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Ocmulgee National Monument, Macon County, Georgia
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Update: 2001 9 April
SUBJECT: Brian Rood's (Mercer University) clarification to Lindsay Holliday on the Macon Telegraph's article ("Eisenhower extension study doesn't quiet critics") follows.
Brian,
Thank-you for the clarification. I had a feeling that they had stretched your meaning.
I really enjoyed the presentation of the data you have collected, and I look forward to studying it more.
- Lindsay
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At 12:21 PM 04/09/2001 -0500, you wrote:
Dear Lindsay and Jack,
Please know that the findings of our research involve a study of the
impacts of I-16 on the wetlands along the Ocmulgee River (obviously a
worst case scenario in road construction history), and the
paleoreconstruction of long term histories by determining the
viability of the wonderful Ocmulgee peat deposits for successful C-14.
Our study findings are those that you, Lindsay, saw at our meeting
(we've completed this work and are ready to make the data available).
Our study was not, and continues not to be a study "to find a way to
get the highway through the Ocmulgee Old Fields." If you would like
to get together to pour over the results of our work, I'd be happy to
sit down with you.
The quote "by me" about "being able to do this"...is misleading and
inaccurate. In answering the question, "What would be the impact of
putting the Fall Line Freeway through this area?", my response was to
identify the "value" (ecological and cultural) for different areas of
the mosaic found in the Old Fields and to say that if the freeway were
to pass through this region, that there is a route that would minimize
both ecological and cultural impact (i.e. habitat viability,
hydrology, and now-known-to-be dateable peat deposits). This is
science/engineering. It is not a political response. I would
point out that because this land is primarily in private ownership,
there are few mechanisms to protect the peat deposits or the integrity
of the natural habitats that remain. For this, I hope that something
can be done to protect these critical lands from continued abuse
...clearly "100 foot easement flanking another highway" will not
accomplish this...unfortunately, neither will the current condition.
Please let me know if you'd like to talk about our findings. The work
with the C-14 dating is really very exciting. Otherwise, I will send
you a copy of the report when it is bound.
Take care,
Brian
Update: 2001 8 April
SUBJECT: The Macon Telegraph's article, "Eisenhower extension study doesn't quiet critics", draws response.
From Lindsay Doc Holliday:
I suggest a series of televised public debates between the Friends of the Foolish Swamp Developers and Conservative and Conscientious Taxpayers.
Any Takers?
- Lindsay Doc Holliday
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from: nancyengel@mindspring.com
April 8, 2001
To all it may concern.
(I know I have already had a letter printed in the Telegraph in the last 30 day period so this isn't supposed to be printed under my name. Since there is more than one way to get a job done, I am sending, to those of you who could have influence if you wanted to, my thoughts so you can consider them and perhaps use them. My freedom of speech is limited to once a month.)
You can't fool Mother Nature. Keep it simple, star. You can't get into Cinderella's slipper.
The Fall Line Freeway fiasco has not changed since I got here in 1996 and, I'm told, for long before that. Today's article could have been written almost word for word several years ago.
It is not the Indians, the environmentalists or the archeologists who are being obstinate. It is the people who want to put a road over a swamp no matter how stupid, expensive, wasteful and just plain wrong it is. They say it is because they have to have it go over the swamp so they can attract business. There are already roads which will get to the other side of the swamp but those who refuse to see don't want that.
The most important reason they want that road to go over the swamp is, get ready for the most stupid reason of all: BECAUSE IT COSTS THE MOST MONEY. That s right. I heard Saxby Chambliss say it, himself, a few years ago. I will never forget it. He said that we need to build the most expensive road because we need to get our tax dollars back from Washington. Now isn't that the most stupid reason to violate the environment, the Indian holy lands, the archeological gold mine that anyone has ever heard? And Macon is already out of compliance because our air is too dirty. Is there an iota of sense to build a new road where the air is already too dirty?
And the whispered-only reason for not building a road over a swamp is that the shortest distance between two points is a straight line. The road should connect from 96 straight across flat dry land to 16. That would bypass Macon but it is the best route and anyone who looks at a map knows it. There are already plenty of roads leading to and through Macon. This one is not going to make or break our progress or demise.
So who s being obstinate? Those people of sense who know you can't fool around with Mother Nature and get away with it? Those people who know you cannot violate archeological gold mines or Indian holy lands? Those people who understand that simple is best? Those who know that only Cinderella fit into those slippers and that no amount of contorting will make it fit?
No, these people are not the obstinate ones. It is the greedy, shortsighted people who want what they want when they want it who are the obstinate ones. They will keep conniving and politicking until they somehow bribe, cajole, and force their will on Mother Nature and the land. Just as in the 1994 flood when the river backed up and flooded so many homes because of the levee, bad things will happen if the road violates the wetlands, which is a fancy name for swamp.
