Chattahoo? Sights, Sounds, and Background by Kaylie Yale’

Hi everyone! After being at the Chattahoochee River National Recreation Area for a week, I have so much to share! First and foremost, I’ll start by giving a little background on the park. On August 15, 1978, the park was established when the Public Law 95-344 was signed by President Jimmy Carter. Today, the park owns  a 48-mile stretch of the river with over 10,000 acres of land under its protection. Along the river, there are 16 land units where visitors can engage in various activities, such as rafting, kayaking, fishing, hiking, and birding. I had the pleasure of seeing a couple of these units myself and they were breathtaking. I was able to visit Settle’s Bridge, Akers Mill, Sope’s Creek, and Whitewater Creek. 

Settle’s Bridge Unit at the Chattahoochee River National Recreation Area

If you take a moment to close your eyes and tune your ears, you’ll notice the frogs croaking, fish splashing, river water rushing, deer munching on plants, and trees blowing in the wind. There is also a plethora of birds broadcasting their messages to one another through a variety of calls and songs. Some of the most common birds are the American Robins, Blue Jays, Cardinals, and the Carolina Wrens. Listen closely to this sound, and you can hear the Carolina Wren sounding off in the forest.

There are two significant parts of the Chattahoochee River National Recreation Area that you should be aware of. One is that the river serves as a 2,000 acre corridor that is a biodiversity hub for many terrestrial, avian, and aquatic species. It is host to migratory birds, turtles, fish, butterflies, salamanders, flowers, and other plants and animals. The other significant aspect of the park that everyone should know about is that the remanence of the Brevard Fault that lies on both sides of the river. This geological feature stabilizes the river’s ridges, channels, cliffs, and palisades. The last and one of most important components of the Chattahoochee River National Recreation Area are environmental education programs that the park hosts year-round that both kids and adults can be a part of. I have the great pleasure of being a part of the summer season of children’s education programs centered around the fish and feathered residents of the park!