remain a part of the Valley’s natural habitats.
With diverse habitats ranging from stream-edge wetlands and seepage slopes to hardwood and pine forests, Brasstown Valley is home to diverse plant and animal species. Black bear, turkey, deer, and cottontail rabbits are commonly seen throughout the park.
From the beginning of the site’s development, the Georgia Department of Natural Resources has been committed to protecting Brasstown Valley’s environment for further generations. We plan to achieve this by:
- Protecting stream corridors and Riparian zones
- Practicing water conservation
- Protecting and enhancing trout fisheries
- Protecting natural habits and archaeological resources
- Maintaining regional aesthetics
- Cooperating with local governments
If Brasstown Valley Resort had not been developed, there would be fewer recreation opportunities for the area surrounding the site. More importantly, because of its location along a major transportation route, part or all of the site would probably have been developed for a higher intensity land use where proper management and conservation may not have been implemented.
Preserving Cultural Resources
The Georgia Department of Natural Resources sought to develop Brasstown Valley Resort without adversely affecting the site’s cultural resources. Prehistoric and historic archaeological sites within resort boundaries were identified by intensive archaeological survey. Resort designers avoided sites so that they would be preserved with no impact from resort development. Where sites could not be avoided, important scientific information was recovered by large scale archaeological excavation. The Georgia Department of Natural Resources worked with the Eastern Band of Cherokees to insure that the excavation of archaeological sites was carried out in a manner that was sensitive to Native American traditions and values.
The Georgia Department of Natural Resources has attempted, in every aspect of its development of the Brasstown Valley Resort, to exercise responsibility and sensitive stewardship of an area with significant historic importance to the citizens of this state.
The final golf course plan avoided disturbing the largest archaeological site, although construction of the course greens and fairways required the complete excavation of three other archaeologically significant areas.
Historic types of stamped Indian pottery were found on the Brasstown Creek sites. During the entire course of the archaeological investigations, the area was constantly patrolled by Georgia Department of Natural Resources enforcement personnel to insure that the excavations were not disturbed or vandalized.
The archaeological work along Brasstown Creek generated discussions in local newspapers about the merits of the excavation. Ultimately, no burials were excavated or disturbed by the archaeological work. |
