A partnering of local, state and private agencies helped to put under conservation more than 730 acres of land atop Lookout Mountain known by thousands of current and former Girl Scouts as Camp Adahi.

The project not only protects the popular camp that has operated on Lookout Mountain since 1964, it represents the second major land conservation effort in Walker County in the last 30 days.

“The Adahi easement is actually a sister project to the Mountain Cove Farm conservation purchase of 1,839 acres, which closed a couple of weeks ago,” Walker County Commissioner Bebe Heiskell said.

A public-private partnership of local and national foundations, trusts and conservation groups made the $1 million purchase possible.

Camp Adahi and the recent 1,839-acre McLemore Cove property purchase have filled in the gaps to connect the nearby Zahnd State Natural Area and the Crockford Pigeon Mountain Wildlife Management Area, creating a contiguous 20,000-acre-plus swath of conserved land in south Walker.

Along with the county, the Lookout Mountain Conservancy, the Girl Scouts of Moccasin Bend Council, the Georgia Land Conservation program and the Open Space Institute were responsible for the purchase announced last Thursday.

WALKER COUNTY MESSENGER