Jackson Bridge Parking Restoration
To The Chattooga District – US Forest Service
From The Soque River Watershed Association Trout Unlimited Habersham County Rotary

Project Summary
The Soque River is the heart river of Habersham County and begins and ends within the county’s borders. Public access to the Soque River is extremely limited with one public park in the city of Clarkesville (Pitt’s Park) and several access areas on Forest Service lands on Hwy 197 at Jackson Bridge. The Jackson Bridge area provides the only access to a contiguous and relatively pristine section of the Soque, and is used heavily by fisherman, hikers, and others.

Parking and access at Jackson Bridge is currently aesthetically displeasing, and provides a poor example of good resource management. The primary parking area just north of Jackson Bridge consists of bare clay soils easily eroded by a drainage line which has caused muddy washed areas that drain directly into the Soque. Parked cars track mud onto the road when leaving the site further diminishing the quality of the access.

This project proposes to restore the parking area with a gravel drive, build an improved egress to the river, and place an interpretive sign or other marker that describes user rules for the site, and information about the Soque River Watershed and efforts to protect the river basin.

Project Details
We have broken up the project into four areas: parking, river access, interpretive sign, and a possible picnic table. 

Parking
A substantial area exists for parking approximately 6-10 vehicles without disturbing any nearby forest. A simple gravel surface would be applied to the area, with any special considerations for more effective drainage taken into consideration at that time. In discussions with Andy Gaston of the US Forest Service improvements to the edge of the parking area may include placement of downed pine timber better indicating the ability for cars to park perpendicular to the road, allowing for more orderly and efficient parking

River Access
Access to the river from the parking area has eroded and would benefit from a more permanent, stable access, such as railroad tie stair steps, or other formed access.

Interpretive Sign
A surprising number of people do not recognize the Jackson Bridge area as public access, or as National Forest Lands. There is no signage with which to describe the area, the Soque River Watershed Basin, or to post regulation and other user information. 

The cost and maintenance of an interpretive sign will need to be assessed, but the Association and our partners believe this would be of great value to the county to better mark and describe this unique site. An example of one fairly elaborate sign and one fairly simple sign is below.

Picnic Table
The final amenity under consideration is the possibility of placing one picnic table slightly set off from the parking lot and up the hill.

Summary
It is the mutual goal of the Watershed Association, Trout Unlimited and the Habersham and Sunrise chapters of the Rotary Club to provide an improved environment at the public access area of the Soque River at Jackson Bridge off Hwy. 197 in Habersham County. With the assistance & guidance of the U.S. Forest Service our two organizations wish to provide improvements through our volunteers and funding assistance to accomplish our goal. 

For generations this location has served the public interest with family trout fishing and recreational hiking trails. Unorganized parking has damaged the landscape and it is our intent to offer solutions to the parking, erosion and siltation.

Poorly maintained access sets a poor standard for stream protection which is becoming increasingly important in Habersham County as water supplies become more sensitive. We believe with community investment this site will encourage better stewardship, both at this location and beyond. There are local residents along the Soque who are also interested in assisting with the project and investing in the “Adopt-A-Highway” program in the area.

We appreciate the leadership of the Forest Service & DNR (Dept. of Natural Resources) in assisting our organizations with this important endeavor. Our organizations are prepared to work quickly and closely with the Forest Service & DNR to get this project underway and completed in 2004.