Dear Friend,

A stunning park site and surrounding landscape in Georgia documents some of the earliest human activity in the southeastern United States. It represents an incredible Native American history and a continuous chain of human experience dating back 17,000 years. This history covers:

• the end of the last Ice Age,
• up through the Mississippian mound builder era, and
• on into the periods of Spanish exploration,
• English colonization,
• the early American frontier, and
• the tragic period of Indian Removal.

It is important that we support expanded protection and management of this landscape through National Park Service-led multi-agency collaboration.

In 1945, conservationists proposed protecting up to 200,000 acres along the Ocmulgee River as one of the great wildlife habitats remaining in the American South. This area also included one of the most sacred landscapes of contemporary Muscogee people. Today about half of that habitat is gone, and the rich legacy of Muscogee memory and culture is being lost. Habitat loss and vandalism of archaeological sites continues to diminish this landscape, but we have the opportunity to reverse course and ensure that this legacy is protected for future generations.

The National Park Service is studying the natural and cultural significance and preparing recommendations to Congress on ways to improve conservations, management, and public enjoyment of this special place.

Advocating for the creation of a National Park and Preserve would make conservation benefits stretch beyond the boundaries of the current protected areas, while boosting local tourism and economy.

Please join me in communicating to the Park Service how important Ocmulgee is for preserving our rich and diverse history, both natural and cultural, for Americans today and for generations to come. 

 Thank you for all that you do for our parks,

Chris Watson
Senior Program Manager