City Purchases Property With Watershed in Mind

The city of Toccoa is purchasing property in order to help protect its watershed around Lake Toccoa.

On Monday, Toccoa City Commissioners unanimously voted to purchase 48.4 acres of property bordering the Links at Lake Toccoa golf course and Black Mountain Road for $188,760.

Toccoa City Manager Billy Morse said that this property is part of the Cedar Creek Watershed.

“The Cedar Creek watershed supplies the water for Lake Toccoa, our primary drinking water reservoir,” said Morse. “Therefore, its protection is a priority for us.”

Currently, Morse said that about two-thirds of the watershed consists of land owned by either the city of Toccoa or the U.S. Forest Service.

The land the city is purchasing is part of the one-third of the watershed that has remained in private hands.

Morse said that this particular property that the city is purchasing is one of the few large tracts that remain in the watershed that are owned privately.

Toccoa City Commissioner Terry Carter said that the property the city is purchasing is of particular importance.

“It is right along the stream that comes through and feeds right into Lake Toccoa, so it is crucial that property is protected and there is no development on that, which it is beautiful land and I could see where it could be attractive to development,” said Carter. “I think it is a wise move for our future to be able to acquire that property.”

City Commissioner Jeanette Jamieson noted that this may be the only opportunity the city has to purchase this property and help protect the watershed for Lake Toccoa.

Morse said that the city would not be developing the property.