Our Vision
“Utilizing the site as a natural recreation area would meet both goals of protecting the property and making it a community asset. We began developing a plan that would allow kids who rarely get to experience the outdoors and see wildlife like deer, turkey, ducks and other wildlife, to experience this on property so close to downtown Atlanta while also learning about the water cycle.”
P. Michael Thomas
HNP Foundation Board Chair
The Huie Nature Preserve vision
Phase One transforms portions of the land for group camping, archery, disc golf, outdoor classrooms, open space and nature trails that will connect to the Melvin L. Newman Wetlands Center.
Phase One Features:
Outdoor Classrooms and creative play area
Multi-Use Open Space Field
Extensive hiking trail network
Two Competition Level Disc Golf Courses
A Competition Level Archery Range with Seven Station Archery Trail
Group Camping Zone
The Mission
Our mission with the Huie Nature Preserve is to increase and enhance the recreational and educational aspects of the Huie property in a manner that is consistent with CCWA’s mission as a water, sewer and stormwater provider. The CCWA customers supported the acquisition of the Huie property and supported the transition from land application to constructed treatment wetlands. While some of the property is still needed for current and future operations, the vision is to invite the public to experience the tranquility and natural beauty of this property where appropriate. The vision builds on the Melvin L. Newman Wetlands Center and the Shamrock/Blalock Reservoirs, and the Shamrock Community Use Building to offer complimentary and expanded recreational and educational uses.
Phase One of a Five-Year Plan
Master Plan
It began with the desire to do more for Clayton County. By turning over 625 acres of owned land into a science-based water education area, we are providing the community with ample opportunities to understand the water cycle and gain new knowledge of nature.
E.L. Huie Jr. Site History
The E.L. Huie Site was purchased in the 1978 to support the Clayton County Water Authority’s (CCWA) ability to provide water and wastewater services to the growing population in Clayton County.
In 1980, CCWA opened the first phases of the spray field irrigation system, which was used as part of the comprehensive wastewater treatment process. The spray field irrigation system included miles of irrigation systems that sprayed treated wastewater into the forest, allowing the water to infiltrate into the soil and recharge the groundwater aquifer.
At the time the spray field irrigation system was constructed, it was considered “best in class” treatment and was the largest municipal spray irrigation system in the United States. As the spray field irrigation aged, it became more difficult to maintain the irrigation system and the soil become oversaturated. CCWA’s 2000 Master Plan determined that it was in its best interest to convert the spray field irrigation system into a constructed treatment wetland system. The spray field irrigation system is no longer operational, which has left land available for recreational uses.
The Huie Site contains over 4,000 acres of land that is primarily forested and is part of the Pates Creek Watershed which is classified as a small drinking water supply watershed to Shamrock and the Blalock Reservoirs. Although largely undeveloped, the watershed does include some important CCWA Operational Areas, Community Facilities, and Recreational Opportunities.