Benefits Of Expanding Ocmulgee National Monument Outlined As Bill Heads To Senate

In the middle of Georgia, centuries-old Native American mounds at Ocmulgee National Monument serve as a reminder of the many cultures that have inhabited the area for 17,000 years. It’s no wonder humans were drawn to the region, with the nearby Ocmulgee River nurturing fertile hunting and fishing habitat that’s now also popular with hikers, paddlers, and bird-watchers.

As the state’s members of Congress move to quadruple the size of Ocmulgee National Monument and change its name to Ocmulgee Mounds National Historical Park, a new study commissioned by the National Parks Conservation Association says an even bigger expansion and designation, Ocmulgee National Park and Preserve, would deliver a significant economic boost to communities along the river corridor.

“In terms of history, culture, and wildlife, the Ocmulgee National Monument, along with the floodplains and forests between Macon and Hawkinsville, make up one of the last best places in the southeast,” Chris Watson, Southeast senior program manager for NPCA, said in a release. “By honoring this special place, a national park and preserve could not only advance the conservation of treasured resources, but also bring increased economic growth and prosperity to middle Georgia.”

The report, “Diamond in the Rough: An Economic Analysis of the Proposed Ocmulgee National Park and Preserve,” shows that consolidating the public lands along the river corridor to create a national park and preserve would drive a sixfold increase in tourism and add an estimated $206.7 million in annual economic activity at restaurants, hotels, retailers, and other businesses throughout the region within 15 years.

Funded in part by the John S. and James L. Knight Foundation, the analysis was conducted by economists at the University of Tennessee Department of Agricultural and Resource Economics.

The concept of the Ocmulgee National Park and Preserve, which would be the first such designation east of the Mississippi River, could encompass anywhere from 20,000 to 80,000 acres. In addition to the current national monument, it could link nearby state and federal lands such as Bond Swamp National Wildlife Refuge and three state wildlife management areas, Oaky Woods, Ocmulgee, and Echeconnee Creek.

Researchers estimate that the following nine activities will have the greatest appeal and the strongest potential for growth: heritage tourism, bicycling, paddling, camping, fishing, wildlife watching, hiking, hunting, and horseback riding.

Legislation recently reintroduced in Congress – the Ocmulgee Mounds National Historical Park Boundary Revision Act of 2017 – marks a path toward increased recognition. The bill would expand the current national monument from 702 acres to 2,800 acres, change the name of the park to Ocmulgee Mounds National Historical Park, and authorize a resources study to include recreational activities such as hunting, fishing, and camping along the Ocmulgee River corridor between Macon and Hawkinsville.

Introduced by Rep. Sanford Bishop, a Democrat, and Rep. Austin Scott, a Republican, it cleared the House by a vote of 396-8 on January 30.

“Today’s vote marks an important milestone in many years of effort to bring about increased recognition and enhanced cultural preservation of the Ocmulgee National Monument,” Rep. Scott said in a release. “Our legislation is a welcomed example of what can be achieved when a local community, state leaders, and members of Congress, from both sides of the aisle, collaborate towards a worthy goal. It was an honor to work with Congressman Bishop on legislation that will provide significant economic, educational, and cultural benefits to middle Georgia.”

In the Senate, the legislation has been referred to the Energy and Natural Resources Committee and is supported by both Georgia senators, Republicans Johnny Isakson and David Perdue. If passed, it would then need to be signed by President Trump to become law.