The Brasstown Valley Lodge, Conference Center and Golf Course Resort in Young Harris, Georgia opened over 4 years ago in 1995 and has attracted national attention. The Resort, a model for "environmentally correct" resorts won a 1995 engineering and environmental awareness awards and has been in the running for UCLA "Environmental Awareness Awards and the American Hotel and Motel Association Awards - Environmental Quality,Achievement Awards.

Southern Civil Engineers, Inc. (SCE) of Atlanta served as project Civil Engineer and coordinated all environmental design efforts and obtained more than 15 permits to facilitate construction. Jim Hamilton, P.E. of SCE says the effort began with the correct focus: "From the outset, the Brasstown Valley development team recognized the importance of the project's relationship with the Brasstown Valley environment. Amidst the site's beauty nestled in the mountainous valley between Young Harris and Hiawassee, Georgia, the land contains challenging topographic character and significant components of the region's ecosystem. The natural beauty challenged us to 'set of standard' and make this project a model of how to design and construct the facilities and protect, preserve and coexist with the environment."

To construct and maintain the development in this sensitive area requires the continued environmentally sensitive direction from the developer and an equivalent attitude of the construction team. The Brasstown team designed "state-of-the-art" Best Management Practices (BMP's) to protect the environment throughout the construction phase and beyond. These systems were effectively constructed and continuously maintained.

The design approach at Brasstown Valley is achieving real results:

• Net increase in wetlands
• Much improved buffering capacity of the Brasstown creek system Improved trout habitat along Keys Branch and Brasstown Creek
• Established "sanctuaries" where rare and sensitive plant species now thrive
• Defined permanent preservation areas:
  • Buffers
  • Wetlands
  • Archaeological sites
• Interpretive trails to inform public about sensitive mountain ecosystem
• Managed trout fishing program