Restoration and Conservation Project
Kicking off in January 2021, our ambitious project aims to improve the habitat for the threatened trispot darter, a federally protected fish discovered in Park Creek’s surrounding waters in fall 2020. This discovery sparked our passionate conservation efforts, creating a vibrant program that’s making a huge impact!
At Park Creek, we’re not just restoring a buffer zone – we’re leading a multifaceted terrestrial and aquatic restoration and preservation initiative. Our dynamic alliance includes over ten private, city, county, state, and federal organizations, all working together to achieve something extraordinary.
Over the next few years, we’ll be restoring five acres of floodplain habitat and 0.3 acres of wetland habitat, significantly reducing pollution in Mill Creek. But that’s not all! We’re also revitalizing about two acres with native seedlings, creating a haven for at-risk pollinators like the monarch butterfly and the royal catchfly.
Our program isn’t just about conservation – it’s about education, too. Educators from the Tennessee Aquarium, Dalton State College, the State Botanical Garden, and Park Creek Elementary are collaborating to develop innovative curriculum, educational hiking trails, and outdoor classrooms within these restoration areas.
