Georgia DNR Commissioner, Noel Holcomb, traveled from Atlanta to open Decatur County's Silver Lake Wildlife Management Area on Friday morning.
"That's what it's all about today, trying to get public access so our children will have the opportunity to do the things we did when we were children." Commissioner Holcomb said. He stated that SW Georgia is an area blessed with many unique species. "When you buy an acre of land down here," he told the crowd, "you don't save just one species but a number of them."
The economic investment made in Silver Lake by Decatur County, the State and conservatory organizations was large and speakers stressed the potential economic impact on the area as well as the protection of several living species.
Calling it the "jewel that it is in our state system of Wildlife Management Areas" Commissioner Holcomb listed improvements already made and planned.
- New entrance sign with an informational kiosk
- Two miles of roads have been improved
- Three new temporary boat access sites, which will be improved to their concrete ramps
- Stocking fish, already having added some channel catfish and thread fin shad into the lake
- Begun managing the fisheries and taking steps to improve the fishing
- Added several 1000 lbs of lime to improve water chemistry
- 1000's of grass carp added to control the vegetation
- Hopes to open kid's fishing ponds in the near future
- Plans to increase bank fishing, now almost non-existent, with kids specifically in mind
