McGarity Wetlands

The McGarity Wetlands is a 136.5 acre preserve located off the Alcovy River near Covington, Georgia. Used as a research and educational outdoor laboratory, the site lies directly across the river from Georgia's northernmost recorded gum pond, dominated almost exclusively by water tupelo.

This site is important because it preserves an unusual piedmont wetland that contains species normally found only in the coastal plains. It is part of a larger Alcovy watershed managed by the Georgia Wildlife Federation (GWF).

The Odum School's property in combination with GWF's property totals over 150 acres of existing wetlands. Both sites are utilized for wetland education while being located only thirty minutes from Georgia's most densely populated and urbanized area. The majority of the property has never been used for agricultural or grazing purposes. This area is beneficial to the long-term preservation of sensitive lands as part of the Alcovy River Greenway Project.

For more information, please contact:

Dr. Gary Barrett
Odum School of Ecology
University of Georgia
Athens, GA  30602-2202
(706) 542-6065
Fax (706) 542-4819
gbarrett@uga.edu

Last updated: April 24, 2008