The

city of Atlanta's plans to build a new runway at

Hartsfield Airport may provide more than $2

million for an environmental project in Fayette

County.

Fayette's

Southern Conservation Trust will receive about

$2.4 million from Atlanta to manage a 56-acre

wetland preserve off Ga. Highway 85 near

Fayetteville.

The

money is being paid to help mitigate the

destruction of wetlands for the airport's fifth

runway project. City Council had first reading of

the airport plan Monday, with plans to vote on it

Dec. 20.

With

$1.4 million for design and construction of a

series of levies to control water level in the

wetlands, and $1 million held in trust to pay for

maintenance and repair of future damage from

storms and other disasters, the project promises

to be good for Fayette's environment and an

excellent educational resource, said SCT

president Dennis Chase.

"I

think it's going to be one of the nicest projects

in this part of the state," said Chase.

SCT

was formed in 1990 to manage and protect natural

resources entrusted to its care, starting with

Peachtree City's Flat Creek wetlands preserve.

Fayette's

well-known Sams family donated the 56-acre Sams

Lake property about four years ago, said Chase,

after breaking the lake's dam due to liability

concerns.

The

land was part of a larger property that has

become Applegate subdivision.

While

the donation was appreciated, Chase said, SCT

members initially had to scratch for funding just

to pay the taxes on the land. "As soon as we

got ownership," he said, "we began

trying to find someone who could help us control

the water levels so we could enhance the

wetlands," he said.

About

two years ago, officials with the Corps of

Engineers provided the answer. They put SCT in

touch with CH2MHill, biological consultants

working with the city of Atlanta's airport

project. When a government project destroys

wetlands, the federal Clean Air Act requires that

government to create wetlands somewhere else to

make up for the loss.

"It

was just what we were looking for," said

Chase.

The

consultants designed five levies of varying

lengths, with removable planks. "In the

spring, we can put in planks to raise the water

and enhance the habitat for water foul and shore

birds," said Chase.

bird conservation area will be the main thrust of

the project, he said, adding that Eagle Scout

projects already have provided several bird boxes

and bat boxes on the property.

In

addition to providing about $1 million to build

the levies, boardwalks and observation decks

(plus about $400,000 for the design work),

Atlanta also will provide a permanent trust of $1

million. "Under the Clean Water Act, this

preserve has to last forever, basically,"

said Chase.

With

the trust in place, he said, "SCT will have

the ability to replace the structures if a huge

storm comes through and one or more levies is

washed out."

The

organization will be allowed to use about $25,000

to $35,000 of interest from the trust to manage

and maintain the project, and to pay the taxes.

"This

is going to be a really outstanding environmental

education area," said Chase. "I think

people are going to be really amazed at how nice

it is."

The

money probably will be made available about next

March, Chase said, if City Council approves and

Mayor Bill Campbell signs the enabling

legislation. After that, construction can begin

soon, he said.

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