Fort Gaines Natural Phenomenon Project - An Assessment and Appraisal by the Georgia Department of Natural Resources

Leading citizens of the City of Fort Gaines, Georgia, have recognized the unique natural and cultural qualities that exist in the City and its environs. This recognition has led to the creation of a Natural Phenomenon Authority whose purpose is to explore, develop, and utilize the area's natural and cultural assets. The Authority has indicated its desire to use these assets in an interpretive and non- consumptive manner that will be in the best long-term interest of the community.

Assistance has been rendered the City of Fort Gaines from several available sources. The Lower Chattahoochee Area Planning and Development Commission has assisted the City in a number of ways, including the preparation of a map showing key areas of interest. The APDC has also prepared a nomination form for a Fort Gaines Historic District which has been forwarded to the Office of the State Historic Preservation Officer. Charles Henderson, Science Consultant of the Chattahoochee-Flint C.E.S.A., has prepared a paper which positively evaluates the potential for the development of a regional education center at Fort Gaines. The Chattahoochee-Flint C.E.S.A. Federal Programs writer, Dr. Hines Wommack, is committed to determining the availability of a funding source for the project. State Senator Jimmy Hodge Timmons has indicated his interest as well.

In the Fall of 1978, Mr. J. E. Coleman, Mayor Pro Tern of the City of Fort Gaines, asked Commissioner Joe D. Tanner to assign staff of the Department of Natural Resources to inspect and appraise the site. Commissioner Tanner agreed to assist and, as a result a group, consisting of Steve Bowling, Naturalist; Dr. Elizabeth Lyon, State Historic Preservation Officer; John Morgan, Archaeologist; Brittain Pendergrast, Unit Supervisor of the Georgia Heritage Trust Program; Charles Swann, Geologist; and Dr. Charles Wharton, Biologist and author of The Natural Environments of Georgia, visited Fort Gaines in January, 1979. Their purpose was to meet the principals of the Natural Phenomenon Project, to be told of the goals and objectives of the endeavor, to inspect the several sites, and to prepare an appraisal of the plans, resources, and possibilities.

The DNR appraisal was prepared in the following manner. The technical members of the evaluation team, several of whom were familiar with the area as a result of previous experience, each wrote an informal report in which their observations and assessments were recorded. These reports are included in this document as appendix items A., B., C.; and D. By including them, it has been assured that no valuable element or recommendation contained in them will be overlooked or lost. The chapter which follows, "Appraisal and Comments", represents an attempt to organize the four individual works into a single entity.