More

than 400 Fayette County residents may be eligible

for up to $1,350 in grants to turn their public

utility right of way into wildlife habitat.

"We

want to take these idle acres and create new

wildlife lands," said Forrest Hills,

coordinator of Project WINGS, a program of the

Two Rivers Resource Conservation and Development

Council Inc.

Working

with Georgia Power Company, Project WINGS

(Wildlife Incentives for Nongame and Game

Species) offers cash as well as planning

assistance to groups and individuals interested

in managing the power company rights of way for

three years.

Participants

can take advantage of equipment services as well,

to help plow and plant foliage that attracts

wildlife.

Hills

and Ken Gran, district conservationist for

Fayette, explained the program last week to the

Fayette County Commission. Commissioner Glen Gosa

is a voting member of the Two Rivers executive

board.

The

project can help solve erosion problems that

plague right of way under many area power lines,

said Gran.

"Transmission

lines are essential to power our homes,

businesses and factories," according to

program literature. "Underneath these lines

are thousands of acres of idle land. Recognizing

the potential these acres offer wildlife,

[Project WINGS was begun] in the fall of

1996," the literature says.

For

information on the program, phone Gran at

770-957-5705.

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