Nancy Engel
720 Tidewater Circle 3D
Macon GA. 31211
746-8961
nancyengel@juno.com or nancyengel@mindspring.com
THE WEB SITE FOR MY MUSIC AND FAMOUS WOMEN SHOWS:
http://nancyengel.home.mindspring.com
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Letter above was written in response to the
Article below which contains a number of factual errors.
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http://www.macontelegraph.com/content/macon/2001/04/08/local/EISENHOWER0408MT.htm
Eisenhower extension study doesn't quiet critics
By Christopher Schwarzen
The Macon Telegraph
A recent Mercer University study suggests the state Department of Transportation could extend Eisenhower Parkway through the Ocmulgee Old Fields without jeopardizing too much culture or ecology.
To use the original route proposed for the extension, a Mercer University study suggests the DOT bridge the road through the wetlands and purchase conservation easements to restrict any future development in the area.
"I'm not suggesting this is the best route, but our study was to look at the original route proposed by the state Department of Transportation,"' said Brian Rood, an instructor at Mercer University.
The $15,000 study was funded by the university president's fund, Rood said.
The parkway's extension is the final link in the state's Fall Line Freeway, a connector between Columbus, Macon and Augusta.
Almost all portions except the extension have been built and are in use.
But concerns over losing cultural history and destroying ecologically sensitive wetlands have stalled the project. A new draft environmental impact statement should be sent to federal officials by April 16 without any preferred route mentioned.
Rood said the original area proposed is rich in peat soil layers, which indicate archaeological studies may produce artifacts and information about past residents living along the river. Soil samples taken during the study date back more than 9,000 years and suggest humans settled the area.
"It's important to point out that 9,000 years ago is only six feet down in the ground," Rood said. "This is a pristine wetland site."
The volume of peat layers found is second in Georgia only to the Okefenokee Swamp. Because of this, it's important to protect the area, Rood said.
"If we can match up improvements with conservation designed to protect the resources, we can do this," he said.
Georgia transportation officials say they plan to bridge the road through any wetlands and would consider purchasing conservation easements.
"We had committed to bridging the project before the environmental assessment process began," said Harvey Keepler, the state environmental and location engineer. "There was some concern about the fill material that would be needed to bridge the project and its impact upon the wetlands."
Keepler also says it wouldn't be the first time the DOT has bought land for conservation purposes.
"We have developed projects with what is called a 'protective buffer,'" Keepler said "In these situations, we would purchase 50 to 100 feet either side of the project in a wetland area so as to discourage development in a wetland area."
Rood said that wouldn't be enough. An easement would need to cover hundreds of acres.
Without a larger purchase, private land owners might continue degrading the area without knowing what exists underneath. Rood said one private plot has been harvested for timber, mined and had the peat soil removed for sale. Any hope of returning the land to its original state is lost.
"That's why this could be possible, because some areas are already damaged," Rood said. "But you want to make sure you protect the rest."
Opponents of running the road through the Old Fields say Mercer's study is no compromise. The Muscogee Creek Nation, which at one time settled and used the area for burials, claims the area is its traditional cultural property or religious property --- a charge upheld by federal officials.
The Nation says any road through the area, no matter how it's built, violates its sacred space.
"Brian (Rood) doesn't understand the Muscogee Creek Nation's objection to traversing the traditional cultural property," said Susan Hanberry of CAUTION Macon, a nonprofit group that has questioned road projects in Bibb County.
"The problem with the road through the traditional cultural property is that the road is going through the traditional cultural property. The Nation has said this over and over again."
According to Hanberry, it's the place that is sacred, not the artifacts.
Keepler says this argument has caused delays in the road's construction.
"We were proceeding with the environmental assessment in regards to the mounds, the park, archaeology studies and the wetlands issue," he said. "During this process the Federal Highway Administration required extensive coordination with the Native Americans. The alignment of the project is geared more toward protection of this traditional cultural property than toward the wetlands."
Local officials say a solution is needed soon or the state may move the Fall Line Freeway connection south of Bibb County. That could mean a loss of commercial and industrial development downtown.
"The DOT is finding uses for the money that could be spent on this," said County Commission Chairman Tommy Olmstead. "The DOT can find too many places to pour concrete without a problem."
To speed up the decision making, local officials and U.S. Rep. Saxby Chambliss, R-Moultrie, have gone to Gov. Roy Barnes for help. Olmstead, Chambliss and Macon Mayor Jack Ellis sent a letter March 23 to the governor calling the extension a "project of the utmost importance."
"This additional crossing will improve access for firefighting, to hospitals and other public safety organizations, as well as improve the circulation of traffic into and through Macon," the letter reads.
"Additionally, the extension will aid in the economic revitalization of the community and will help create more jobs."
Barnes has not responded yet to the letter, Olmstead said, but during a meeting last month, Barnes verbally offered his support.
The Fall Line Freeway project dates back more than 20 years, and even earlier than that, county officials had planned to extend Eisenhower. But it's possible it could be years longer before a solution is reached if opposing sides continue to fight, Olmstead said.
"We need to pull together and move forward instead of being obstructionist," he said.
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