TESTIMONIALS

"This remarkable organization provides exceptional educational opportunities to thousands of CSRA schoolchildren. A gem like Phinizy Swamp in our own backyard is a rarity, and one which is already being enjoyed by thousands of Augustans. Southeastern Natural Sciences Academy, through its excellent environmental education programs, trains our natural resource stewards of tomorrow. As a corporation increasingly concerned about environmental issues, Georgia Power is proud of our partnership with the Academy."

Tommy Stone, Georgia Power, 2000

"Monsanto wholeheartedly supports the Southeastern Natural Sciences Academy and its treatment of this important wetlands known as Phinizy Swamp Nature Park. This project is an excellent example of the environmental protection and sustainability programs that Monsanto espouses. The educational opportunities available to our community will benefit everyone."

Pat Tante, Monsanto, 2000

"This is the finest urban educational and outreach effort we have seen in Georgia." U.S. Fish & Wildlife Service, 1998 "Although the swamp has been disturbed in certain areas, we believe that it is still an important natural resource for the Augusta region and serves a multitude of valuable ecological function (e.g., a purifier of urban runoff and effluent, floodwater storage reservoir, food chain production, fish and wildlife habitat and hydrogeological exchange between the underlying aquifer and the Savannah River)."

U.S. EPA Region IV, 1995

"Older bottomland forests such as those that occur in Phinizy Swamp are unique in that they have many valuable habitat characteristics at one time (large trees, nesting cavities, fallen logs, interspersions of habitats). They support organisms adapted to both aquatic and terrestrial sites. These values take many years to replace... Forested wetlands [such as those in Phinizy Swamp] are declining nationwide."

U.S. Fish & Wildlife Service, 1987

"The fact that most of the surrounding area [of Phinizy swamp] is developed increases the value of the relatively undeveloped Phinizy Swamp. It is unusual to have a wildlife resource of this quality so near a major city."

U.S. Fish & Wildlife Service, 1988