A Tour of the Eastern Wetlands

The wetlands upstream of the lake have been in place a couple of years now and are maturing nicely. Let's take a tour in photos and words.

Beginning at Lakeshore Drive, a gravel path trends northwest, with Federally protected wetlands on either side.

When entering, a concrete-lined flume constructed in the 1960s can be seen to the right. The flume was made to route water from Snapfinger Creek to Pine Lake.

A series of holding  ponds lie to the right of the trail. They're filled with fingerling fish, and mallards and other species of ducks can usually be seen grubbing in their muddy bottoms.

The purpose of these ponds is to clean the water that flows to the lake. Precipitates settle to the bottom, leaving cleaner water. This reduces sedimentation, leading to a longer lifespan of the lake. The shallow ponds can be easily and inexpensively dredged.

About 50 yards in the flume crosses the trail.

It eventually becomes a waterway on the left side of the trail.

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The waterway eventually ends at a small dam on Snapfinger Creek.

The flume originates here, so in all likelihood the dam was also made in the 1960s.

The path is bordered by light woodland and flowering shrubs and the occasional dilapidated yard structure can be spotted. It's a delightful walk, especially in early April, when the azaleas and dogwoods are blooming.

To the left, thickets lie beyond, with occasional  glimpses of the back side of houses in Pine Lake.

To the right, beyond the wetlands, runs Snapfinger Creek.

Past the creek are more thickets, and beyond them, houses in unincorporated Dekalb County.

Near the end of the trail, an access trail leads to Spruce Drive, near Ridge.

The eastern wetlands are a treasure, a haven for plant and animal life and a joy for walking. My daily walks almost always take me there. Sometimes I walk the trail both ways; other times I leave the trail at the end and explore the streets on the back side of the lake.

This Sign is a Remnant of the Days
When the Wetlands Were Privately Owned.
The Paths are Open to the Public