Friends of the Savannah Coastal Wildlife Refuges, Inc.
NEWS FLASH!!
July 27, 2011
For Immediate Release
Contact:
Rick Shields
Friends of the Savannah Coastal Wildlife Refuges, Inc.

Laurel Hill Wildlife Drive to Reopen


We're serious this time! 
This is not a drill!   
 

 

FINALLY!!!

The fences, gates and signs are coming down.  The Laurel Hill Wildlife Drive, the most visited portion of the Savannah NWR, will reopen on Friday, July 29th.  It has been closed for 13 months to allow the US Army Corps of Engineers to repair the fresh water diversion system so vital to the successful management of the refuge's wildlife habitat.

 

         closed sign 

 

Construction continues on the system north of SC-170, and the diversion canal is still blocked off until October at the earliest.  This means that the water levels in the pools will remain low, and the Drive will need more time to return to its former glory.  You will see that some trees have been lost. 

 

 

There will be no formal reopening ceremonies now, but look for information about a celebration in October, hopefully organized around Refuge Week, October 8-15, 2011.  And be sure to keep your calendar open for a Friends Group member's only event on Friday, October 7th and a public event on Saturday, October 8th with

Joe Wiegand and his one-man Teddy Roosevelt show.  Details will be announced later.

 

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REMEMBER!

It's still not too late to contact your congressman to voice your opposition to HR 2584, a measure calling for draconian cuts to the US Fish & Wildlife Service budget as described in the last news release.  The bill will be up for debate this week.

Here is how you can contact your US Representative:  Click HERE to go to the House of Representatives "Write Your Representative" page.  All you need is your State and Zip Code.

HERE is a sample letter which you can customize and e-mail to your US representative.

Rick Shields
President
Friends of the Savannah Coastal Wildlife Refuges, Inc.