Athens-Clarke County and The City of Winterville Community Assessment Chapter Four: Natural and Cultural Resources July 12, 2006 CHAPTER 4: NATURAL AND CULTURAL RESOURCES TABLE OF CONTENTS CHAPTER 4: NATURAL AND CULTURAL RESOURCES .............................................. 2 4.1 LIST OF TABLES ............................................................................................................... 4 4.2 LIST OF MAPS.................................................................................................................. 5 4.3 INTRODUCTION............................................................................................................... 6 4.4 MAPPING OF SIGNIFICANT NATURAL AND CULTURAL RESOURCES ............................ 6 4.5 ENVIRONMENTAL PLANNING CRITERIA........................................................................ 6 4.5.1 Current Ordinances / Programs............................................................................. 7 4.5.2 Future Projects / Ordinances.................................................................................. 8 4.5.3 Water Supply Watersheds ...................................................................................... 8 4.5.4 Wetlands ............................................................................................................... 10 4.5.5 Groundwater Recharge Areas............................................................................... 12 4.5.6 Protected Rivers.................................................................................................... 14 4.5.6.1 Regionally Important Resources Nomination..............................................................16 4.5.7 Protected Mountains ............................................................................................ 19 4.6 OTHER ENVIRONMENTALLY SENSITIVE AREAS........................................................... 19 4.6.1 Public Water Supply Sources ............................................................................... 19 4.6.2 Steep Slopes........................................................................................................... 20 4.6.3 Coastal Resources ................................................................................................. 21 4.6.4 Flood Plains .......................................................................................................... 21 4.6.5 Soils....................................................................................................................... 22 4.6.5.1 Erosion..........................................................................................................................25 4.6.5.2 Soil Suitability for Septic Tank Fields..........................................................................25 4.6.6 Plant and Animal Habitats................................................................................... 26 4.6.7 Other Significant Sensitive Areas ........................................................................ 34 4.7 SIGNIFICANT NATURAL RESOURCES............................................................................ 35 4.7.1 Scenic Areas.......................................................................................................... 35 4.7.2 Agricultural Land................................................................................................. 36 4.7.2.1 Prime Agricultural Soils ..............................................................................................36 4.7.3 Forest Land ........................................................................................................... 36 4.7.3.1 Georgia Champion Trees ..............................................................................................38 4.7.3.2 Urban Forest Resources................................................................................................39 4.7.3.3 Downtown Athens Tree Trail ......................................................................................39 4.7.3.4 Community Tree Program ...........................................................................................40 4.7.3.5 The Community Tree Management Ordinance ...........................................................41 4.7.4 Major Parks .......................................................................................................... 42 Chapter 4: Natural and Cultural Resources page 2 4.7.4.1 Regional Parks..............................................................................................................42 4.7.4.2 Community Parks ........................................................................................................42 4.7.4.3 Neighborhood Parks .....................................................................................................42 4.7.5 Recreation Areas................................................................................................... 43 4.7.5.1 Natural Areas...............................................................................................................45 4.7.5.2 Rails To Trails ..............................................................................................................46 4.7.6 Conservation Areas............................................................................................... 47 4.7.7 The City of Winterville ......................................................................................... 49 4.8 OTHER SIGNIFICANT RESOURCES................................................................................. 49 4.8.1 Significant Cultural Resources............................................................................. 49 4.9 HISTORIC LANDMARKS ................................................................................................ 50 4.9.1 Developmental History of Athens-Clarke County ............................................... 50 4.9.1.1 Natural Setting ............................................................................................................50 4.9.1.2 Native American Influence ..........................................................................................51 4.9.1.3 The Founding of Athens...............................................................................................52 4.9.1.4 Early Settlement...........................................................................................................53 4.9.1.5 Agriculture...................................................................................................................55 4.9.1.6 Education......................................................................................................................55 4.9.1.7 Religion ........................................................................................................................59 4.9.1.8 Transportation..............................................................................................................64 4.9.1.9 Commerce .....................................................................................................................67 4.9.1.10 Industry........................................................................................................................69 4.9.1.11 Military ........................................................................................................................70 4.9.1.12 Architecture..................................................................................................................72 4.9.1.13 Towns, Communities, and Neighborhoods ..................................................................73 4.9.2 Historic Resource Surveys.................................................................................... 78 4.9.2.1 Historic American Buildings Survey (1935 to the Present) and Historic American Engineering Record (1969 to the Present).....................................................................................78 4.9.2.2 Athens-Clarke Heritage Foundation House Survey (1967).........................................79 4.9.2.3 Athens-Clarke Heritage Foundation & HPD Grant-Funded Survey (c.1977-1985) ..80 4.9.2.4 City of Athens Historic Resource Survey (1988-1989) ..............................................81 4.9.2.5 State-Owned Historic Property Survey (1992) ...........................................................81 4.9.2.6 Winterville Historic Resource Survey (1993)..............................................................81 4.9.2.7 Assessment of Winterville’s Inventory of Historic Resources .....................................82 4.9.2.8 Prince-Dougherty Corridor Study (1993) ...................................................................83 4.9.2.9 Comprehensive Plan Windshield Survey (1993) .........................................................83 4.9.2.10 Preservation Planning Survey (1995) .........................................................................84 4.9.2.11 New Town, Lickskillet, Barrow/Pulaski Neighborhood Survey (1998) .......................84 4.9.2.12 Downtown Athens Athens-Clarke Heritage Foundation Survey (2003) ....................85 4.9.3 Designation of Historic Resources in Athens-Clarke County.............................. 85 4.9.3.1 National Register of Historic Places.............................................................................85 Chapter 4: Natural and Cultural Resources page 3 4.9.3.2 Georgia Register of Historic Places ..............................................................................87