People running, hiking, biking or splashing through the area’s natural resources should remember that the ecosystems are fragile, says Atlanta Trails’ Eric Champlin.
“Some have received almost too much love over the years.”
Atlanta Trails mixes up its top 10 lists around different topics to spread around users. Each of its trail reviews highlights the nonprofit group that maintains the space. Champlin hopes more people will volunteer, donate or at least clean up after themselves to try to leave trails nicer than they find them.
Dog waste is a particular problem, says Ann Honious, the new superintendent of the Chattahoochee River National Recreation Area. Some park users bag waste but drop the bags on the trail or toss them into the woods. Others seem to think it’s natural to leave poop where it falls.
But Honious says the waste doesn’t serve as fertilizer and can introduce deadly bacteria into the ecosystem of the river that supplies 70% of the metro area’s drinking water. Plus, it’s not a pleasant surprise for others on the trail.
Atlanta Trails
atlantatrails.com
Chattahoochee River National Recreation Area
nps.gov/chat
