Stewardship Matters
Arbor Day Partnership!
In a strong display of community collaboration and environmental stewardship, the Fannin County Chamber of Commerce & CVB, in partnership with Noontootla Creek Farms and the 6th grade students of Fannin County Middle School, celebrated Arbor Day with a significant conservation initiative aimed at restoring and enhancing the local ecosystem at Horseshoe Bend Park in McCaysville, GA.
![](https://blueridge.imgix.net/images/24.4.29-FCCC-River-Cane-Planting-16.jpg?auto=compress%2Cformat&fit=max&position=50%2050&q=80&w=320&s=e356c5c3ab82220afc4c11b4b3e4b171 320w, https://blueridge.imgix.net/images/24.4.29-FCCC-River-Cane-Planting-16.jpg?auto=compress%2Cformat&fit=max&position=50%2050&q=80&w=540&s=de6ed66afa84d1d2dbe8914135565614 540w, https://blueridge.imgix.net/images/24.4.29-FCCC-River-Cane-Planting-16.jpg?auto=compress%2Cformat&fit=max&position=50%2050&q=80&w=768&s=bd879ca397a5d66d45c9ca09af516ac9 768w, https://blueridge.imgix.net/images/24.4.29-FCCC-River-Cane-Planting-16.jpg?auto=compress%2Cformat&fit=max&position=50%2050&q=80&w=1024&s=9738bc0196b668664d210cf311a7484e 1024w, https://blueridge.imgix.net/images/24.4.29-FCCC-River-Cane-Planting-16.jpg?auto=compress%2Cformat&fit=max&position=50%2050&q=80&w=1200&s=a7b87416295a618f7d2a886f24c19d44 1200w, https://blueridge.imgix.net/images/24.4.29-FCCC-River-Cane-Planting-16.jpg?auto=compress%2Cformat&fit=max&position=50%2050&q=80&w=1440&s=1384379d765c7f03ad9fcd9151d2ce58 1440w, https://blueridge.imgix.net/images/24.4.29-FCCC-River-Cane-Planting-16.jpg?auto=compress%2Cformat&fit=max&position=50%2050&q=80&w=1920&s=2273ef504092510960175cf2cbdb491a 1920w, https://blueridge.imgix.net/images/24.4.29-FCCC-River-Cane-Planting-16.jpg?auto=compress%2Cformat&fit=max&position=50%2050&q=80&w=2560&s=e8fab2276dfd21d8a48947c26696a437 2560w, https://blueridge.imgix.net/images/24.4.29-FCCC-River-Cane-Planting-16.jpg?auto=compress%2Cformat&fit=max&position=50%2050&q=80&w=3840&s=3ddf7993c982b280b29a5610f40177ee 3840w)
This initiative, part of a sixth grade STEM project focused on stream restoration, involved students who have dedicated the year to studying and improving the local trout streams. Their activities have ranged from research on healthy trout stream needs to monitoring water quality and raising and releasing trout into Weaver Creek.
On Arbor Day, Friday, April 26th, 2024, the students, along with the Fannin County Chamber of Commerce team, took their learning outside to plant native trees and plants, including river birch, river cane, button bush, white pine, and elderberry live stakes. These plants are essential for creating buffer zones that protect water quality, prevent soil erosion, enhance biodiversity, promote flood mitigation, and provide climate resilience.
Emily Owenby, operations coordinator for Noontootla Creek Farms, guided the group in planting techniques. She was instrumental in plant selection and ensuring the placement of plants would be best for long term conservation of the area. Emily has an Environment Science degree from University of North Georgia and is the founder of Noontootla’s Conservation Initiative.
Aside from planting, the students were broken up into groups working on park and stream clean up, macroinvertebrate counts, and chemical water monitoring, all of which are crucial for assessing the health of the aquatic ecosystem.
