Soque Bulletin- January 24, 2014 - this is an old post

SOQUE BULLETIN January 25, 2014   1) Level Grove Tree Planting - this Monday, January 27th - 10am 2) SRWA's 2013 Accomplishments 3) 2014 Tree Sale success 4) Hike to the Source of the Soque - February 22nd     1) Level Grove Tree Planting - this Monday, January 27th - 10am It's finally happening. After a long wait for a little window of good weather we are going to go for our tree planting at Level Grove Elementary school this Monday at 10am. Volunteers NEEDED! Here's our plan: We will be planting all bareroot trees, hardwoods on flatground areas covered with leaf mulch (zones 1 and 2 and maybe 5), and pines on the slopes (zones 3 and 4). Hardwoods will be a mixture of green ash, white oak, persimmon and tulip poplar. All volunteers need are shovels (we'll have a few extras), gloves, and strong backs (a wheelbarrow or two would also be useful). When you arrive park in the parking lot to the far left and we'll give everyone a quick tutorial. Should be fun. If we're lucky we'll plant slightly over 1,000 trees that day. Here's the google address 2525 Level Grove Rd, Cornelia, GA (it's actually a little further down the road) If you think you can make it send us quick e-mail so we can get and idea of how many to expect. soque@windstream.net 2) SRWA's 2013 Accomplishments  Before we get two much further into the new year we wanted to be sure and give a quick recap of the incredible year we had in 2013 and say thanks to all of you who attended an event, put in some volunteer time, or sent in a check of support.   Click on the picture above or here to read the whole LIST OF ACCOMPLISHMENTS. We realized after we completed it that there were even more projects like the City of Clarkesville's Stormwater Inventory, and more that we failed to put on the list. 3) 2014 Tree Sale success We completed our second annual community tree sale on Friday, January 24th and were mighty pleased with the interest and turnout. Altogether we sold over $2,500 worth of trees, about 530 trees total to almost 50 individuals some coming from Clayton, Cleveland and Hiawassee. Big thanks to all those who purchased trees and best of luck in getting them planted possibly even as we speak. Special thanks to those who provided our very inexpensive trees: Southern Roots Tree Nursery, the Georgia Forestry Commission and especially Sidney Roland who provided all the blueberry plants which was a great new item this year and grown locally too. He lent us his grandson Simon Miller who was a huge help in getting the tree orders out to your cars. Big thanks Simon! 4) Hike to the Source of the Soque - February 22nd   View from the top of Tray Mountain   Have you ever wondered “Where does the Soque River begin?”   WHO:  You! WHAT:  Hike to the source of the Soque River (specifically, the Middle Prong of the Left Fork Soque River, the highest elevation tributary (3800’) in the network of streams that make up the Soque). WHEN:  Saturday, February 22, 10:00 a.m. – 2:00 p.m. (approximate time back to carpool site) WHERE:  Meet at 10:00 a.m. in the parking lot of the put-in for Cool River Tubing, approximately 1 mile north of Helen on Hwy. 75 (corner of Alt. 75).  We will carpool (up a pretty rough Forest Service Road) to Tray Gap where the hike will begin. WHY:  Because it will be fun and you will learn something! The hike itself is relatively short (approximately 3 miles round trip), but some sections are strenuous.  We’ll park at Tray Gap, hike a short section of the Appalachian Trail over the summit of Tray Mountain (4,430 feet - the 7th highest peak in GA) and drop off a ridge to find the source.  Some bushwhacking will be required. Please bring a sack lunch, plenty of water, and appropriate dress for the weather (including comfortable hiking shoes/boots), and anything else you may wish to have (camera etc.). This is a free event, but registration will be limited to the first 20 attendees.  To register, or for more information, please e-mail dhughes@northgatech.edu, or call Duncan Hughes at (706) 754-7872.      Thanks folks and hope to see you outside soon, Justin Ellis Executive Director Soque River Watershed Association www.soque.org 706-754-9382