The Conservation Fund, acting as an intermediary, signed a purchase option, allowing GDOT time to schedule funding for purchasing the land as a stream mitigation bank. To speed the process, GA ES biologists mapped rare habitats using global positioning system (GPS) equipment. GDOT hopes to turn over the 1300 acre tract to the Georgia Department of Natural Resources (DNR) as part of the Big Lazer Creek Wildlife Management Area. The happy end to this story may not have been possible without an earlier cooperative funding agreement for ?greener? road development between the Service, GDOT, FHWA and funding by GDOT of two term USFWS biologist positions, dedicated to assisting state transportation projects. This partnership has been recognized an ?Exemplary Ecosystem Initiative? by the Federal Highway Administration.

Contributed by: Mike Hobbs, Public Affairs Specialist, Georgia ES Office, Athens, GA