Date: Friday, April 22, 2022
Time: 2 pm – 6 pm
Leader(s): JP Schmidt, PhD, Odum School of Ecology, UGA
Location: Murder Creek Research Natural Area (RNA) on the Oconee National Forest
Outing Description:
Explore bottom lands of the Murder Creek Research Natural Area (RNA) on the Oconee National Forest: “one of the few remaining relatively undisturbed bottomland hardwood forests in the Georgia piedmont. The area is comprised of steeply falling slopes to the alluvial bottom on both sides of Murder Creek. The bottomland hardwood forest is developed over a relatively well–drained, fine sandy to silt loam floodplain and contains those tree species characteristic of the piedmont in a forest association (cover type) and age class once far more common in Georgia. Most of the old oxbows have been filled with sandy loam so that all of the bottomland soils are mesic to wet-mesic. It is an area with unusual floristic values has been described in a number of early initials studies.” source: United States Department of Agriculture Southern Research Station https://www.srs.fs.usda.gov/rna/estrnas/murdercreek.php
Meeting Place Directions:
Reids Chapel Baptist Church
-33.271817, -83.537470 From Monticello take GA-16 E/Eatonton St 6.3 miles. Turn right onto Wingate Way then a quick left onto Apt to Miss Rd for 2.4 miles. Continue onto 90 Rd and stay straight onto Apt to Miss Rd. Apt to Miss Rd turns slightly left and becomes Poplar Rd. Reids Chapel Baptist Church will be on the left.
See meeting place on Google Maps
Distance and Difficulty:
Up to 2 miles of moderate to flat terrain. Possible wet (swamp like) areas of the walk depending on rain that week.
What to Bring and Wear:
Wear appropriate footwear for wet walking, lunch, snacks, plenty of water, meds/epi-pen, extra socks, rain jacket.
Cancellation: If Outing is cancelled due to weather or unforeseen circumstances, we will notify you via email by 6:00 pm on the evening before.
Pet Policy: No pets for this Outing
Participation Limit: 20