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the Soque River -
Geography
GEOGRAPHY
The Soque River Watershed is
located in Habersham County in northeast Georgia, and flows entirely
within the county boundaries. The Soque is the northeastern most tributary
to the Chattahoochee River and is considered a headwater stream that
delivers a significant volume of water to Lake Lanier which provides
drinking water to the 4.5 million people in Atlanta.
The Watershed begins in the
Appalachian Mountains and consists of many small streams flowing down
steep terrain in its upper reaches. Much of this area is contained within
the Chattahoochee National Forest. Waterfalls, brook trout and clean water
are common in this uppermost part of the basins headwaters. The highest
point in the drainage occurs at Tray Mountain at 4,430 feet. Surrounding
peaks include Goshen Mountain (2,830 feet), and Wolfpen Ridge. The tiny
mountain streams flowing down these peaks form the Left and Right forks of
the Soque River within a few hundred feet of Batesville General Store on
197. The valley through which the two forks flow is known as Goshen
Valley and is one of the most breathtaking mountain valleys in Georgia. |
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FACTS AND FIGURES
Geographical Coverage
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Watershed Size |
83,983 acres |
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River Miles |
30 miles |
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Land use
within the Watershed
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Urban/Residential |
12% |
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Forest |
65% |
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Agriculture |
22% |
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Mining/Extraction |
0.1% |
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Range Land |
0.8% |
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Water/Wetlands |
1% |
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ADDITIONAL INFORMATION
The Soque River Watershed occupies approximately 47% of the County’s
178,677 acres. Approximately 17,524 acres or 17% of the Watershed rest
within the Chattahoochee National Forest. This protected area is in the
uppermost headwaters of the Soque. (Acreage data is from the GIS analysis
for watershed assessment, 2002, USDA Forest Service).
Surface water supply in the
County is withdrawn from the Soque River, Hazel Creek and from the
Chattahoochee River, directly downstream from its confluence with the
Soque River. The Soque River is the northeastern most tributary to the
Chattahoochee River and was identified by the USEPA as the primary
contributor of sediment to Lake Lanier, which provides water to the
greater Atlanta metropolitan area.
The County’s primary growth corridors are concentrated in the lower basin
area of the watershed. Population in Habersham County in 2001 was 37,153
and is projected to surpass 50,000 by the year 2020. This rapid population
explosion will place unique challenges on a community that until recently
has been able to preserve its strong rural character. |
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