![](https://blueridge.imgix.net/images/24.4.29-FCCC-River-Cane-Planting-2.jpg?auto=compress%2Cformat&fit=max&position=50%2050&q=80&w=320&s=7a431980ec0b2bee0e9df78672cb0a96 320w, https://blueridge.imgix.net/images/24.4.29-FCCC-River-Cane-Planting-2.jpg?auto=compress%2Cformat&fit=max&position=50%2050&q=80&w=540&s=000788e3fe0f9b158919002044fdbdbe 540w, https://blueridge.imgix.net/images/24.4.29-FCCC-River-Cane-Planting-2.jpg?auto=compress%2Cformat&fit=max&position=50%2050&q=80&w=768&s=909e1b3e76292fd1a5174db6ffa22727 768w, https://blueridge.imgix.net/images/24.4.29-FCCC-River-Cane-Planting-2.jpg?auto=compress%2Cformat&fit=max&position=50%2050&q=80&w=1024&s=c23c94ff21ab4732350cb718c5a498f2 1024w, https://blueridge.imgix.net/images/24.4.29-FCCC-River-Cane-Planting-2.jpg?auto=compress%2Cformat&fit=max&position=50%2050&q=80&w=1200&s=41c8d6195d285864fd05946d0737b0cf 1200w, https://blueridge.imgix.net/images/24.4.29-FCCC-River-Cane-Planting-2.jpg?auto=compress%2Cformat&fit=max&position=50%2050&q=80&w=1440&s=171401e70a093eb078a2358e30cf761e 1440w, https://blueridge.imgix.net/images/24.4.29-FCCC-River-Cane-Planting-2.jpg?auto=compress%2Cformat&fit=max&position=50%2050&q=80&w=1920&s=9dba00d066242dc27afa0b84c9cd4212 1920w, https://blueridge.imgix.net/images/24.4.29-FCCC-River-Cane-Planting-2.jpg?auto=compress%2Cformat&fit=max&position=50%2050&q=80&w=2560&s=a749a6dd4507c022b390c7249380407d 2560w, https://blueridge.imgix.net/images/24.4.29-FCCC-River-Cane-Planting-2.jpg?auto=compress%2Cformat&fit=max&position=50%2050&q=80&w=3840&s=990ddb21f6dabd589f1fb164d518d262 3840w)
“The dedication of our students and community to environmental stewardship is inspiring and necessary for preserving our precious natural resources,” said Christie Gribble, President & CEO of the Fannin County Chamber of Commerce. “Through partnerships like these, we hope to instill a lifelong commitment to conservation and improving the quality of our local habitats.”
![](https://blueridge.imgix.net/images/24.4.29-FCCC-River-Cane-Planting-13.jpg?auto=compress%2Cformat&fit=max&position=50%2050&q=80&w=320&s=61e1dda8dbf82cb619061fb309c7b813 320w, https://blueridge.imgix.net/images/24.4.29-FCCC-River-Cane-Planting-13.jpg?auto=compress%2Cformat&fit=max&position=50%2050&q=80&w=540&s=12878cce8c4599a8bdc5bd5965eba1aa 540w, https://blueridge.imgix.net/images/24.4.29-FCCC-River-Cane-Planting-13.jpg?auto=compress%2Cformat&fit=max&position=50%2050&q=80&w=768&s=0a277cee1c8b1ff7721dad023897cdb9 768w, https://blueridge.imgix.net/images/24.4.29-FCCC-River-Cane-Planting-13.jpg?auto=compress%2Cformat&fit=max&position=50%2050&q=80&w=1024&s=6a96f02d9532c4a217bf920eacebc13c 1024w, https://blueridge.imgix.net/images/24.4.29-FCCC-River-Cane-Planting-13.jpg?auto=compress%2Cformat&fit=max&position=50%2050&q=80&w=1200&s=746c14dcda8697fe14a6153ad14a8330 1200w, https://blueridge.imgix.net/images/24.4.29-FCCC-River-Cane-Planting-13.jpg?auto=compress%2Cformat&fit=max&position=50%2050&q=80&w=1440&s=ae3a5ab50ded68b52cfe62aaf2315012 1440w, https://blueridge.imgix.net/images/24.4.29-FCCC-River-Cane-Planting-13.jpg?auto=compress%2Cformat&fit=max&position=50%2050&q=80&w=1920&s=9646963bee89a3730bce0274be06bc1b 1920w, https://blueridge.imgix.net/images/24.4.29-FCCC-River-Cane-Planting-13.jpg?auto=compress%2Cformat&fit=max&position=50%2050&q=80&w=2560&s=3c8af277d6d8a839fd229bd09808b98e 2560w, https://blueridge.imgix.net/images/24.4.29-FCCC-River-Cane-Planting-13.jpg?auto=compress%2Cformat&fit=max&position=50%2050&q=80&w=3840&s=8fdf02eed7a7a63c50318e8aa0dc3502 3840w)
Horseshoe Bend Park, a beloved community spot known for its trout fishing and the popular Pickin’ in the Park music events on Thursday during the warmer seasons, provided a perfect setting for the day’s activities. The buffer zone planting took place alongside Wolf Creek, adjacent to the new dog parks, playground, and paved walking path.